San La Muerte
The Barrios family guards the most sacred sanctuary of San La Muerte, and each year they celebrate its anniversary. In the province of Corrientes, thousands of devotees travel every August to pay tribute and give thanks for the miracles granted by this profane popular saint, whose following has grown in recent years alongside Argentina’s economic crisis.
This project was published by Vice: “San La Muerte se afianza en la tierra del Papa”
Nilda Amelia Lopez breaks in tears, with a San La Muerte figure in one hand and a Gauchito Gil figure in the other one, in front of a pick-up with the holiest medallion relic that goes to the chapel of the Virgen de Itatí during the procession, Empedrado, Corrientes province, Argentina, August 2017
Two members of the Badán family rides their horse to the San La Muerte sanctuary during a two days peregrination for fulfill their promises in Empedrado, Corrientes province, Argentina, August 2018.
Two signs that in Spanish reads: “Welcome Entrance” and “ San La Muerte Chapel”, lies on the ground at the Barrios sanctuary, Empedrado, Corrientes province, Argentina, August,2018.
Antonio Barrios, 65, the elder son of Candida Segovia, owner of the San La Muerte sanctuary, kisses the urn with the sacred medallion before starts the peregrination to the Virgen de Itatí chapel, Empedrado, Corrientes province, Argentina, August, 2018.
A man dressed like San La Muerte prays in front of the urn with sacred medallion inside the sanctuary, Empedrado, Corrientes province, Argentina, Sunday, August, 2018.
A man, not pictured, with a San La Muerte figure waits at the entrance to the sanctuary to bless his statue, Empedrado, Corrientes province, Argentina, Monday, August, 2018.
A man attends to a ritual with a knife by Luis Roldan, a medicine man, in his tent near the San La Muerte sanctuary entrance in Empedrado, Corrientes province, Argentina, August 2017.
A man lies on the ground as he attends to a ritual by a medicine man in the San La Muerte sanctuary entrance in Empedrado, Corrientes province, Argentina, August 2018.
A woman sleeps over a couch, next to a San La Muerte statuette, after the peregrination to the Virgen de Itatí chapel in Empedrado, Corrientes province, Argentina, Monday, August 20, 2018.
A San La Muerte broken figure lies over roses in a trash can at the Barrios sanctuary, Empedrado, Corrientes province, Argentina, Monday, August, 2018.
Stephanie Nicole Lagos, 23, poses for a picture with a San La Muerte poster at the outskirt of the Barrios family Sanctuary in Empedrado, Corrientes province, Argentina, August, 2018.
A San La Muerte faithfull lies on her knees and cries in front of the sacred medallion in the Barrios sanctuary, Empedrado, Corrientes province, Argentina, August, 2018.
A man removes the melted candles placed by faithfuls in front of the sacred medallion inside the San La Muerte sanctuary, Empedrado, Corrientes province, Argentina August, 2018.
José Badán dances chamamé with his wife Rocio, an argentine typical music, in the San La Muerte sanctuary, Empedrado, Corrientes province, Argentina, August 2018.
A couple embrace as they dance chamamé, an argentine typical music, in the San La Muerte sanctuary, Empedrado, Corrientes province, Argentina, August 2018.
Alex and Lisandro, members of the Barrios family, light the fireworks at midnight for celebrate the San La Muerte anniversary, Empedrado, Corrientes province, Argentina, Monday, August, 2018.
A van with the sacred medallion in its roof go ahead to the Itati Virgin chapel on the National Route 12 in the middle of the peregrination, Empedrado, Corrientes, Argentina, Monday, August 20, 2018.
Thousands of faithfuls raise their hands and pray in honor of San La Muerte in the Virgen de Itatí chapel, Empedrado, Corrientes province, Argentina, Sunday, August, 2017.
A faithful holds a San La Muerte statue for bless it as the van get out from the Virgen de Itatí, Empedrado, Corrientes, Argentina, August 20, 2018.
A man shows the sacred medallion, a skeletal man with a scythe in his hand and the legend: "Sagardo La Muerte”, to the crowd at the entrance of the Virgen de Itatí chapel during the peregrination for the San La Muerte anniversary, Empedrado, Corrientes province, Argentina, August, 2017.
People watch the bands playing Chamamé, an argentine typical music, as they dance in San La Muerte sanctuary, Empedrado, Corrientes province, Argentina, August 2017.
A man with a wide brimmed hat walks at the entrance of the San La Muerte sanctuary at the end of the celebrations for its anniversary, Empedrado, Corrientes province, Argentina, August 2017.