Fifty thousand people are mobilized for near Lord Captive, a
carved wooden Christ taking off in procession every October in the
tiny town of Ayabaca, in the Andes of northern Peru. In fact it is
already a miracle that so many people can live together in such a
small space, but the Lord is credited Captive performing all
impossible: lame walk, heal sick, addicted within days to stop
taking drugs. In return, the penitents, as his devotees call
themselves, do not hesitate to tear your hands, elbows, knees and
bloodied back on the rock and mud cordilleranos an offering in
exchange for a miracle. The history dates back to 1751 and
picture paints a magical home for believers. Today, facing his old
blunt, one understands why Ecuadorians cross the border to see
it, and why from overseas Peruvians do return and queues during
the morning, and sleep on the street.
