January 4, 2025 • 4 mins
The Church of La Candelaria in northern Antigua Guatemala was built in the 17th century to serve the city’s peripheral neighborhoods. Dedicated to the Virgin of La Candelaria, it symbolizes light and purification, commemorating the presentation of Jesus in the temple. The Baroque-style church features a single nave, thick masonry walls, and a wooden roof to withstand earthquakes. Damaged in the 1773 quakes, it was partially abandoned but later restored. It remains a key site for Marian celebrations and Holy Week processions.
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
The Church of La Candelaria, located in the northernmost part
of Antigua, Guatemala, has a history marked by religious events,
natural disasters, and community devotion. It reflects the importance of
peripheral temples in the city's life during the seventeenth and
eighteenth centuries. Dedicated to the Virgin of La Candelaria, patroness
(00:25):
of light and purification, this church remains a symbol of
faith and tradition in the region. Among the different ways
believers refer to the Mother of Jesus, one of them
is Candelaria. This refers to the scene of the presentation
of Jesus in the temple and Mary's ritual purification rites
(00:46):
that were part of the Jewish faith practiced by Jesus' parents.
This scene is commemorated on what is popularly known as
the Day of the Virgin of La Candelaria, during which
worshippers traditionally bring wax candes to the temple. The Church
of La Candelaria was built in the seventeenth century to
meet the spiritual needs of residence in the northern neighbourhoods
(01:08):
of Santiago di Loos Cavalleros as Antigua Guatemala was known
at the time. The church began as a modest chapel
that was later expanded and beautified thanks to the efforts
of devoted parishioners and ecclesiastical authorities. Its location on the
city's outskirts reflected the need to extend religious services beyond
(01:30):
the urban center. The design of the Church of La
Candelaria is a modest, yet elegant example of colonial Baroque architecture.
The facade, decorated with niches and moldings, emphasizes Marian devotion
through details representing the Virgin and other religious symbols. The
(01:50):
main structure consists of a single nave with a pitched
wooden roof supported by thick masonry walls designed to withstand
the region's frequent earth earthquakes. Inside the church featured a
main altar dedicated to the Virgin of La Candelaria, adorned
with gilded wooden carvings and sculptures depicting biblical episodes related
(02:13):
to purification and light. Although some of these artworks have
been lost over time, the church's spiritual atmosphere remains palpable.
The surrounding courtyards with gardens and small corridors offered a
tranquil space for meditation and reflection, a common characteristic of
peripheral temples during that era. The Church of La Candelaria
(02:38):
suffered significant damage during the eighteenth century earthquakes, particularly during
the seventeen seventy three Santa Marta earthquakes. These disasters weakened
its structure, leaving parts of the church in ruins. After
the capital of the Kingdom of Guatemala was moved to
Nueva Guatemala de La A Sunchon in seventeen seventy six,
(03:00):
the church experienced a period of partial abandonment as most
ecclesiastical resources were directed to the new city. During the
twentieth century, growing interest in preserving the historical heritage of Antigua,
Guatemala led to restoration work at Lacandelaria, ensuring the structure
remained stable and continued to serve as a place of
(03:22):
cultural and spiritual significance. Devotion to the Virgin of La
Candelaria has been the central focus of religious activities at
this church. Every February second, the day of the Virgin's Feast,
the church becomes a gathering point for processions, solemn masses,
and community celebrations that reflect the continuity of Marian traditions. Additionally,
(03:47):
during Holy Week, La Candelaria plays an important role in
Antigua Guatemala's religious events, being part of the processions that
move through the city. These celebrations highlight not only its
religiousigus nificance, but also its cultural importance. M
The Church of La Candelaria, located in the northernmost part
of Antigua, Guatemala, has a history marked by religious events,
natural disasters, and community devotion. It reflects the importance of
peripheral temples in the city's life during the seventeenth and
eighteenth centuries. Dedicated to the Virgin of La Candelaria, patroness
(00:25):
of light and purification, this church remains a symbol of
faith and tradition in the region. Among the different ways
believers refer to the Mother of Jesus, one of them
is Candelaria. This refers to the scene of the presentation
of Jesus in the temple and Mary's ritual purification rites
(00:46):
that were part of the Jewish faith practiced by Jesus' parents.
This scene is commemorated on what is popularly known as
the Day of the Virgin of La Candelaria, during which
worshippers traditionally bring wax candes to the temple. The Church
of La Candelaria was built in the seventeenth century to
meet the spiritual needs of residence in the northern neighbourhoods
(01:08):
of Santiago di Loos Cavalleros as Antigua Guatemala was known
at the time. The church began as a modest chapel
that was later expanded and beautified thanks to the efforts
of devoted parishioners and ecclesiastical authorities. Its location on the
city's outskirts reflected the need to extend religious services beyond
(01:30):
the urban center. The design of the Church of La
Candelaria is a modest, yet elegant example of colonial Baroque architecture.
The facade, decorated with niches and moldings, emphasizes Marian devotion
through details representing the Virgin and other religious symbols. The
(01:50):
main structure consists of a single nave with a pitched
wooden roof supported by thick masonry walls designed to withstand
the region's frequent earth earthquakes. Inside the church featured a
main altar dedicated to the Virgin of La Candelaria, adorned
with gilded wooden carvings and sculptures depicting biblical episodes related
(02:13):
to purification and light. Although some of these artworks have
been lost over time, the church's spiritual atmosphere remains palpable.
The surrounding courtyards with gardens and small corridors offered a
tranquil space for meditation and reflection, a common characteristic of
peripheral temples during that era. The Church of La Candelaria
(02:38):
suffered significant damage during the eighteenth century earthquakes, particularly during
the seventeen seventy three Santa Marta earthquakes. These disasters weakened
its structure, leaving parts of the church in ruins. After
the capital of the Kingdom of Guatemala was moved to
Nueva Guatemala de La A Sunchon in seventeen seventy six,
(03:00):
the church experienced a period of partial abandonment as most
ecclesiastical resources were directed to the new city. During the
twentieth century, growing interest in preserving the historical heritage of Antigua,
Guatemala led to restoration work at Lacandelaria, ensuring the structure
remained stable and continued to serve as a place of
(03:22):
cultural and spiritual significance. Devotion to the Virgin of La
Candelaria has been the central focus of religious activities at
this church. Every February second, the day of the Virgin's Feast,
the church becomes a gathering point for processions, solemn masses,
and community celebrations that reflect the continuity of Marian traditions. Additionally,
(03:47):
during Holy Week, La Candelaria plays an important role in
Antigua Guatemala's religious events, being part of the processions that
move through the city. These celebrations highlight not only its
religiousigus nificance, but also its cultural importance. M
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