Metropolitan Cathedral of Santiago – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Santiago Metropolitan Cathedral It is the headquarters of the Archdiocese of Santiago de Chile and the main temple of the Catholic Church in that country. As the Cathedral Church is the Standing of the Archbishop of Santiago and is dedicated to the Asunción Virgin Mary.

It is located in the commune of Santiago, in front of the Plaza de Armas. The architectural set of the cathedral is composed of the Archbishop’s palace, the parish of the Tabernacle and the temple itself. All these buildings are considered national monuments.

Many temples preceded the one that exists today, the current one being raised in the place.

The first temples [ To edit ]

When re -founding the city of Santiago de Chile on an Inca tambo, Pedro de Valdivia allocated the Inca temple to the northeastern side of the Plaza Mayor or Plaza de Armas for the construction of a church, and while being built, religious services such as the Eucharist, They were held at the door of the Governor’s house, located where the Central Correo is currently located. Probably, in its origin it had to consist only of a chapel of light materials, such as straw and mud; And at least since 1544, you have news that masses were no longer celebrated outdoors, so an adequate building should be created to carry out Catholic practices. ^{[ first ]} ​

Between 1566 and 1600 the first cathedral temple was built. With much smaller dimensions than the current ones, it was richly decorated and was arranged in the north-south direction, having its facade on Cathedral Street. However, later, his main access would be facing the square, in the so -called “Puerta del Forgón”; ^{[ 2 ]} Especially after a controversy occurred near the year 1600, where it was argued that the north door should be closed due to the indecency of the houses that were in front of it (because they were from neighbors and not part of the cult). ^{[ 2 ]} That door will be partially or totally blinded to its destruction in 1769. ^{[ 2 ]} ​

On May 13, 1647, an earthquake affected the central area of ​​the General Captaincy of Chile, destroying almost the entire city of Santiago together with the cathedral. However, the central nave of the cathedral resisted the onslaught, although its tabernacle collapsed and its belongings could only be rescued days later. Thanks to the initiative of Bishop Gaspar de Villarroel, it was quickly retouched, although not for long. For 1657, a new telluric movement almost completely ruined its structure, having to perform a second restoration between 1662 and 1687.

The Bishop of Bishop González’s project [ To edit ]

Valparaíso’s earthquake in 1730 returned to break the cathedral structure, so it determined that repairs made four decades before had been useless. To this was added the numerous accidents that had affected the structure. That is why, in 1746, Bishop Juan González Melgarejo considered that the temple should be renewed as a whole.

The plans of this new cathedral were the work of Pedro Vogl and Juan Hagen, two members of the Society of Jesus, of Bavarian origin, who sent their project to Spain for the real approval in 1753. However, the work had already been started in 1748. After Vogl and Hagen, Matías Vásquez de Acuña and Francisco Antonio de Barros continued as directors of the works. The latter had a short step through the works, since in 1779 the architect Joaquín Toesca appears to direct the construction. ^{[ 3 ]} ​

Bishop González acquired the properties adjacent to the cathedral, at the corner of the current Cathedral and Flag streets, which belonged to the Pineda Bascuñán family; and resolved to place the feet (the altar) of the new building on flag and the front in the square, with a length of 100 meters, changing the direction that had originally been arranged by Valdivia in the century XVI . In order not to be forced to destroy the old temple, and be able to continue celebrating religious services, González ordered the works by the New Section. On July 1, 1748, the first stone of the new building was placed.

Cathedral of Santiago Vista from Ahumada Street. The houses of the Bishop, Adobe and with a height floor can be seen in the foreground.
Drawing made by Mauricio Rogas, h. 1835.

González contributed 55,512 pesos with 4 1/2 reais for the work, and his successor Manuel de Alday with more than 160,000 pesos. The crown, by 1788, had reluctantly donated 97,994 pesos with 3 1/2 reais. For that year, 390,235 pesos had been spent with 5 and 1/8 reais in the cathedral, which was already completed by its two thirds. ^{[ 4 ]} ​
After that they spent 48,964 pesos with 2 1/3 reais for the work, adding 456,772 pesos with 8 and 3 reais in the cathedral.

THE FIRE OF 1769 [ To edit ]

On the night of December 22, 1769 there was a fire that destroyed the entire old cathedral, probably because of having spilled on some fuel object the oil of the lamp that lighting the Blessed Sacrament. ^{[ 5 ]} To the clamor of the bells of the other churches, the people went mass to the site of the incident, ^{[ 5 ]} But it was already late: an image of the Virgen de los Dolores had only been saved from the incident, who was at the door of forgiveness. ^{[ 5 ]} ​ ^{[ 6 ]} Apart from this, according to Vásquez de Acuña, some silver and molten gold was saved thanks to the fire. ^{[ 7 ]} ​

The religious service was provisionally transferred to the Church of the Society of Jesus, which was in charge of mercedary religious as a result of the recent expulsion of the Jesuits of America.

However, this same circumstance was the event that accelerated the works of the Cathedral. In December 1775, a part of the new temple was enabled, and the religious service was transferred there.

Joaquín Toesca project for the cathedral facade.
Colored sheet, h. 1780.

The neoclassical cathedral of Toesca and Cremonesi [ To edit ]

In 1775, Bishop Manuel de Alday presided over his consecration. Only five years later, the prelate entrusted the Italian architect Joaquín Toesca the execution of the facades of the cathedral and the church of the tabernacle. Toesca refuse the plans, beginning with directing the works in the wrecked sector, adjacent to the square, and modifying part of the area already built, with which the temple was architecturally enriched. Imposing the neoclassical style, and being kept for about 20 years in the works, Toesca became the most important architect of the works of the cathedral.

By 1830 the building was almost completed, and in 1840, Pope Gregory XVI makes it a metropolitan cathedral, raising the Santiago headquarters to the archbishop’s range. The self or decree of erection was lost later, so Pope Pius IX allowed a new one, leaving the final date of September 29, 1873. In total, the work had been delayed about 80 years to be completed and its cost amounted to 600,000 pesos. ^{[ 4 ]} ​

The Cathedral of Santiago.
Fotografía Tomada h. 1860-70, Por Eugène Maunoury.

In 1846 the construction of the Holy Chapel began, which was completed by Eusebio Chelli. A year later, Archbishop Rafael Valentín Valdivieso commissioned Alexander Caldcleough, a friend of the former cathedral hunter ^{[ 8 ]} That he bought an organ worthy of the cathedral building, while the National Congress approved the budget for it. ^{[ 8 ]} In November 1849, the organ arrived by boat to Valparaíso, and for its placement a choir had to be built on the main door of the cathedral, which in its first era was reinforced by fourteen English iron pillars arranged under it. ^{[ 8 ]} ​

At the end of the century XIX , Archbishop Mariano Casanova ordered a series of modifications that transformed the cathedral into the building that currently exists. Casanova had decided to completely settle the construction of the cathedral, so he hired Ignacio Cremonesi and the works began in 1898. Cremonesi design is inspired by a Tuscan or Roman style. In the transformations the stone was covered with stucco and the wooden handwritten was replaced by a sky painted in boxes. The choir first stated that it remained on the second level of pillars and beyond the arch. However, this caused it to remain on the last ten seats of seats, so the idea was discarded. ^{[ 8 ]} The second option, and was definitely left under the arch, which greatly increased the size of the choir but remarkably restricted the sound capacity of the organ.

Santiago’s cathedral.
Photography of 1915, impr. Barcelona.

On May 5, 1906, Casanova was finally able to consecrate the modified temple. Inside the Church was constituted by three ships: two sides and a central of greater height. Cremonesi also added to the facade two towers.

Recent restorations [ To edit ]

Since the beginning of 2005 in early 2006, the main altar of the temple was completely remodeled along with the Archbishop’s crypt. During the excavations, the mortal remains of Minister Diego Portales were found, killed in 1837. In the Archbishop’s crypt, the mortal remains of all the bishops and archbishops of Santiago rest.

An agreement signed between the archbishopric and the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile sought that the cathedral set be complete That year, both ceremonies had to be held in the Plaza de Armas. Months later, the Minister of Public Works, Hernán de Solminihac, announced that both the interior and exterior of the temple should be restored. The restoration began in February 2014 and included the facade and the ornamental pieces of the temple. Also, steel bars and carbon fiber reinforcement were installed to stabilize the property after the last earthquake. In addition, the lighting was renewed and two viewpoints were enabled in the bells for tourist visits. The works had a cost close to the three billion Chilean pesos (four million five hundred thousand US dollars of 2015) and concluded in July of that year. ^{[ 9 ]} ​

Description [ To edit ]

The main temple is composed of a three -ship plant. Its width is 45 meters and its length, from the facade to the doors that give to the flag street, is about 100 meters. This gives an area of ​​about 4500 square meters.

Nave central [ To edit ]

View of the central nave.

In the central nave, the old main altar stands at its background, crowned by a marble cyborium that retains the crucifix inside, crowned by an eagle and guarded by Ángeles, which was built in Munich in 1912, where the masses were held until That, between the 60s and 70s, in the archbishopric of Cardinal Raúl Silva Henríquez, a mobile wooden altar was made to celebrate the Mass for the people, but since it was not very decent for the environment, a front was placed in front of him of 3 meters long silver. This altar was remodeled and modified between 2005 and 2006, in a work that meant the complete renewal of the presbytery and the total refaction of the archbishop’s crypt. The mobile altar was replaced by a fixed one, the front of the mobile altar was intended for the chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, and structural improvements of the presbytery were made.

Precedes the altar, climbing through the staircases of the presbytery, an ambitol of wood, with an eagle shape. To his left, in La Pilastra, a great crucifix, donation of Pope Pius XI is preserved. Next, the carved wood seats are followed, where the priests that make up the Metropolitan Cabildo are located. In the middle of the left arm of the presbytery, under a wooden canopy, the chair is located (the wooden throne where the archbishop feels in religious trades). Right in the pilastra located in front of the chair canopy, there is a large picture that exhibits the coat of arms of the archbishop in exercise.

The new fixed altar is located in the center of the presbytery, consisting of a small granite block, guarded by a set formed by a crucifix and six silver candlesticks, as required for the pontifical mass. Behind the new altar is the old main altar, already mentioned. At the end of the set, next to the old altar on the right side, the chorus organ is located, an organ of tubes built by the German Jesuits of Calera de Tango in 1754, and is still in use. In the central nave, the carved wooden pulpits of the century also stand out XIX .

In the wall of the apse of the apostle Santiago (patron of the city and the archdiocese) and Santa Rosa de Lima, also in wood. Under this altarpiece, there is a window that illuminates the cyber or manager where the crucifix is, and full of light the central nave. At the feet, there is an image of San Francisco Javier Yacente. On their sides there are two doors that go to flag street, forming a simple posterior facade.

On the other hand, in the choir that is located on the main door, is the great tube organ made in the Flight & Son house in London. Since the 1980s, its sound capacity is totally nil. ^{[ 8 ]} ​

Archbishop’s crypt [ To edit ]

The Archbishop’s crypt is under the presbytery, where the Archbishops of Santiago are commonly buried. Formerly the crypt was a dark and battered place but, at the initiative of Cardinal Carlos Oviedo Cavada, a project was developed to build a new one under the main altar, more worthy of preserving the remains of the prelates. Remodeled in 2005, it currently presents a modern and sober aspect, headed by a colonial Christ in the attitude of crucifixion and a small granite altar. On their sides are, on the walls, the niches where some of the bishops and archbishops of Santiago rest. In addition to diocesan bishops and archbishops, other prelates such as the Apostolic Nuncio, Monsignor Aldo Laghi, whose only nunciature was that of Chile, being ordered by Bishop on September 18 (chosen by him in tribute to Chile), and dying in this country), and dying in this country according to your desire.

Behind the old main altar, Diego Portales and José Tomás Ovalle’s civil crypts are located.

Archbishop’s crypt.

Right nave [ To edit ]

In the right ship, the graves of great personalities in the history of the country, of the first bishops and characters of the Creole aristocracy stand out.

Next to the right door of the Plaza de Armas is the monument and marble amphora where the hearts of the Chilean officers dead in the battle of the conception are preserved in 1882. It is neo -Gothic style and white marble, and was inaugurated in 1912. Adjacent to the Cathedral street door is the wooden tombstone carved to the memory of the Carrera brothers (Javiera, Juan José, José Miguel and Luis Carrera), whose tomb still remains without locating inside the Cathedral building. This ship also highlights the tombs of Monsignor José Antonio Martínez de Aldunate, elected bishop of Santiago and vice president of the First National Government Board; and that of Monsignor Joaquín Larraín Gandarillas, founder and first rector of the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, inside a bronze sarcophagus.

In this section there are eight side altars, dedicated to:

Altar of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Left ship [ To edit ]

The left ship has the great funeral monument of Archbishop Rafael Valentín Valdivieso, in a marble sarcophagus. In front of this is the funeral monument of Archbishop José Alejo Eyzaguirre. There is also a small memorial next to the door of the sacristy, in the exact place where Father Faustino Gazziero was killed, at the hands of a young mentally ill.

In the center of this ship, the Blessed Sacrament is highlighted, with an altar covered by a marble cyborium, with custody, angels, lamps and front in silver. Pope John Paul II prayed in this chapel during his visit to this temple on April 1, 1987, as well as Pope Francis during his visit (January 16, 2018).

There are six altars on this ship, dedicated to:

Almost at the bottom of the left ship there is the sacristy of the cathedral, inside which is sacred imagery, ornaments, sacred vessels and utensils of colonial, baroque and neoclassical art.

Altar of the painful mother. Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament.

Architectural ensemble [ To edit ]

They make up the architectural complex of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Santiago, in addition to the Cathedral Temple, the Archbishop’s Palace that is adjacent to Company Street and the parish of the Tabernacle, a temple that is between the Palace and the Temple Mayor. By a door near the main entrance you can access the latter, where the crowned image of the Virgen del Carmen is located, which leaves in procession through the streets at the end of September of each year. This image was until 1985 in the Basilica of the Savior.

The Archbishop Palace, restored between 2007 and 2008, was for more than a century the residence of the archbishop, until the archbishops decided to set their particular residence outside the center of Santiago and in more modest conditions. At present, an administrative offices, an exhibition gallery, an auditorium and the Chapter Chamber, where the archbishop meets with its vicars in a more solemn way are located on the top floor. On the ground floor, there are the offices of the El Sagrario parish, a bookstore and commercial premises. In this plant it worked, in the time of the military dictatorship (Chile), the Vicaría de la Solidaridad.

The whole has been declared a National Monument.

Eucharistic services [ To edit ]

Cathedral facade with its night lighting.

The cathedral is open from Monday to Sunday between 09:30 and 8:00 p.m. The celebration of the Mass takes place at 12:30 and at 7:00 p.m. from Monday to Saturday; On Sundays, at 09:45 (Mass of the Canons), 11:00, 12:00 and 7:00 p.m.

Cabildo Metropolitan Cathedral [ To edit ]

Their responsible are the priests belonging to the College of Canons (also called “Metropolitan Cabildo”). The canons are appointed by direct decree of the archbishop and, in the same way, it is the latter who by decree accepts the appointments of charges that the canons make internally such as, for example, the choice of a dean. The Cabildo is formed as follows ^{[ ten ]} :

• Monsignor Héctor Gallardo Villalobos, Deán del Cabildo Cathedralicio.
• Presbyter Andrés Ariztía, titular canon and administrator of the Cabildo.
• Presbyter Luis Migone Repetto, Penitentiary Canon of the Cabildo.
• Monsignor Pedro Narbona Bugueño, titular canon.
• Monsignor Ignacio Muñoz Muñoz, titular canon.
• Presbyter Juan Ignacio Schramm, the head of the canon’s canony.
• Presbyter Jorge Saéz, titular canon.
• Monsignor Juan de la Cruz Suárez Campos, head of the canon canon.

Sacred Art Museum [ To edit ]

Inside the cathedral is the Sacred Art Museum, a museum of religious art that contains a large collection of silverware, ancient furniture and works of art of different religious orders. ^{[ 11 ]} ​

References [ To edit ]

Bibliography [ To edit ]

• De Ramón, Emma (2002). Work and Faith. The Cathedral of Santiago 1541-1769 . Toxic.
• Encina, Francisco Antonio (1983). Chile History until 1891 . SOC. Publisher Magazine Ercilla Ltda.

See also [ To edit ]

external links [ To edit ]