Grita and Cobre - Tachira State

Panoramic view of the Grita

The Grita

Minor Basilica of Grita

Interior of the Minor Basilica of Grita

On the Grita´s Bolivar Square, there’s a beautiful church, the Grita minor Basilica. UOne of its most important characteristics is that it treasures the Grita Saint Christ, named on the 6th of August of 2007 by Mons. Mario del Valle Moronta Rodriguez (Bishop of the San Cristóbal diocese), not only as the patron of the diocese, but as the patron of the Venezuelan Andes. This originates great peregrinations from all parts of the country.

vitral in the Minor Basilica of Grita
Vitral

Main Shrine of the Grita Basilica

Shrine of the Saint Christ in the Grita Basilica

Next to the basilica, we can find a small but interesting museum you shouldn’t stop visiting. It’s the “Saint Christ of the Grita Museum”, , it has a foundation that ensures its development and makes efforts to build a new museum, which will also be a study and knowledge center for the Grita.

Help the construction of the Grita`s Saint Christ Monument

Gritas Saint Christ Museum

Banner of the Saint Christ of Grita Museum fundation

Above the Bolivar Square, we can locate the pretty Jáuregui Square, where the disciples and admirers of “wise Levite and Instructor Monsignor Doctor J.M. Jauregui Moreno” have raised the statue shown bellow.

Jáuregui Square

Iglesia de XXXXX

The Saint Grita Christ party

It starts with 5 months of anticipation, where the catholic population of The Grita, gather up food, drinks, among other things, to give to the parishioners. It’s good to know that the 5th and 6th of August are the days when from 10 to 20 thousand persons, who make long trips from all around the country attend to the celebration. There are even testimonies that person come walking from Barquisimeto.

The Sunday before the 6th of August the “friendship chain” is made. This day the communities of the village where the miracle of the Saint Christ was seen, (about 2 or 3 thousand persons) go to the Grita taking each others hand, making a hand-chain and with an original copy of the Saint Christ. It starts with the Eucharist given by the community priest and praise songs are heard, waiting for the pilgrims.

On the night of the 5th of August the solemn serenade to the Saint Christ occurs, where dances, country songs, religious songs, poems and other things that the people enjoy are made in honor to the Saint Patron.

The central day is the 6th of August , where first communions take place at 5 AM in the morning and the Pontifical mass is given by the bishop around 10 AM.

Over 60 priests and more than 50 seminarist without counting religous adepts asist...All this, without ignoring the patron of La Grita, Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles, venerated on the 2 of August.

The Cobre

Street in “El Cobre”

Nearby

Nearby “La Grita” and “El Cobre” you can admire beautiful landscapes that are worth taking the time to visit.

Valley where Sabana Grande is located.

Sabana Grande Church

The Andes crèche

We invite you to visit the Andes crèche, a nice initiative from Antonio Velazco, who shows the topography of the Andes with a small sign locating each one of the Andes towns.

Acknowledgement

Our acknowledgment to Oscar Varela, who gave us valorous information about the celebration activities of the Saint Christ of La Grita party.

Hotel /Inn

Lodging in the region

Los Andes