Legend of the Christ of the Stake

The Christ of the Stake is a very peculiar legend from the Department of Bolívar, Colombia. It tells the story of a woman’s strange lover and a sculpture of Christ with a wooden stake driven into its side.

According to the legend, there was once a butcher who would leave very early in the morning to slaughter reses (cattle). When he left, his wife remained home alone. Soon, rumors began to spread throughout the town. People insinuated that his wife had a lover who would sneak into the house as soon as he departed.

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Determined to uncover the truth behind these rumors, the man left his home very early one morning and hid nearby. While he waited, he took a wooden stake and began to sharpen it.

After waiting a reasonable amount of time, he returned to his house. Upon entering, he caught his wife with her lover. In a fit of rage, the man attacked the lover with the stake, driving it deep into his side. However, the bleeding lover managed to escape.

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The next day, the local priest and all the townspeople were astonished. When they entered the church, they found that the wooden sculpture of Christ had a stake driven perfectly into one of its sides.

Origin of the Legend of the Christ of the Stake

This legend originates in Magangué, a municipality in the department of Bolívar, Colombia. This town possesses a strong, deeply rooted Christian culture, based primarily on the Catholic faith.