Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de los Remedios
Encyclopedia
The Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de los Remedios (Church of Our Lady of Remedies) is a Mexican church that was built on Quetzalcoatl's pyramid in Cholula, Puebla state, in central Mexico after the Spanish Conquest. The Basilica was constructed with brada stone and decorated with "laminilla" of 24 carat gold. Inside it has an altar based on the neoclassic style
. Its construction began in May, 1574 and ended in August, 1575, being consecrated on March 25, 1629. The archeological structure on which the church is built is the largest pyramid of the ancient world, being 54 metres (177ft) high, covering 54 acres and shaped by several superimposed structures over the course of 6 centuries.
in the battle of "the Sad Night" led to a hurried escape of the survivors up to Naucalpan. Along the way they suffered the loss of many soldiers and native allies as well as notable hostages such as some children of Moctezuma.
The conquistadors sheltered and recovered in the Indian temples until they could turn to fight the Aztecs at the battle of Otumba. The legend tells that one of the soldiers of Cortes
, Gonzalo Rodriguez de Villafuerte, was bringing one of the little religious images, also called castrenses, and he hid it between the aloes in order to produce a vote of gratefulness.
The legend tells that during the battle a sweet little girl was throwing dirt in the eyes of the attacking aboriginals favoring the Castilian victory.
On top of the Tlachihualtepetl (Grand Pyramid) is located the Church of Our Lady of Remedies, whose worship is associated - like its pre-Hispanic native predecessors - with the propitiation of the rain.
This archeological structure is in fact formed by the construction of several superimposed pyramids, over the course of six centuries. The base is 450 meters on each side and 54 meters high; two times bigger than that of Teotihuacan's Sun Pyramid, and 4 times bigger in volume than that of Keops in Egypt.
In the early 1930's the knowledge about the Great Pyramid was scarce, so it was decided to undertake exploration. The work began in 1931 under the direction of the architect Ignacio Marquina.
After 25 years of exploration eight kilometres of tunnels were excavated, which facilitated the discovery of the seven superimposed pyramids. (In the second one the mural of the butterflies was discovered and in an attached building they found the mural of the Drinkers, with more than a hundred anthropomorphous figures that signify a ceremony in honor to Octli, the god of "pulque".)
On the inside it has an altar built in the neoclassic style, as is the rest of its decoration.
In 1595, the painter Alfonso de Villasana crafted the pictures that are located in the walls of the Basilica where the history describes the laVirgende Remedies, being in 1628 when the Ayuntamientode ended to add to the temple the cruise, the vaults and the dome.
The image of Our Lady of the Remedies arrived on Mexican land in 1519 with Juan Rodríguez de Villafuerte, who brought it from Vasconia, Spain, as protector for his trip of conquest. Various versions exist of an intriguing legend about its prior history and origins, as far back as 700AD. It was in Veracruz where he presided at the first mass that was done in Mexico, on April 21, 1519, the same year as Hernán Cortés's mandate was venerated by the conquerors in the "Templo Mayor" of the Great Tenochtitlan.
In 1520, when the Spanish commanded by Hernán Cortés were defeated by the Aztecs, as they were fleeing by way of Naucalpan, Captain Juan Rodríguez de Villafuerte concealed the image of Our Lady of the Remedies in an native temple on the highest part of Otocampulco's hill. Twenty years later, the Indigenous people discovered her there under an aloe plant and from that moment the virgin was venerated in the house of the chief of San Juan Totoltepec.
Until a hermitage reconstructed the image, the name of Our Lady of the Remedies was changed to Our Lady of Victory (alternative name to "Remedies").
From its porch you can appreciate a spectacular sight of the four cardinal compass points, especially of the Valley of Puebla, that is towards the east.
. Its construction began in May, 1574 and ended in August, 1575, being consecrated on March 25, 1629. The archeological structure on which the church is built is the largest pyramid of the ancient world, being 54 metres (177ft) high, covering 54 acres and shaped by several superimposed structures over the course of 6 centuries.
History
No name is more graphical than "The Remedies" to explain the history of this sanctuary. The defeat suffered by Hernán CortésHernán Cortés
Hernán Cortés de Monroy y Pizarro, 1st Marquis of the Valley of Oaxaca was a Spanish Conquistador who led an expedition that caused the fall of the Aztec Empire and brought large portions of mainland Mexico under the rule of the King of Castile in the early 16th century...
in the battle of "the Sad Night" led to a hurried escape of the survivors up to Naucalpan. Along the way they suffered the loss of many soldiers and native allies as well as notable hostages such as some children of Moctezuma.
The conquistadors sheltered and recovered in the Indian temples until they could turn to fight the Aztecs at the battle of Otumba. The legend tells that one of the soldiers of Cortes
Cortes
Cortes is surname of Spanish and Portuguese origin. Cortes or Cortés may also refer to:-Institutions:* The Cortes , the national legislative assembly of Spain...
, Gonzalo Rodriguez de Villafuerte, was bringing one of the little religious images, also called castrenses, and he hid it between the aloes in order to produce a vote of gratefulness.
The legend tells that during the battle a sweet little girl was throwing dirt in the eyes of the attacking aboriginals favoring the Castilian victory.
Archeological structure
The Spanish recognised the significance of the pyramid mound, and in typical Conquest fashion decided to replace any remaining trace of the existing native temple with their own church, to reinforce their superiority, in the year 1594.On top of the Tlachihualtepetl (Grand Pyramid) is located the Church of Our Lady of Remedies, whose worship is associated - like its pre-Hispanic native predecessors - with the propitiation of the rain.
This archeological structure is in fact formed by the construction of several superimposed pyramids, over the course of six centuries. The base is 450 meters on each side and 54 meters high; two times bigger than that of Teotihuacan's Sun Pyramid, and 4 times bigger in volume than that of Keops in Egypt.
In the early 1930's the knowledge about the Great Pyramid was scarce, so it was decided to undertake exploration. The work began in 1931 under the direction of the architect Ignacio Marquina.
After 25 years of exploration eight kilometres of tunnels were excavated, which facilitated the discovery of the seven superimposed pyramids. (In the second one the mural of the butterflies was discovered and in an attached building they found the mural of the Drinkers, with more than a hundred anthropomorphous figures that signify a ceremony in honor to Octli, the god of "pulque".)
Decoration
The Basilica was constructed with brada stone and decorated with 24 carat gold leaf "laminilla".On the inside it has an altar built in the neoclassic style, as is the rest of its decoration.
In 1595, the painter Alfonso de Villasana crafted the pictures that are located in the walls of the Basilica where the history describes the laVirgende Remedies, being in 1628 when the Ayuntamientode ended to add to the temple the cruise, the vaults and the dome.
Image of Our lady of Remedies
The image that shelters this Sanctuary is 27 cm high and is carved and gilded. It will generate to the first processions of the city of Mexico going out with great pomp of the church of the Holy Veracruz and ending in Naucalpan's temple, with the absence of religious, political, civil, military and cultural groups. There was no balcony that was not producing any attribution to the Virgin of the Remedies.The image of Our Lady of the Remedies arrived on Mexican land in 1519 with Juan Rodríguez de Villafuerte, who brought it from Vasconia, Spain, as protector for his trip of conquest. Various versions exist of an intriguing legend about its prior history and origins, as far back as 700AD. It was in Veracruz where he presided at the first mass that was done in Mexico, on April 21, 1519, the same year as Hernán Cortés's mandate was venerated by the conquerors in the "Templo Mayor" of the Great Tenochtitlan.
In 1520, when the Spanish commanded by Hernán Cortés were defeated by the Aztecs, as they were fleeing by way of Naucalpan, Captain Juan Rodríguez de Villafuerte concealed the image of Our Lady of the Remedies in an native temple on the highest part of Otocampulco's hill. Twenty years later, the Indigenous people discovered her there under an aloe plant and from that moment the virgin was venerated in the house of the chief of San Juan Totoltepec.
Until a hermitage reconstructed the image, the name of Our Lady of the Remedies was changed to Our Lady of Victory (alternative name to "Remedies").
Symbolism
Since 1594, it is dedicated to Our Lady of Remedies, who symbolizes the Christianization of the indigenous people by the Spanish.From its porch you can appreciate a spectacular sight of the four cardinal compass points, especially of the Valley of Puebla, that is towards the east.
See also
- Santuario de Ntra. Sra. de los Remedios, Fregenal de la SierraFregenal de la SierraFregenal de la Sierra is a municipality located in the province of Badajoz, Extremadura, Spain.- Geography :Fregenal de la Sierra is located in the Sierra Suroeste comarca , among the small hills and ravines of the Sierra Morena...
, BadajozBadajozBadajoz is the capital of the Province of Badajoz in the autonomous community of Extremadura, Spain, situated close to the Portuguese border, on the left bank of the river Guadiana, and the Madrid–Lisbon railway. The population in 2007 was 145,257.... - Catedral de Ntra. Sra. de Los Remedios, La Laguna, TenerifeTenerifeTenerife is the largest and most populous island of the seven Canary Islands, it is also the most populated island of Spain, with a land area of 2,034.38 km² and 906,854 inhabitants, 43% of the total population of the Canary Islands. About five million tourists visit Tenerife each year, the...
- Parroquia de Ntra. Sra. de Los Remedios, MondoñedoMondoñedoMondoñedo is a small town and municipality in the Galician province of Lugo, Spain. , the town has a population of 4,508. Mondoñedo occupies a sheltered valley among the northern outliers of the Cantabrian Mountains.-History:...
, LugoLugoLugo is a city in northwestern Spain, in the autonomous community of Galicia. It is the capital of the province of Lugo. The municipality had a population of 97,635 in 2010, which makes is the fourth most populated city in Galicia.-Population:... - Parroquia de Ntra. Sra. de Los Remedios, Buenavista del NorteBuenavista del NorteBuenavista del Norte is a municipality and town on the north coast of Tenerife. It is located on the TF42 Road about 75 km west of the capital Santa Cruz de Tenerife , and 65km from Tenerife North Airport....
, TenerifeTenerifeTenerife is the largest and most populous island of the seven Canary Islands, it is also the most populated island of Spain, with a land area of 2,034.38 km² and 906,854 inhabitants, 43% of the total population of the Canary Islands. About five million tourists visit Tenerife each year, the...