Morelia Cathedral facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Morelia Metropolitan Cathedral
Cathedral of the Transfiguration of the Lord of Morelia
Catedral de la Transfiguración del Señor de Morelia  (Spanish)
The pink stone of the Cathedral of Morelia
Location	Morelia, Mexico
Denomination	Catholic
Tradition	Roman Rite
History
Status	Cathedral
Dedication	Transfiguration of Jesus
Architecture
Groundbreaking	6 May 1660
Completed	1744
Administration
Archdiocese	Morelia

The Morelia Cathedral is a very important church in Morelia, Mexico. It's the main church for the Catholic faith in the area. You can find it in the city's main square, part of Morelia's historic downtown. This beautiful building was constructed in the 1700s, during the time when Mexico was called New Spain. It has a Baroque style and is made from unique pink stone. This stone gives the cathedral its special and famous color. Many people from the Guedea family, like Sebastián, Andrés, and Pedro, helped build it over a long time.

Cool Facts About the Cathedral

Front façade

This amazing building is made of pink stone. Inside, it has a simple, classic style called Doric. It also features Neoclassical altars. Building the cathedral started in 1660 and finished in 1744.

Here are some interesting things you can find inside:

• An 18th-century silver "Manifestor" in the Baroque style.
• A silver Baptismal Font, also from the 1700s, in a Neoclassical style.
• A huge organ from the early 1900s with 4,600 pipes.
• A 16th-century statue called the "Lord of the Sacristy." It was made using an old technique with corn cane paste.
• Many valuable paintings in the sacristy and Chapter House.

The Morelia Cathedral is very tall and can be seen from all over the city. Its two towers are 66.8 meters high. This makes them among the tallest church towers in Mexico.

Here are some more unique facts:

• It is the only cathedral in Mexico that faces north instead of south.
• It has modern LED lighting that can change colors. On Saturdays, the cathedral puts on a light, sound, and fireworks show.
• The cathedral is dedicated to the Transfiguration of Jesus. It also holds two much-loved statues: the Sacred Heart of Jesus, who is the city's patron saint, and the Lord of the Sacristy.
• Its beauty and history make it a symbol of Morelia.
• The huge organ, made in Germany in the early 1900s, is one of the most important in Mexico.
• Because of its beauty and great sound, the cathedral hosts many art and music events. These include the Morelia International Organ Festival.
• Pope Francis, the leader of the Catholic Church, visited the cathedral on February 16, 2016.

Building the Cathedral

The first cathedral in Morelia was built in 1580. It was much smaller than the one we see today. As the city grew and after a fire, a new, bigger church was needed. So, in the early 1600s, plans for the new cathedral began.

On May 6, 1660, the first stone was laid. An Italian architect named Vizencio Barroquio led the construction. He worked on it until he passed away in 1692. His students continued the work and finished the huge building in 1744.

The inside of the cathedral has a Doric style. It has three main sections called naves. The central nave is supported by 14 columns. There are also four chapels with beautiful decorations. Along the two side naves, you can see several Neoclassical altars.

The cathedral has rooms like the Chapter House and the Sacristy. Here, you can find old paintings and furniture from the 17th and 19th centuries. Even though the cathedral was looted during wars, it still has many valuable art pieces. One important sculpture is the "Lord of the Sacristy," a Christ statue from the 1500s. There are also paintings by famous artists like Miguel Cabrera.

The Morelia Cathedral has an impressive organ called "San Gregorio Magno." It was made in Germany in 1907 and has 4,600 pipes. It replaced an older Spanish organ from the 1700s. Only the carved wooden parts of the old organ remain.

The outside of the cathedral is a massive structure made of pink quarry stone. This stone is common in the region. It has two large Baroque-style towers, each over 65 meters tall. The front has three carved sections. A beautiful iron fence from the 1800s surrounds the entrance area. The church is shaped like a "Latin cross" and is 96 meters long. The main front faces the city's main street, not the square. On the main entrance, you can see carvings and statues. These show scenes like the resurrection and the adoration of the shepherds.

The two tall twin towers make the cathedral look very grand and balanced. One tower has an iron cross, which stands for the divine side of Christ. The other has a stone cross, representing Jesus' human side. There is also a dome over one of the chapels. The main dome is covered with colorful azulejo tiles.

Cathedral's Design

West façade of the cathedral.

Main portal

Domes

The cathedral is a huge building made of pink stone. It has two tall towers, each 66.8 meters high. These are called twin towers and have a checkered Baroque style. It has three main fronts: one at the front and two on the sides. The church is shaped like a Latin cross, 96 meters long and 62 meters wide. A beautiful iron fence from the 1800s surrounds the front area.

Outside Features

• Main Front: This front has three levels and is in the Baroque style. It faces Avenida Madero, the city's main street. This is different from most other churches in Mexico, which face the main square. The main entrance has sculptures and carvings. They show the Transfiguration of Christ, the Adoration of the Shepherds, and the Adoration of the Magi. You can also see statues of St. Peter, St. Paul, St. John the Baptist, St. Michael the Archangel, St. Agatha of Sicily, and St. Rose of Lima.
• Side Fronts:
  • East Side: This side entrance is dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe, who is the patron saint of America.
  • West Side: This side entrance is dedicated to St. Joseph, who was the first patron saint of the city.
• Towers: The two twin towers are each 62 meters high. If you count the crosses on top, they are 66.7 meters tall. They rise above the church entrance, making the building look very grand. One tower has an iron cross, symbolizing Christ's divine nature. The other has a stone cross, representing Jesus' human nature.
• Central Dome: The main dome is covered with azulejo tiles. Inside, it is supported by a large round base. There is also another dome over one of the building's chapels.

Inside Features

The Neoclassical interior

The inside of the cathedral looks different from the outside. It has a Doric style with three naves. The central nave is held up by fourteen columns. There are also four beautifully decorated chapels. Along the two side naves, you will find many Neoclassical altars.

• Naves:
  • Central Nave: At the main altar, there is a structure called a cypress. It has four columns supporting a dome. Inside, you can see a silver manifestor. The central nave also has a carved wooden pulpit.
  • Side Naves: The two side naves have Neoclassical altars dedicated to different saints. At the very end of these naves are large altars. One on the east side is for the Lord of the Sacristy. The other, on the west side, is for the Sacred Heart, the city's patron saint.
• Chapels: The cathedral has four chapels. Two are right under the towers, and two are next to them. The chapels on the east side are for the Virgin of Sorrows and the Tabernacle. On the west side, one is for the Holy Family. The other is a burial chapel with marble tombs of archbishops.
• Rooms: The cathedral has several rooms, including the Chapter House and the Sacristy. Here, you can find old paintings and furniture from the 1700s and 1800s.

Art and Treasures

The Morelia Cathedral still holds many valuable treasures. These are important for art, religion, and history.

Altarpiece and Manifestor

• Silverwork:
  • Manifestor: This silver piece from the 1700s is 3.19 meters tall. It has 29 small statues and 42 gilded carvings. They tell a story about Christ's presence in the Eucharist.
  • Baptismal Font: This beautiful silver piece has a strong Neoclassical style. Famous figures like Agustín de Iturbide and José María Morelos were baptized here.
• Sculptures: There are many sculptures inside. The most famous is a Christ statue from the 1500s, known as the Lord of the Sacristy.
• Paintings: The cathedral has paintings by famous artists like Miguel Cabrera. These are kept in the sacristy and the Chapter House.
• Relics: The cathedral keeps relics of Saint Pío and Saint Christopher. These are shown in glass cases in one of the chapels.
• Furniture: You can see a carved wooden pulpit, choir stalls, and the Archbishop's Chair. There is also a "Tenebrario," a special candle holder used for prayers.
• Other Art:
  • Monumental Organ: The cathedral has a huge organ called "San Gregorio Magno." It was built in Germany in 1907 and has 4,600 pipes. Every December, the Morelia International Organ Festival takes place here. Famous organists from around the world perform concerts.
  • Commemorative Plaque: There is a plaque remembering the visit of Pope Francis.

Cool Facts About the Cathedral

Center of Morelia and the cathedral

Front facade

This grand building is made of pink stone in the Baroque style. Inside, it has a simple, classic look called Doric. It also features Neoclassical altarpieces, which are like fancy decorated screens behind the altars. Building the cathedral started in 1660 and was completed in 1744.

The cathedral holds many treasures. One is a silver "Manifestor" from the 1700s, used to display the Eucharist. There's also a silver Baptismal Font from the same century. A huge organ, built in the early 1900s, has 4,600 pipes! You can also see an old image of the Lord of the Sacristy. This image was made in the 1500s using a special technique with corn cane paste. The sacristy and Chapter House also have valuable paintings.

• Compared to other cathedrals in Mexico, Morelia Cathedral looks a bit like the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral and Puebla Cathedral.
• It's the most famous building in Morelia because of its height. Its two tall towers can be seen from all over the city.
• The towers of Morelia Cathedral are about 66.8 meters (219 feet) tall. This makes them some of the tallest in Mexico.
• It's the only cathedral in Mexico that faces north instead of south.
• The cathedral has cool new LED lights that can change colors. On Saturdays, there's a special light, sound, and fireworks show!
• The cathedral is dedicated to the Transfiguration of Jesus. Inside, two images are especially loved: the Sacred Heart of Jesus, who is the city's patron saint, and the Lord of the Sacristy, a very old statue of Christ.
• Its beauty and history make it a true symbol of Morelia.
• The huge organ, made in Germany in the early 1900s, was once the biggest in Latin America. Today, it's still one of the most important organs in Mexico.
• Because of its beauty and great sound, the cathedral hosts many concerts and cultural events. These include the Morelia International Organ Festival and the Morelia International Music Festival.
• On February 16, 2016, Pope Francis, the leader of the Catholic Church, visited the cathedral.

See also

In Spanish: Catedral metropolitana de Morelia para niños