El Padre sin Cabeza

Origin and tradition

Central American and Costa Rican church legends tell of a headless priest wandering near old churches, often tied to betrayal, violence, or unfinished rites.

Illustration in this atlas

A priest in dark vestments with no head above the collar, moving silently until the sound of prayer or bells reveals him.

References and further reading

1. es.wikipedia.org — Leyendas de Costa Rica

These references offer further reading. Accounts and depictions vary; the atlas illustration is interpretive artwork, rather than historical or scientific evidence.