St. Christopher's Cathedral (Barcelona, Venezuela) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Christopher's Cathedral |
|
|---|---|
| Catedral de San Cristóbal | |
 |
|
| Location | Barcelona |
| Country |  Venezuela |
| Denomination | Catholic Church |
St. Christopher's Cathedral (also known as Spanish: Catedral de San Cristóbal de Barcelona) is a very important church in Barcelona, Venezuela. It's the main church for the Catholic community in the Barcelona region of Venezuela. You can find it right in the old part of Barcelona city, which is the capital of Anzoátegui State in northwest Venezuela.
The church started as a parish in 1748. However, the building itself wasn't officially opened until 1773. This happened after many Spanish settlers had moved to the area.
Inside the cathedral, especially at the altar, there are special items called relics. These are believed to be parts or belongings of holy people, known as saints. The cathedral is said to have relics from at least seven saints. These include San Severino, St. Eustatius, Saint Facundo, Saint Pedro Alcantara, Saint Pacific, Saint Anastasius, and Saint Pascual Bailon.
The Relics of Saint Celestine
A few years later, in 1777, a special event happened. The Bishop of Puerto Rico, named Manuel Jiménez Pérez, brought something very precious to the church. He brought the remains of Saint Celestine all the way from Rome.
These remains were placed in a beautiful, fancy container called a reliquary. This reliquary is designed in a style called baroque, which means it has lots of detailed and decorative carvings. You can find this special reliquary in a small chapel. This chapel is located on the left side of the church.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de San Cristóbal (Barcelona) para niños
- Catholic Church in Venezuela
- List of cathedrals in Venezuela
- St. Christopher's Cathedral (disambiguation)
