Basilica of Saints Justus and Pastor facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Basilica of Saints Justus and Pastor |
|
|---|---|
|
Església dels Sants Just i Pastor
|
|
 |
|
 Basilica of Saints Justus and Pastor
Location in Barcelona
|
|
| 41°22′58″N 2°10′41″E / 41.38278°N 2.17806°E | |
| Location | Barcelona |
| Country | Spain |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Basilica |
| Dedication | Sainta Justus and Pastor |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | Barcelona |
The Basilica of Saints Justus and Pastor (which in Catalan is called Església dels Sants Just i Pastor) is a very old and important church located in Barcelona, Catalonia, in Spain. A basilica is a special type of church that has been given a high honor by the Pope. In 1948, this church became the sixth one in Barcelona to be called a minor basilica. This special title was given by Pope Pius XII.
Contents
History of the Basilica
Building the Gothic Church
The construction of this beautiful Catalan Gothic church began a very long time ago, on February 1, 1342. It was built on the site of an even older Romanesque church and a chapel called Sant Celoni. The building work continued for many years, finally finishing in 1574.
By 1363, the first three parts of the main area of the church, called the nave, were completed. The arched ceiling at the back of the church was finished in the century that followed.
Later Additions and Changes
The front of the church, known as the façade, and the bell tower, or belfry, were built later, lasting until the 16th century. Several skilled builders worked on these parts, including Pere Blai, Joan Safont, and Joan Granja.
During the 19th century, some important changes were made inside the church. The area where the choir sings was moved from the middle of the nave to the apse, which is the rounded part at the end of the church. Because of this, the altar (the table used for religious ceremonies) also had to be moved forward.
The front of the church was rebuilt between 1880 and 1887. This was done in a style called Gothic Revival, which means it looked like the old Gothic style but was built much later. Josep Oriol Mestres was the architect for this work.
More updates happened in the 20th century. In 1904, the chapel of the Santíssim was reformed by August Font i Carreras. Later, in 1944, the colorful paintings on the walls and ceilings from the 19th century were removed. In 1946, the church was restored again under the guidance of architect Jeroni Martorell i Terrats.
Receiving the Basilica Title
As mentioned, in 1948, the church received the special title of minor basilica. This honor was given by Pope Pius XII, recognizing its importance and beauty.
See also
In Spanish: Basílica de los Santos Justo y Pastor para niños
