Metropolitan Cathedral of Morelia

The Cathedral of Morelia is a religious site of the Archdiocese of Morelia of the Catholic Church in Mexico. It is located as its name properly says in the city of Morelia, capital of the state of Michoacán, Mexico. The cathedral is located in the first square of the city, forming the trace of the Historic Center of Morelia. The building was built in the XVIII century at the time of the viceroyalty, it is in the Baroque style and is made of pink stone which gives it gives a peculiar and characteristic color. An important family group headed by Sebastián de Guedea collaborated in its construction for a long period; They were Andrés, Pedro, Diego, Miguel, Anastacio, Lorenzo and Joseph, all named Guedea.

General data of interest

A distant view of the Cathedral.

• Majestic pink quarry building, baroque style tabled. In its interior predominates, as the basis of ornamentation, the doric order and has neoclassical altarpieces. Its construction began in 1660 and ended in 1744. Among the treasures he holds are the Baroque Silver Manifestor of the Century XVIII; the Baptism of silver, of neoclassical style, also of the century XVIII; the Monumental Organ, from the beginning of the century and consisting of 4600 flutes or voices; the image of the Lord of the Sacristy, made with the pre-Hispanic technique of "corner rod", from the century XVIas well as valuable paintings located in the sacristy and the capitular room.
• Its monumental organ, of German origin at the beginning of the century XX., was considered the largest organ in Latin America at the beginning of the century XX. and is currently considered one of the most important in Mexico.
• Architecturally, the Cathedral of Morelia, compared to other cathedrals in Mexico, is similar to the Metropolitan Cathedral of Mexico City, Puebla Cathedral, and even inside the Cathedral of Guadalajara.
• The cathedral is the most emblematic and representative building of Morelia given its height, as it has two tall towers, which are seen throughout the city valley. By its height, the towers of the Cathedral of Morelia (66.8 m) are the highest sevenths of Mexico, after the towers of the Sanctuary Guadalupano (Cathedral Inconclusive) in Zamora de Hidalgo (107.5 m), of the Cathedral of Villahermosa (80 m), of the Cathedral of Puebla in Puebla de Zaragoza (73 m), of the Cathedral of León in León, Guanajuato (
• It is the only one of the Mexican cathedrals that is north-facing and not south.
• It has a new LED illumination, with different colors. On Saturday, the cathedral offers a show of light, sound and fireworks with this lighting.
• The cathedral is dedicated to the Transfiguration and within it houses two very venerated images, Sacred Heart of Jesus which is the patron saint of the city, and the Lord of the Sacristy a very ancient Christ made in corn cane paste, which is very visited and loved by the parishioner.
• Its architectural beauty and history are other reasons why it has become an icon of the city.
• Inside this enclosure given its beauty, acoustic sounding and wide space, it appears as the scene of various artistic and cultural events such as the Morelia International Organ Festival, and the Morelia International Music Festival.
• On February 16, 2016 she was visited by Pope Francis, the high priest of the Catholic Church, being one of the few churches in Mexico's history to be visited by a pope.

History

In 1580 the first cathedral was inaugurated, much smaller than the current one in size and artistic value (it was located at the corner of Abasolo and Corregidora streets). However, the growth experienced by the city of Valladolid — now Morelia — at the end of the 16th century and the beginning of the 17th century, as well as a fire that severely affected the previous cathedral, it was necessary to think of another larger, more solid, and more important. That is why, at the beginning of the XVII century, the procedures for the construction of the new cathedral began.

On May 6, 1660, the first stone was laid by Bishop Fray Marcos Ramírez Del Prado. The construction was in charge of the Italian architect Vicenzo Barroccio until his death in 1692, which is why this great architect could not see his monumental work completed. However, just 52 years later, his disciples managed to finish the gigantic architectural task, so this magnificent work was finished in 1744.

In 1810, the Cathedral of Morelia was the victim of various looting by the independence army, due to which, towards the end of the 19th century, the fence that covers the perimeter of the majestic cathedral was built.

The interior of the building is in the Doric style and consists of three naves, the central one supported by 14 columns, attached to these naves, there are four delicately decorated chapels, as well as several neoclassical altarpieces along the 2 naves sides. The Cathedral has four chapels located at the beginning of the lateral naves, two of them are placed under the towers and the other two adjoining, the chapels on the eastern side were dedicated to the Virgen de la Soledad and to the Tabernacle of the Cathedral, for its part, one on the west side is dedicated to the Holy Family and the other, made of marble, as the tomb of archbishops.

There are several rooms, such as the chapter house and the sacristy, where you can find old paintings and furniture from the 18th century and the 19th century. Despite the many lootings that the Morelia Cathedral suffered during the War of Independence and the Revolution, it still preserves great works of artistic, religious and historical value, inside several sculptures such as a majestic Christ dating from the XVI, better known as the Lord of the Sacristy. We can also appreciate paintings by prominent artists such as Miguel de Cabrera and Juan Rodríguez Juárez, which are preserved in the sacristy and in the chapter house.

The Cathedral of Morelia has an impressive tubular organ from the beginning of the 20th century, called "San Gregorio Magno", it is made in Germany and has 4600 voices or flutes, it replaces the old Spanish organ from the 19th century XVIII, from which only the wooden façades that decorate the tubular organ remain.

The exterior of the Cathedral is an enormous pink stone colossus with two large Baroque-style towers, each one more than 65 meters high, it has a triple façade with carved altarpieces, its beautiful XIX limits the atrium, in the temple we can appreciate a Latin cross-type plan with a length of 96 meters, the main façade Baroque style, it is made up of three levels and unlike other cities in New Spain, it faces the main avenue of the city and not the square. On the cover we can appreciate bas-reliefs and sculptures that refer to the Resurrection of Jesus, the Adoration of the Shepherds, as well as the Adoration of the Magi.

The two twin towers, each one more than 65 meters high, exceed the front of the temple, which gives the Cathedral an imposing appearance, full of grace and balance, an iron cross is placed on the top tip of one of the towers, which symbolizes "The Divine Nature of Christ", while in the other there is a stone cross that represents "The Human Nature of Jesus", there is also another dome, which crowns one of the chapels of the construction. Finally we find that the main dome is covered with tiles and supported by a large circular drum.

Architectural description

The outside

Back view of the building.

Poniente de la Catedral.

The Illuminated Cathedral.

Central Dome of Morelia Cathedral.

It is a huge colossus made of pink quarry with two large towers 66.8 m high, (twin towers) in a baroque style. It has a triple façade (one front and two sides) with carved altarpieces. The temple has a Latin cross type plan with a length of 96 m and a total width of 62 m. Limiting the atrium is a beautiful wrought iron fence dating from the XIX century.

• Facades:
  • Tripartite facade:The main facade of the cathedral, which is composed of three bodies (horizontal levels defined by ledges) and corresponds to the baroque style, gives to the main avenue of the city (avenida Madero), and not to the square, as is customary in most of the Novo-Hispanic cities. The cover is decorated with sculptures and bas-reliefs that refer to the Transfiguration of Christ, the Adoration of the Pastors, as well as the Adoration of the Magi. There are also statues of Saint Peter, St. Paul, St. John the Baptist, St. Michael the Archangel, St.
  • Lateral Facades:
    • Cover East:This side facade is dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe, patron saint of America.
    • West Cover:This side facade is dedicated to San José, the first patron saint of the city.
• Torres: On the other hand, the two twin towers, each of three bodies and 62 m tall (66.7 if the crosses are considered in the auctions) flank the cover of the temple, which gives the building an imposing aspect, but not exempt from grace and balance. One of the towers has as a tomato a cross of iron, which symbolizes the divine nature of Christ, while the other tower has to remate a cross of stone, which represents the human nature of Jesus.
  • Tower East
  • Poniente Tower
• Central thrust: The main dome is covered by tiles and inside is supported by a huge circular drum. There is also another dome that crowns one of the chapels of the construction.
• Sugrarian Dome

The interior

Main altar and silver showcase Cathedral of Morelia, Mexico

The interior of the building contrasts with the exterior, since it is Doric in style and consists of three naves, the central one being supported by fourteen columns. In addition, attached to the side naves, there are four delicately decorated chapels and multiple neoclassical altarpieces along the two side naves.

• Ships:
  • Central ship: At the main altar there is a cypress, made up of four columns that support a dome, and inside a silver manifestor. In the central nave is a pulpit made of wood carved in neogothic style.
  • Side ships: Two naves on the central side have neoclassical altars dedicated to various saints, at the bottom the naves are covered by great altars, one on the east side dedicated to the Lord of the Sacristy and the other on the west side dedicated to the Sacred Heart, patron of the city.
    • Nave lateral east:
    • Facing sideship:
• Chapels: the cathedral has four chapels, located at the beginning of the lateral naves, 2 chapels just below the towers and the other two contiguous ones. The chapels on the east side are dedicated to the Virgin of the Dolores or "La Dolorosa" and the Sagrarian of the cathedral. On the west side one is dedicated to the Holy Family and the other is a funeral chapel that houses tombs in marble of Archbishops.
  • Chapel of the Sagrarian
  • Chapel of Soledad
  • Chapel of the Holy Family or Martyrs
  • Chapel of Saint Jerome
• Chambers: It has several rooms among which are the Capitular Hall, La Sacristía, among others, where old paintings and furniture of the century are found.XVIII and XIX.
• Sacristy Room:
• Capitular Room:

This magnificent architectural work, due to the clarity of its profiles, chiaroscuro and the way the façades are carved between the buttresses, is compared by Joaquín Bérchez, with the façade of the Cathedral in Granada by Alonso Cano and with works by Diego Antonio Díaz in Seville.

Artistic works

Churrigueresque baroque of the organ of the Cathedral of Morelia.

Although the Moreliana Cathedral was the victim of great looting during the Mexican War of Independence and the Mexican Revolution, it still preserves great treasures. Works of great artistic, religious and historical value.

• Orfebrería:
  • Manifestator: of silver that measures 3.19 m of height ornate with 29 statuillas and 42 reliefs that communicate a message about the Eucharistic presence of Christ.
  • Pila Bautismal: piece of fine silverware of strong neoclassical matiz. In it was baptized Augustine of Iturbide and José María Morelos and Pavón.
• Sculptures: They also have multiple sculptures inside, exceling a Christ, known as the Lord of the Sacristy, dating from the century XVI.
  • Lord of the Sacristy:
  • Sacred Heart:
• Ceramics:
  • Chinese Tibors
• Oil paints: There are paintings by the most outstanding Novo-Hispanic painter, Miguel de Cabrera, as well as by the painter Juan Rodríguez Juárez; these paintings are preserved in the sacristy and in the capitular room.
  • Monumental oil of transfiguration:
  • Virgin Oil of Guadalupe:
• Relics:
  • Relics of the Martyrs: The relics of the San Pio and San Cristobal Martyrs are preserved, which are shown to the public in glass urns in one of the chapels of the lateral ships.
• Furniture:
  • Púlpito:
  • Choir sillery:
  • Chair of the Archbishop or Archbishop Chair:
  • Tenebrary: Candelabra in the form of triangle, made in labrada wood, is used for the prayer of the trades

Plaque commemorative of Pope Francis' visit to the Cathedral of Morelia on February 16, 2016

• Other artistic pieces:
  • Monumental organ of Morelia Cathedral: The cathedral has an important tubular organ of 4,600 voices or flutes, built in 1907, of German manufacture, of Churrigueresco style, called "San Gregorio Magno", replacing the old Spanish organ of the centuryXVIII of which only its facades are preserved in wood and decorate the electromechanical organ. In December, the Morelia International Organ Festival is held. The festival has been in charge of the dean and teacher the organist Alfonso Vega Núñez who has invited to perform concerts to important organists from around the world, among which the Frenchman Jean Guillou stands out. Some of the presentations are attended by the Symphony Orchestra of the State of Michoacán.
  • Plaque commemorative for the visit of S.S. Pope Francis I.

Conservation and restoration

In 1983 an attempt was made to restore the color of the quarry, but unfortunately paint was used that eventually dried to a darker color and is easily visible. Between 2007 and 2008 a part of the eastern atrium was restored, as well as in 2009 the floor of the front atrium was changed.