Cave of Achbinico facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Achbinico cave orSaint Blas cave |
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| Native name Spanish: Cueva de Achbinico / Cueva de San Blas |
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| Location | Candelaria, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain |
| Official name: Cave of Achbinico | |
| Criteria | Monument |
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| Achbinico cave and chapel or San Blas cave and chapel Cueva y ermita de Achbinico Cueva y ermita de San Blas |
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic Church |
| Province | Diocese of Saint Cristóbal de La Laguna |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Chapel |
| Leadership | Bishop Bernardo Álvarez Afonso |
| Location | |
| Location | Candelaria, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural style | church |
| Groundbreaking | Use of the cave as a Catholic sanctuary began in 1446; the chapel that recovers the cave was built in 1518. |
| Criteria | chapel, cave |
The Achbinico Cave, also known as the San Blas Cave, is a special cave and chapel in Candelaria, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. It is a very important place for the Roman Catholic Church.
After the Canary Islands were conquered, this cave became the first important Christian holy place. It was also the first place in the Canary Islands dedicated to the Virgin Mary. People came here to worship the Virgin of Candelaria, who is the patron saint of the Canary Islands.
Where is the Achbinico Cave?
The cave is right on the coast. It is located just behind the Basilica of Our Lady of Candelaria.
The cave is long and deep. Its ceiling looks like a dome. It is about 14 meters (46 feet) long, 6 meters (20 feet) wide, and 5 meters (16 feet) high. A small chapel was built around its entrance.
Inside the cave, there is a bronze copy of the Virgin of Candelaria statue. This statue is very important to people on the island. For over 500 years, the cave has been a major pilgrimage site in the Canary Islands. People still visit it, often leaving lit candles and making wishes to the Virgin.
The Achbinico Cave is important not just for religion, but also for its history and prehistory.
The Cave's Ancient Past
Scientists have dug in the cave and found proof that it was a place of worship long ago. This was even before the native people, called the Guanches, placed the Virgin's statue there.
Recent digs show layers of ash. By using a method called carbon-14 dating, scientists found that these ashes are over 3,000 years old. This means a fire was kept burning in the cave for a very long time. It was like the sacred fires kept by the Vestal Virgins in ancient Rome. This ancient holy feeling might be why the Guanches chose this specific cave for the Virgin's statue after it was found.
A Look at the Cave's History
The cave has been a Christian worship place for a long time. The statue of the Virgin of Candelaria was found on Chimisay beach in Güimar in the late 1300s. At that time, the island had not yet been conquered by the Kingdom of Castile. The native people, the Guanches, lived there.
The people who found the statue took it to Acaymo, who was the Guanche king, or mencey. His home was in the cave of Chinguaro. In 1446, the statue was moved to the Achbinico Cave. This event was celebrated with many people.
On one of the cave walls, there is a picture that tells the story of the Virgin's move. A text below it says:
Following the advice of Guanche Antón, a helper of Hernán Peraza, King Acaymo of Güimar moved the statue of Our Lady of Candelaria from his palace in Chinguaro to this cave of Achbinico.
Many Guanches were baptized in this cave. The original font used for these baptisms is now kept in the basilica's special room, called the camarín.
In 1497, Alonso Fernandez de Lugo, who conquered Tenerife, held the first celebration of Candlemas in this cave. Candlemas is a Christian holiday that celebrates the purification of the Virgin Mary.
In 1526, on February 2 (Candlemas), the Virgin's statue was moved from the cave to a new chapel. The current basilica of Candelaria, which is the main Marian shrine in the Canary Islands, was built later in 1959. It stands where a smaller church once was, a few hundred meters from the cave.
King Philip II of Spain became a special protector of the Virgin of Candelaria. After he became king, he gave the title "Royal" to this holy place. It was the first sanctuary in the Canary Islands to receive such a title.
There is also a statue of Saint Blas in this cave. The first statue of Saint Blas was placed there in 1530. It was later replaced by the current one, made by sculptor Fernando Estévez. Because of this, the cave is also honored by Saint Blas. It continues its tradition of worship in February. On February 2, there is a religious ceremony for the Virgin of Candelaria. On February 3, people honor Saint Blas, and his statue is carried in a procession around the plaza de la Patrona de Canarias. This is why the Achbinico Cave is also known as Saint Blas' Cave, and both names are used.
See also
In Spanish: Cueva de Achbinico para niños
