It was 5 am, January 24, 2018; the cobbled streets of Quito were still dark and deserted when fireworks began to shoot up from a church on la Plaza Grande, right next to the presidential palace.
Lenin Moreno, President of the Republic of Ecuador, was awakened by the sound of explosives and sent out security to investigate.
From her hilltop above the city, the 98-foot winged Virgin of the Apocalypse looked on with heavenly calm.
The pyrotechnicians were standing on the roof of the 400-year old Convento de la Inmaculada Concepción, which stands on the corner between the presidential palace and the Archbishop's residence. In the street was gathered a small group of Catholics carrying statues and banners, about to begin the first of nine dawn processions in preparation for the feast of Our Lady del Buen Suceso de la Purificación on February 2nd, known in English-speaking countries as Our Lady of Good Success of the Purification.
