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Ayacucho, or “Home of the Soul,” as seems to be the most appropriate translation for this name so significant in Peru’s history, has during its Easter Season an impressive synthesis of life, hope and its traditional openness to the Christian faith which harmoniously combines the sap of evangelization with the sweetness of the Andean people. This book is a journey of faith and humanity that does justice to the deep religious experience of Easter in Huamanga. It must be said that this religious festival is a cordial invitation to anyone willing to understand the depth of the men and women of this land and through it the understanding of oneself. Those who come seeking a greater understanding of their personal life experience never leave Ayacucho without learning a bit more of own their human greatness. This is what demonstrates the great effort, which we see reflected today in Apu Yaya. This book is like one of those altars where the meticulous hands of artisans have represented their experiences for centuries. It is like a large baroque mestizo altar that gathers every detail with remarkable delicacy, from small paraffin flowers that adorn the floats in the various celebrations, to the countless expressions of faith in which everyday life is suspended just for a moment to regain its true meaning for the rest of the year. I congratulate and thank the editors for this initiative, as well as the artisans and all those who contributed to this wonderful production. I salute my dear brother Archbishop Salvador Piñeiro, Archbishop of Ayacucho, and his Auxiliary Bishop Gabino Miranda. I remember with gratitude the dear and faithful Ayacucho clergy, as well as the many men and women who every year are committed to faithfully keeping the beautiful Christian traditions of this dear people, becoming thus a living testimony of hope.
