Santiago Apóstol Parish (Tequixquiac) Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Santiago Apóstol Parish
Santiago Apóstol parish in Tequixquiac.
19°54′37″N 99°08′51″W / 19.91034°N 99.14748°W / 19.91034; -99.14748
Location	Santiago Tequixquiac
Country	Mexico
Denomination	Roman Catholic
History
Status	Parish
Consecrated	1590

The Santiago Apóstol parish is a Catholic church and parish house. It is located in the center of Santiago Tequixquiac, Mexico. This church is dedicated to Saint James the Apostle. It also has a special area where a statue called the Lord of the Chapel is honored. The church is a very old building from the colonial times. It is an important historical monument that is still standing today.

History of the Church
- The 19th and 20th Centuries
- The 21st Century and Today
Arts and Architecture
Important People
Priests of the Parish
See also

History of the Church

The government of New Spain, which was a Spanish colony, ordered this church to be built. They wanted Franciscans (a group of priests) to build churches in areas where Chichimeca people lived. The church in Santiago Tequixquiac became important for many nearby villages.

The first Christian church was built here in 1569. It was later damaged during a local uprising. In 1590, it officially became a parish. The first priest was a Spanish Franciscan named Juan Arias de León.

In 1650, a special official from the Inquisition helped establish Tequixquiac as a town. The priest Nicolás de Arellano was in charge. This office helped settle disagreements between people. They also looked into problems with jobs or taxes. Serious issues were sent to a higher court in Mexico City.

This area had mines for lime and stone, which were used for building. Sometimes, local people were forced to work in these mines. This led to conflicts and sad events. A priest named Felix de Peñafiel wrote a report about the parish. It included how many people lived there and what Christian teachings were given. He also wrote about land complaints and records of baptisms.

During a time of drought, a statue called "Señor de la Capilla" (Our Lord of the Chapel) was brought to Tequixquiac. It came from a nearby town called Apaxco. When the drought ended, the statue was not returned. It was made of fiber and had become very heavy. The statue has stayed in Tequixquiac ever since. Many people believe it has performed miracles.

The 19th and 20th Centuries

Santiago Apóstol parish, after the Mexican Revolution, 1920

In 1804, a German explorer named Alexander von Humboldt visited Tequixquiac. He was studying the land to help drain water from Mexico City. He wrote about seeing a priest at the church who was treating local people unfairly.

After Mexico became independent, important public events happened inside the church. These included celebrations and the election of the first mayor of Tequixquiac in 1826. In 1851, people voted here to create a local guard. This guard would protect the town because the army could not always be there.

A wedding at Santiago Apóstol parish, 1964

When the Mexican Revolution started in 1910, the church building was left empty. Soldiers used the inside as stables. This caused the church to be damaged and robbed. In 1917, the Zapatista army took control of Tequixquiac. The people asked for the church to be reopened. This finally happened in 1927, with help from the government and the church leaders.

In 1990, the Santiago Apóstol parish celebrated its 400th anniversary. It was a big party with traditional dances and many religious ceremonies. The local government helped organize cultural events. These included music, dance, theater, and parades. People from other parts of Mexico and even other countries were invited.

The 21st Century and Today

On December 16, 2006, the people of the parish officially asked for their pastor to be replaced.

Arts and Architecture

Architecture

The church walls are thick, like a fort.

This church was built in different stages. Local workers helped build it, and priests supervised the design. The style of architecture is called tlaquitqui. This means it includes some symbols and ideas from local cultures.

The front of the church has two fancy doorways made of stone. These decorations also include local symbols. Both the church and the town are named after Apostle James.

The church has strong supports called counterforts. These help hold up the arched ceiling and the dome. The walls are very thick. This was so the church could be used as a fort if there were local uprisings. The building also shows a strong influence from Moorish art. This can be seen in its structure and tower, which looks a bit like Islamic towers.

The churchyard, or atrium, was a large stone area. It had a cross on top, with Christian and local symbols mixed on its walls. In each of its four corners, there were wells. In the center, there was an open space with twisted columns.

Interiors

Pictures and Murals

Pictures in the Baroque style.

The church has beautiful Baroque artworks. These include paintings from the 16th and 17th centuries. The main themes are Saint Michael the Archangel, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and purgatory.

There are also murals painted on the domes inside the church. In the dome of the sacristy (a room where priests prepare), there is a painting of La crucificción de Jesucristo (Jesus Christ's crucifixion). The dome represents heaven, with angels and saints watching. The main part of the painting shows Christ being taken down from the cross.

Traditional Dances

The Contradanza de las Varas, a dance from 1652.

The Contradanza de las Varas is a traditional dance. It is performed by men during town celebrations. This dance is not based on local dances. It comes from northern Spain, specifically from Asturias and Galicia (Spain). It is performed on July 25th to honor Saint James the Apostle. Spanish settlers brought this dance in 1652. It was a way to honor God, and later, the Lord of the Chapel. The name contradanza comes from the two rose sticks used in the dance. These sticks have colorful ribbons that move with the dance steps.

Another dance is La Trenza (The Braid). This dance is only performed on Mondays during the Lord of the Chapel fair. Dancers use a colorful pole with braided ribbons, and they dance to marching band music.

Important People

Alexander von Humboldt visited Tequixquiac to study the land. He observed how a priest at the church was treating local people unfairly.
Fortino Hipólito Vera y Talonia was born and baptized in Santiago Tequixquiac. He became one of the first bishops of Cuernavaca. His remains are now inside this church. They were moved back to Santiago Tequixquiac in 1938.

Priests of the Parish

Priest	Period	Priest	Period
Narciso Prestegui	1948–1949	Federíco Ávalos	1961–1981
José Durán	1949	Fernando H. Recobos	1981–1982
Nazario Gavotto	1949	Fernando Arenas	1982–1993
Carlos Vidal	1949	Samuel Montoya	1993–1995
Eduardo Aguilar	1949–1950	Víctor Ramírez	1995–2003
Santiago Domínguez	1950–1951	Cástulo Teheran	2007–2008
Hilarión Landa	1951–1955	José Dolores Hernández	2008–2009
Antonio Arreola	1955	Jesús de Guadalupe Olmos	2009–2012
Pedro González	1955–1956	Agustín Marcelino Gómez	2012–2016
Saturnino Sanabria	1956–1959	Isidor Tălmăcel Paicu	2016–
Jesús Meza	1959–1961