Known as the “stone of passage,” the “Pedra dos Cadrís” (or the Kidneys Rock) in Muxía wraps its origin in mysterious pagan fertility rites.
With the arrival of Christianization, this unique rock was transformed into the representation of the sail of the celestial ship that brought the Virgin Mary to her encounter with the Apostle James. And with this metamorphosis, their ancestral powers mutated into healing.
As its evocative Galician name suggests, “Pedra dos Cadrís” has become a beacon of hope for those seeking relief from ailments and pain in the sacral and lumbar area. The tradition, passed down from generation to generation during the “Virgen de la Barca de Muxía” Festival, prescribes a simple but faith-laden ritual: to go under the rock up to nine times.
This is how, during the festival, long queues of pilgrims congregate around the “Pedra dos Cadrís,” waiting for their turn to complete this act of devotion. Each step under the rock becomes a silent prayer, a tangible search for relief and well-being. The deep-rooted belief is that this ancestral rite, now imbued with Marian legend, has the power to mitigate their ailments.
“Pedra dos Cadrís” is, therefore, much more than a rock formation. It is a living testimony to the synergy between ancient beliefs and the Christian faith, a place where tradition is palpable at every step and hope is renewed under its stony arch.
