Black Virgin of Oropa
The Black Virgin of Oropa, is a statue of the Madonna and Child in the Sanctuary of Oropa, a Roman Catholic devotional complex in the comune of Biella, Piedmont, northern Italy.
History
The original image of the Black Virgin of Monte Oropa was made in the third century. She was brought by St. Eusebius of Vercelli from the Middle East to his diocese of Vercelli. The image was made of cedar of Lebanon and painted black. A mid-fourth century intensified the persecution of Mary (mother of Jesus), and St. Eusebius had to hide her in the mountains of Sacro Monte di Oropa, about 9 miles from Biella, Italy. When they tried to move the engraving, its weight increased and they had to leave it there, in the mountains, where it currently presides over a massive shrine. Before the Christians, celts had a black fertility goddess which was replaced by her. The Black Virgin is also known as Madonna Nera di Oropa or María Reina de Monte Oropa, and she is the patroness of Lomas del Mirador City, in La Matanza Partido, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina.