Saquisilí

Cuicuno Sanctuary

The Cuicuno church has a central nave and is crossed by a side nave at the height of the atrium. On that site the church was built around the image. The sanctuary is visited by faithful from all over the country and has a certain connection with San Gonzalo de la Capilla de la Medalla Milagrosa in Ambato. Relationship in which popular religiosity and even paganism is presented. The diffusion of the dedication to the Lord of the Cuicuno Tree is a phenomenon that increases day by day, in the provisional sphere with emphasis on the believers of the inter-Andean region. This tree is associated with the native ancestors, that is, the mallqui. Which in turn are related to the native celebration of the Dead. Tradition points out that around 1670 a quishwar tree or also known as the Tree of God was cut down and to the amazement of the faithful and clerics, a figure of Christ was found. This is the origin of the devotion to the Lord of the Cuicuno Tree. This Sanctuary was built in the 16th century, and belonged to the Rovayo family. In the same place, an Indian from Guápulo (Quito) bought two “stables” (Spanish area measure) from the same family, to plant the “Quishwar” tree there, also known as the tree of God. This tree is associated with the native ancestors, that is, the Mallqui. Which in turn are related to the native celebration of the dead. Location The Cuicuno Sanctuary is located 13 kilometers from the Saquisilí canton.