Chapel of Our Lady of Chiquinquirá facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chapel of Our Lady of Chiquinquirá of La Ceja |
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Capilla de Nuestra Señora de Chiquinquirá de La Ceja
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| Location | La Ceja, Antioquia, Colombia |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Colonial |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Roman Catholic Diocese of Sonsón–Rionegro |
The Chapel of Our Lady of Chiquinquirá is a special Catholic church. It is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, known as Our Lady of Chiquinquirá. You can find it in La Ceja, Colombia. It stands on the eastern side of the town's main square. This chapel is part of the Diocese of Sonsón-Rionegro.
The chapel is built in a colonial style. It has a single rectangular main hall, called a nave. Inside, you can see many old paintings. These artworks date from the 1500s, 1600s, and 1700s. Some famous paintings are by the Colombian artist Gregorio Vasquez de Arce y Ceballos.
Contents
About the Chapel
A Special Place for Art
Because of its amazing art collection, the chapel was given a special title. In 1968, Bishop Alfonso Uribe Jaramillo called it a "Temple Museum of Religious Art." This means it's not just a church, but also a museum. Later, on November 2, 1995, the government of Colombia declared it a national monument. This protects the chapel as an important historical site.
Important People Buried Here
This chapel is also the resting place for some important Colombian figures. You can find the remains of the poet Gregorio Gutiérrez González and his wife, Julia de Isaza. Also buried here is Juan de Dios Aranzazu. He was a former President of Colombia and the first president from the Antioquia region. Another notable person buried here is José María Bernal, a leader in politics and business.
History of the Chapel
How it Started
The building of the chapel began in 1820. The land for the chapel was a gift from María Josefa Marulanda. A family devoted to the Virgin Mary of Chiquinquirá helped pay for the project. This family was led by Bárbara Villegas. The new chapel replaced an older one from the 1700s. That older chapel was in a place called El Hato and was taken down in 1792. Many valuable items from other chapels were brought here. These items came from chapels in El Burro, El Hato, and Chaparral.
Moving Around
In 1829, the bishops of Antioquia visited La Ceja. Bishop Fray Mariano Garnica y Orjuela ordered everything to be moved. He wanted the items to go to the main parish church. This church was built by Father Mateo Cardona. Because of this order, the Chapel of Our Lady of Chiquinquirá was taken apart. It was then left empty for some time.
However, in 1853, the main church, Our Lady of Carmen, needed to be expanded. So, for five years, people returned to worship at the Chapel of Our Lady of Chiquinquirá.
See also
In Spanish: Capilla de Nuestra Señora de Chiquinquirá (La Ceja) para niños
