Cathedral-Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar facts for kids
- See Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar (Buenos Aires) for the church in Buenos Aires
Quick facts for kids Cathedral-Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar |
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Catedral-Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar
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Nuestra Señora del Pilar Basilica
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Catholic |
| Province | Archdiocese of Zaragoza |
| Rite | Roman Rite |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Minor Basilica |
| Year consecrated | 1st or 2nd century AD (founded by the pre-Schism Christian Church) |
| Location | |
| Location | Zaragoza, Spain |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural style | |
| Groundbreaking | 1681 |
| Completed | 1961 |
| Type | Non-movable |
| Criteria | Monument |
| Designated | 22 June 1904 |
| Reference no. | RI-51-0000083 |
The Cathedral-Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar (Spanish: Catedral-Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar) is a famous Catholic church in Zaragoza, Spain. It is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary under the special name of Our Lady of the Pillar. Many people believe this church is the very first one ever built to honor Mary.
According to old stories, the history of this basilica goes back to the early days of Christianity in Spain. It is said that Mary appeared to Saint James the Great, one of Jesus's apostles, right here. This is the only time Mary is believed to have appeared to someone before she went to heaven.
Many kings of Spain, other rulers, and saints have visited this special statue of Mary. Some famous visitors include Saint John of the Cross, Saint Teresa of Ávila, and Saint Ignatius of Loyola. The Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar is one of two important churches in Zaragoza. It shares the title of "co-cathedral" with another church nearby, La Seo de Zaragoza. The building is mostly in the Baroque style, and much of it was built between 1681 and 1872.
Contents
History of the Basilica
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The Story of the Apparition
An old local story says that soon after Jesus's death and resurrection, Saint James was trying to spread the Christian message in Spain. He felt discouraged because his mission was not going well. The tradition states that on January 2, 40 AD, while he was praying by the Ebro River, the Mother of God appeared to him. She gave him a column made of jasper and told him to build a church in her honor. She said, "This place is to be my house, and this image and column shall be the title and altar of the temple that you shall build."
The First Chapel
About a year after this event, Saint James is believed to have built a small chapel. This chapel was the very first church ever dedicated to Mary. After James went back to Jerusalem, he was killed around 44 AD. He was the first apostle to die for his faith. Some of his followers brought his body back to Spain for burial.
This first chapel was later destroyed, like many other Christian holy places. However, the special statue and the pillar were kept safe by the people of Zaragoza.
How the Church Grew
Many churches have been built on this spot over hundreds of years. The small chapel built by Saint James eventually became a larger church during the time of Emperor Constantine I. Later, it was rebuilt in different styles, including Romanesque, Gothic, and Mudéjar.
When King Alfonso I took back Zaragoza for Christians in 1118, a new church was built in the Romanesque style. A part of this Romanesque church, called a tympanum, can still be seen on the south wall today.
The Gothic Church
The Romanesque church was damaged by a fire in 1434. After that, a new church was built in the Mudéjar Gothic style. Only a few parts of this Gothic church remain today. These include the choir stand and a beautiful altarpiece made of alabaster by Damián Forment.
The Current Building
The large church you see today, in the Baroque style, was started in 1681 by King Charles II of Spain. It was mostly finished by 1686. Later, in 1725, architects like Ventura Rodríguez made the building even bigger. It became 130 meters long and 67 meters wide, with eleven domes and four towers.
The most visited part of the church is the Holy Chapel, designed by Ventura Rodríguez in 1754. This is where the special image of the Virgin Mary is kept. Around this chapel, you can see amazing paintings on the domes by the famous artist Francisco Goya. These include The Queen of Martyrs and Adoration of the Name of God.
During the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939), three bombs were dropped on the church. Amazingly, none of them exploded! Two of these unexploded bombs are still on display inside the basilica today.
The Pillar and the Image
The statue of Mary is made of wood and is about 39 centimeters tall. It stands on a column made of jasper.
The story of the shrine of El Pilar, as told by Sister Mary Agreda, says that Our Lady was carried to Zaragoza by angels on a cloud during the night. As they traveled, the angels built a pillar of marble and a tiny image of Our Lady. Our Lady then gave her message to Saint James and said that a church should be built where she appeared. The pillar and the image were meant to be part of the main altar. In 1905, the image was crowned with a beautiful crown.
Inside the Basilica
The building is very large and can be seen from the nearby Ebro River. It has a main area (nave) and two side areas (aisles), plus two chapels made of brick. This gives it a special look common in the Aragon region. Sunlight comes in through large round windows called oculi. Twelve huge pillars hold up the ceilings of the main areas and chapels, which are topped with domes.
Some of the chapels inside the basilica include:
- Chapel of the Rosary
- Chapel of Joachim
- Chapel of Saint Lawrence
- Chapel of Saint Pedro de Arbués
- Chapel of Saint Braulio
- Chapel of Saint Anthony
- Chapel of Saint Joseph
- Chapel of Saint Anna
- Chapel of Saint John
Music and Organs
The first organ in the church was built in 1463. Later, in 1537, another organ was built to be as good as the one in the nearby La Seo church.
Over the years, the organs were rebuilt and improved. By 1657, the church had several organs of different sizes. This meant that musical performances were very popular during Spain's Golden Age.
In the Middle Ages, a musician called a minstrel would play an instrument called a dulcian to accompany the singers. Later, in the mid-1600s, more complex music with many voices (polyphony) was played. By the late 1600s, a full orchestra of minstrels worked for the church.
El Pilar and Spanish Culture
The feast day of Our Lady of the Pillar is on October 12. This day is important because it celebrates Mary's first appearance to Hispanic people. It also happens to be the same day that Christopher Columbus arrived in the Americas. Many countries with Spanish roots have given special clothes for the 15th-century statue of the Virgin that is kept in the chapel. Pope John Paul II called El Pilar the "Mother of the Hispanic Peoples" during his visits to the basilica.
The basilica was recognized as an important cultural landmark in Spain in 1904.
See also
- Marian apparitions
- Roman Catholic Marian churches
- 12 Treasures of Spain
- List of Bien de Interés Cultural in the Province of Zaragoza
