Sanctuary of the Santo Hermano Pedro facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sanctuary of the Santo Hermano Pedro |
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Exterior of Sanctuary of the Santo Hermano Pedro in Vilaflor.
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| District | Diocese of San Cristóbal de La Laguna |
| Province | Archdiocese of Seville |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Sanctuary and conventual church |
| Year consecrated | 2002 |
| Location | |
| Location | Vilaflor, Spain. |
| Direction of façade | North |
The Sanctuary of the Santo Hermano Pedro is a special church. It is a place where people go on a pilgrimage. This church is in the town of Vilaflor. Vilaflor is located in the south of Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands in Spain. The church is dedicated to Peter of Saint Joseph Betancur, who is the first saint from the Canary Islands.
Contents
History of the Sanctuary
Building the Church
The Sanctuary was built in a very important spot. It stands exactly where Saint Peter of Betancur's childhood home used to be. His original house was not saved over time.
In 1776, a group of religious people called the Bethlehemites came to this site. They started building a church right where the saint was born. However, the building work stopped. This happened because of big changes in the Spanish government during the 1800s.
Completing the Sanctuary
In 1981, the Sisters Bethlehemites arrived. They helped to restart the building project. Work officially began again in 1991.
The Sanctuary was finally finished and opened on April 28, 2002. The Bishop of the Diocese of Tenerife, Felipe Fernández García, blessed the new church.
What You Can See Inside
Important Items
The church holds a special item: a small bone (a vertebra) from Saint Peter of Betancur. You can also see the same bell he used a long time ago. He used it to call people to pray.
The Main Altar
On the main altar, there are statues of Saint Peter and Blessed María Encarnación Rosal. She was a very important person who helped improve the Bethlehemites Sisters' group.
In the middle of the altar, there is a carving that shows the scene of the Nativity of Jesus. This is the story of Jesus's birth in Bethlehem. This story is very important to the Bethlehemites.
Church Design
The church has one main aisle, which is like a long hallway. It is connected to a convent, where the Bethlehemites Sisters live and work. The outside of the church is made of stone. It is located right behind the Parish of St. Peter the Apostle church, in the center of town.
Hermano Pedro's Way
Near the church, there is a path called "Hermano Pedro's Way". This is a special walking route. Saint Peter used to walk this path to guide his followers across the area. He would lead them to the Cave of Santo Hermano Pedro.
Every April, when the saint is celebrated, hundreds of people walk this route. It is a very important event for both religious and historical reasons.
See also
In Spanish: Santuario del Santo Hermano Pedro (Vilaflor) para niños
- Peter of Saint Joseph Betancur
- Bethlehemites
