San Bernardino de Siena Church, Xochimilco facts for kids
The San Bernardino de Siena Church is a very old and important church in Xochimilco, a borough of Mexico City. It was built a long time ago, in the 1500s. Before the church, there was an ancient temple from the time before the Spanish arrived. The Spanish built the church as part of their efforts to teach Christianity after they conquered the Aztec Empire.
Since it was built, the church has been a central part of Xochimilco's history. Many important events and traditions happen here. One famous tradition involves a special statue of the Child Jesus called the Niñopa. Inside the church, you can see a very rare main altar from the 1500s. It's special because it doesn't have columns or other visible supports. There's only one other altar like it in Mexico, located in Huejotzingo, Puebla.
Contents
A Look Back: The Church's History
When the Spanish arrived, Xochimilco was connected to Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital. Xochimilco even helped the Aztecs fight against the Spanish. In 1521, Hernán Cortés attacked Xochimilco before attacking Tenochtitlan. Not many people survived this attack.
After the Aztec Empire fell, the Spanish quickly began teaching Christianity in the area. The last ruler of Xochimilco, Apochquiyauhtzin, became Christian in 1522. This allowed him to remain in charge. In 1524, Martín de Valencia and other monks started teaching Christianity to many people.
Building a Grand Church
At first, a small church was built where the old temple used to be. But Xochimilco was a very important town in the south of the Valley of Mexico. So, in 1535, they started building a much bigger church. Francisco de Soto led this huge project. They also built smaller churches nearby, like the chapel of San Pedro.
The church and its monastery (where monks lived) were built in different stages. Construction lasted from 1535 to 1600. The monastery part was finished by 1538. By 1585, the main church was ready. More rooms for the monks were also added. The cloister (an open area with covered walkways) was completed in 1604. Most of the money for building came from the local indigenous leaders of Xochimilco. Martín Cerón de Álvaro gave the most money.
The Church's Importance to Xochimilco
Since it was built, the San Bernardino de Siena Church has been at the heart of Xochimilco's life. It helped bring the community together and shaped their identity. In 1538, the Franciscans (a group of monks) wanted to leave because there weren't many monks. But the local people protested, so two monks were allowed to stay.
In 1552, part of the main entrance fell down. It was rebuilt and finished in 1590. By 1569, four monks were teaching Christianity to about 5,000 local people. Friar Jerónimo de Mendieta was in charge. By 1585, there were six monks. In 1609, a school was started at the monastery. It taught subjects like public speaking, religion, arts, and writing.
The church was also in charge of many communities outside Xochimilco itself. These included places like Santiago Tepalcatlalpan and San Miguel Topilejo. These areas are now part of Xochimilco and Tlalpan boroughs.
The Niñopa Tradition
As people became Christian, they were allowed to keep some of their old traditions. They mixed these with Catholic practices. The most famous tradition is about the Niñopa. This is a statue of the Child Jesus from the 1500s. The Spanish encouraged these statues to replace a local child god that people worshipped.
Today, a different family takes care of the Niñopa statue each year. The statue moves to a new house on February 2nd. This important annual event for Xochimilco happens at this church.
In 1932, the church and former monastery were declared a national monument. This means they are protected as an important historical site. In the 1960s, the church and monastery were repaired. This included fixing the buildings, paintings, altars, and statues. For a while, two schools, Vicente Riva Palacio and Ignacio Ramírez, were located on the church property until the 1970s.
Exploring the Church's Design
The San Bernardino Church is in the historic center of Xochimilco. It stands across from the main town square and the borough hall. The church faces east. The cloister is on the south side, which helps protect it from strong winds. In front of the church is a very large open space called an atrium. Big atriums were common for churches built in Mexico in the 1500s.
Outside the Church
The main front of the church is simple. It highlights the main entrance. This entrance has an arch with two flat columns, called pilasters, on either side. Above the entrance, you can see the choir window. At the very top of the facade are decorative elements called merlons. These were originally built for defense. There's also a clock from the 1800s and a small bell tower. The main tower was built in 1716, and the clock was added in 1872.
The church first had a wooden roof, but later it was replaced with arched ceilings called vaults. The dome on top was finished in 1700. The side entrance of the church mixes different styles. It has elements of Plateresque (a Spanish Renaissance style) and Gothic styles, along with some local indigenous designs.
Next to the main entrance, there are three arches that belong to an open chapel. These arches are said to represent the three groups of people in the area: indigenous, Spanish, and mestizo (mixed heritage). This was the place where baptisms often happened. This area also leads to the former monastery cloister. On the upper level of the cloister, you can still see parts of old wall paintings, called frescos, from the colonial period.
There is also a smaller chapel called the Capilla de la Tercera Orden. It's just outside the cloister. This chapel has only one main room, called a nave. It was built in four parts in the 1600s. Its main entrance is small and looks similar to the main church's style. This chapel used to be a place for the tabernacle (where the Eucharist is kept).
Inside the Church
The most important item inside the church is the main altarpiece from the 1500s. It's one of the few left in Mexico. It's built in the Plateresque style with Renaissance elements. What makes it special is that it doesn't have any obvious columns or supports. The only other altarpiece like it is in Huejotzingo, Puebla.
The altarpiece is made of many frames and spaces, all covered in shiny gold leaf. On one side of the altarpiece, on the second level, there's a painting of Christ. This painting is from the 1500s but is not complete. On the other side of the same level, there's a painting of the Holy Family from the 1600s or 1700s. From the same time, on the third level, is an image of the Most Pure Virgin. On the fourth level, there's another image of Christ from the 1500s or 1600s. A fifth-level image of Christ is from the 1600s.
Our Lady of Mount Carmen appears on the fifth level, painted in the 1600s. The Martyrdom of Saint Peter is on the sixth level, painted in the 1600s or 1700s. Also on the sixth level, there's a painting of the Passion from the 1600s, but it's in poor condition. An image of Saint Sebastian from the 1600s is on the seventh level.
The image of Saint Sebastian is placed with an image of the Apostle James the Great. This is because in the late 1500s, Xochimilco suffered from a serious sickness for over a year. People believed that praying to these two saints helped the sickness finally disappear. Among the many statues on this main altar, there is a carving of Bernardino of Siena. He is surrounded by sculptures that represent the indigenous leaders who helped build the church and monastery.
Throughout the rest of the church and monastery, you can find many paintings and frescos (wall paintings). Some of these were made by famous artists like Baltasar de Echave, his son Simon Pereyns, and others. On the columns of the main nave, there are frescos of the Twelve Apostles.
The church pews (benches) and the two pulpits (raised platforms for speaking) are made of red cedar wood. A carpenter named Juan Rojas made them in the 1700s.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de Xochimilco para niños
