Churchgoers and devotees have claimed a miracle after they discovered a small statue of the Virgin Mary appeared to be shedding tears.
The ‘crying’ figure was recorded by stunned visitors at a church in the El Chanal community in the state of Colima, Mexico.
Believers, sceptics, and the curious are now flocking to El Chanal to witness what some residents believe to be a miracle.
Hundreds have reportedly visited the church to witness the weeping Virgin.
Videos uploaded to social media indeed show tiny water droplets seemingly coming out of the statue’s eyes and running down its face.
Víctor Ramos, a local resident, said: “Similarly, when we cry, and our eyes become red, the same happens to the image.
“So a couple of tears started flowing. This is the event, the phenomenon that is happening here in the church.”
Many reportedly associate the Virgin’s tears with the prevailing insecurity in the state of Colima, that is currently immersed in a wave of violence.
Ramos said: “We can associate it with… the violence rates that are being experienced here in the state of Colima, also here in the community.”
As of October of this year, 702 confirmed intentional homicides had been recorded by the Colima Prosecutor’s Office.
For residents and visitors, this is a good time to pray for security.
Visitor Maria Mercedes Hernandez said: “Peace, may she give us peace in Colima and throughout the world, that we may return to the Colima of before.”
Others, however, believe there could be a scientific explanation behind the strange occurrence.
Professor Luigi Garlaschelli noted that some statues have the ability to absorb water due to the porosity of the materials they are made of.
Garlaschelli said: “You need a hollow statue made of plaster or ceramic, which must be covered on the outside with a waterproof layer.
“By filling the statue with water through an imperceptible hole at the top, the porous material will absorb it, but the outer layer will prevent it from coming out.
“However, if a slight scratch is made in the protective glaze in the tear duct area, the absorbed water will come out through it as if it were tears.”
To find out more about the author, editor or agency that supplied this story – please click below. Story By: Simona Kitanovska, Sub-Editor: Marija Stojkoska, Agency: Central European News
The Ananova page is created by and dedicated to professional, independent freelance journalists. It is a place for us to showcase our work. When our news is sold to our media partners, we will include the link here.
