San Gabriel Franciscan Convent, Cholula facts for kids
Quick facts for kids San Gabriel Franciscan Convent |
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| San Gabriel Friary | |
Entrance to the church of the convent
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| 19°3′44″N 98°18′16″W / 19.06222°N 98.30444°W | |
| Location | Cholula, Puebla |
| Country | Mexico |
The San Gabriel Franciscan Convent (also known as the San Gabriel Friary) is an important church and monastery located in Cholula, a city near Puebla City in Mexico. It is one of the largest Franciscan monasteries in Mexico.
Contents
History and Design of San Gabriel
The San Gabriel church and friary was built by the Franciscans (a group of Catholic friars) starting in 1529. Their main goal was to spread Christianity. The current buildings were mostly constructed in the 1540s. The Capilla Real (Royal Chapel) began in 1540, and the main church started in 1549. The friary is named after the Archangel Gabriel.
Outside the Convent Walls
The outside of the complex has some Gothic features. A wall with pointed tops surrounds the complex, separating it from the city's main plaza. The large open area in front of the church, called the atrium, was once used for outdoor gatherings and processions.
There are two entrances on the west wall of the atrium. One leads to the main atrium space and chapels. The other is directly in front of the main church. In three corners of the atrium, you'll find small chapels called "capillas posas." These have simple arches and pointed roofs. They were used during outdoor religious parades. The cross in the atrium was carved in 1668.
The front of the main church is smooth. Its corners are strengthened with diagonal supports called buttresses. Over time, a bell gable and a Baroque tower were added. The tower has arched windows, columns, and a small dome with an iron cross on top. The main entrance is carved from sandstone in a Renaissance style. The wooden doors have metal decorations. The bell tower was slightly damaged during an earthquake in September 2017.
Inside the Main Church
The main church has one long central area called a nave. This nave is divided into sections and covered by Gothic vaults and a cupola. The inside is shaped like a Latin cross. It has Gothic ribs on the vaults and arched windows.
You can see many old oil paintings from the 1600s and 1700s inside. The altars, which are special tables where religious services are held, are in a Neoclassical style. They are made of wood and plaster, painted white, and decorated with gold leaf. The main altar, built in 1897, is dedicated to the Virgin of the Remedies.
The Royal Chapel (Capilla Real)
The Capilla Real, also known as the Capilla de Naturales (Indigenous Chapel), is on the north side of the friary complex. It's located behind the large atrium. Even though it's called the "Royal Chapel," it never received any special royal recognition. The name might come from the area dedicated to the Virgin of the Remedies, who is the patron saint of Cholula.
The first chapel here was built in 1540, but the current building is from the 1600s. Its inside was updated in 1947. The front of the chapel has some Baroque features. Its main entrance has a simple arch with Corinthian columns and flat columns called pilasters.
What makes this chapel special is its unique design, which looks similar to a mosque. It has forty-nine small domes, supported by twelve columns and twenty-four eight-sided pilasters. The inside is divided into seven naves. There are also smaller chapels on both sides. Unlike the main church, this chapel is not decorated with murals or gold. Its walls are plain. The main altar is in the center, leaving an open space behind it. This back area has three large paintings that tell the story of the Virgin of Guadalupe. The holy water font, used for blessings, dates back to the 1500s. Its base is decorated with acanthus leaves and other plants.
Chapel of the Third Order (Capilla de la Tercera Orden)
The Capilla de la Tercera Orden is a smaller chapel. It sits between the Capilla Real and the main church, also facing the large atrium. Its front entrance has a Baroque style with twisted columns called Solomonic columns.
Inside, you'll find gold decorations and seven large paintings from the 1700s and 1800s. In the curved parts of the domes, there are more paintings of important Franciscans. The altars are Neoclassical, in white and gold. Two large windows were added on either side of the main altar to bring in more light.
The Cloister and Library
The cloister is the enclosed area where the Franciscan friars live. About ten friars still live here today. They manage a large school for students from kindergarten to 12th grade within the complex. They also work on other community and social justice projects. Because it is still a working monastery, this area is not open to the public.
The friary also has an office that helps young men from several Mexican states decide if they want to become Franciscan friars. The original cloister has many murals, similar to those found in the former friary of Huejotzingo. The upper floor has a mural called "The Mass of Saint Gregory." The ground floor has frescos (paintings on wet plaster) showing scenes from the life of Francis of Assisi, along with portraits of different Franciscan friars.
In 1986, part of the cloister was turned into a Franciscan Library. This was done with the help of the Universidad de las Americas, which is nearby. The friars were initially worried about this project because their friary might be built on top of the ancient Quetzalcoatl Temple. They feared they might be forced to move. However, they eventually worked with the university to create the library. This library holds more than 25,000 books published between the 1500s and 1800s. A famous Franciscan history expert, Fray Francisco Morales, lives at the friary and directs the library.
See also
In Spanish: Convento Franciscano de San Gabriel Arcángel para niños
