In the Metropolitan Cathedral, located in downtown Mexico City, there is a figure of the crucified Christ that is different from those found in other Catholic temples. While almost all representations of Jesus Christ show him with white skin, this one stands out for its literal darkness. This is the famous Black Christ, also known as El Señor del Veneno (“Lord of Poison”): a religious figure that was said to have been involved in a miracle and saved a bishop from death.
The Legend of the Black Christ of the Cathedral
The story goes that the Black Christ was not always that color. When it was still in the church of Porta Coeli, on Venustiano Carranza Street, a man named Don Fermin Adueza visited it every day and kissed its feet as a sign of reverence.
One of his enemies, a man named Ismael Treviño, heard about this practice and attempted to poison him. However, when Don Fermin kissed the feet of the figure, the Christ seemed to absorb the poison completely: it did not harm the man and apparently saved him. Hence the other name by which it is known: el Señor del Veneno.
Another possible explanation has nothing to do with a supposed miracle, but with the syncretism between Catholicism and pre-Hispanic tradition. The color black was related to Tezcatlipoca, the creator, supreme and omnipotent god. Just as happened with other religious symbols, such as the Virgin of Guadalupe, the evangelizers would have changed the color of Jesus Christ so that he would be associated with Tezcatlipoca and, thus, facilitate the incursion of that figure among the Mexicas.
The Black Christ of Porta Coeli was moved to the Altar of Forgiveness in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Mexico City some time ago, just a few meters from its original home. Thousands of people visit it every day and numerous miracles are still attributed to it.
