Sanctuary of the Santo Hermano Pedro facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sanctuary of the Santo Hermano Pedro |
|
|---|---|
Exterior of Sanctuary of the Santo Hermano Pedro in Vilaflor.
|
|
| 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 in Vilaflor, a town on the island of Tenerife in Spain. People often visit it on a pilgrimage, which is a journey to a holy place. This church is dedicated to Saint Peter of Saint Joseph Betancur. He was the very first saint from the Canary Islands.
Contents
Building the Sanctuary
The Sanctuary was built where Saint Peter of Betancur was born. His original house was not there anymore. In 1776, a religious group called the Bethlehemites came to this spot. They started building a church right where he was born.
However, the building work stopped because of big changes in Spain's government during the 1800s. The church was left unfinished for a long time.
Finishing the Project
In 1981, another group of Bethlehemites, the Sisters Bethlehemites, arrived. They helped the building project start again. Work officially began 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
Inside the church, there is a special item called a relic. It is a small piece of a bone (a vertebra) from Saint Peter de Betancur. You can also see the same bell he used to ring to call people to prayer.
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 Order of the Bethlehemites Sisters. In the middle of the altar, there is a carving that shows the scene of the Nativity of Jesus. This scene, which shows Jesus being born in Bethlehem, is very important to the Bethlehemites.
Church Design
The church has one main aisle, which is a long, open space. It is connected to a convent, which is a home for the Bethlemite Sisters. The outside of the church is made of stone. It is located right behind the Parish of St. Peter the Apostle in the center of the town.
The Pilgrim's Path
A special walking path called the "Hermano Pedro's Way" starts near the Church of Saint Peter. This was a path that Saint Peter used to walk to guide his followers across the region to the Cave of Santo Hermano Pedro.
Every April, when Saint Peter is celebrated, hundreds of pilgrims 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
