Every year on October 12, Brazil celebrates the national religious holiday of the Virgin Mary (Nossa Senhora de Aparecida /Holy Mary's Day). This is a national day off in the country.
In 1717, three fishermen on the banks of the Paraiba River removed from their nets a 40-centimeter-high terracotta figurine believed to be a revealed image of the Holy Virgin. For the next 15 years, the image was in the house of one of the fishermen, Filipe Pedroso.
The rumor of the miracle gradually spread far beyond the area, and many people began to come to worship and pray. Over time, the image of the Holy Virgin Mary was placed in the temple.
On September 8, 1904, by order of Pope Pio X, the face of the Holy Virgin was supplemented with a crown and named Queen of Brazil — Rainha do Brasil. In 1930, Pope Pio XI proclaimed the Holy Virgin Mary as the patron saint of Brazil.
Today, in the city of Aparecida (state of San–Paulo), a huge temple (and Basílica Nacional de Aparecida) was built in the form of a cross, accommodating up to 75 thousand people at a time.
«The heart» of the temple is 70 meters high, and four arched passages — are 40 meters high. Everyone visiting the holy place can light a candle (up to 2 meters high!) in a detached room that looks amazing: the black marble room is illuminated by lit candles standing in the water.
Approximately 7 million people visit this temple during the year.