Tegucigalpa Cathedral Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids St. Michael the Archangel Cathedral
Catedral de San Míguel Arcángel

Location	Tegucigalpa
Country	Honduras
Denomination	Roman Catholic Church
History
Cult(s) present	Roman Catholic
Architecture
Architectural type	Baroque
Years built	1763-1786
Administration
Province	Francisco Morazan

The St. Michael the Archangel Cathedral (also known as Catedral Metropolitana de San Miguel Arcángel in Spanish) is a large Catholic church in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. It was once the biggest Catholic church during the time Honduras was a Spanish colony. Today, it's still one of the best-preserved old buildings in the country.

History of the Cathedral
Cathedral Architecture
Important People Buried Here
National Monument Status
Gallery
See also

History of the Cathedral

This old picture from the 1800s shows part of the original church, La Limpia de la Inmaculada Concepción, on the left. It was still there even after the new cathedral was finished.

In 1746, a fire destroyed the main church in Tegucigalpa. It was called Iglesia de La Limpia de la Inmaculada Concepción. Because of this, the Bishop of Honduras, Diego Rodriguez de Rivas y Velasco, ordered a new church to be built in 1756. He put Father Jose Simeon Zelaya Cepeda in charge of the project.

The parish of St. Michael the Archangel was created in 1763. The building of the new cathedral began between 1765 and 1786. The architect who designed it was Joseph Gregory Billzarian Quiroz from Guatemala. The church was officially opened in 1782 by Fray Antonio de San Miguel.

In 1858, the old church's remains next to the cathedral were removed. The only proof it existed are old records and a picture from 1857. This picture shows the Tegucigalpa plaza with the old church on the left. After it was torn down, new buildings were put up in its place.

A view of the Cathedral of Tegucigalpa in 1904.

The cathedral survived the Honduran civil wars in 1919 and 1924. Many buildings in Tegucigalpa were damaged by bullets, but the church remained standing. From 1934 to 1938, the cathedral went through a big restoration project. This was done to protect the beautiful artworks inside. Honduran painter Teresa Victoria Fortín Franco worked with teacher Alejandro del Vecchio to restore and decorate parts of the church.

In recent years, the cathedral's original salmon color was brought back. The latest work included remodeling the inside and the side courtyards.

Cathedral Architecture

The beautiful golden altar from the 1700s inside the cathedral.

The cathedral is about 60 meters long, 11 meters wide, and 18 meters high. It has one main section with a vaulted ceiling. Its dome reaches 30 meters high. The building's style is Baroque, which is a fancy and detailed style of architecture.

In 1788, the religious painter José Miguel Gómez finished painting inside the cathedral. His famous works include "Holy Family," "Holy Trinity," "Saint John of Colazan," and "the Holy Supper." He also painted "the Four Evangelists" on the ceiling. These paintings were done with the agreement of Bishop Fray Diego Rodrigo de Rivas. The main altar is decorated in a "rockery" style with a silver front. There is also a lovely sculpture of San Miguel. In the back courtyard, there is an altar dedicated to the Virgin of Lourdes.

An earthquake in 1823 caused serious damage to the cathedral. It had to be closed for six years for repairs. In 1934, painter Teresa Victoria Fortín Franco helped restore some of the artworks inside.

The Cathedral of San Miguel de Tegucigalpa is one of the oldest and most important buildings in the city. It is still in good condition today. This building holds a special place in Honduran history. It is not just important for Tegucigalpa but for the whole country. It has been the most famous and traditional church since the early 1900s.

Because it is an old building, a plan was made to restore its inside, the front area, the side courtyards, and the outside walls. This project has been carried out by the Honduran Institute of Anthropology and History.

Important People Buried Here

Some important historical figures are buried inside the cathedral:

Presbyter José Simón Zelaya Cepeda, who helped build the cathedral.
Priest José Trinidad Reyes, who started the Honduran National University.
General José Santos Guardiola, a former President of Honduras.
General Manuel Bonilla, another former President of Honduras.
Bishop José María Martínez y Cabañas, the first leader of the Archdiocese of Tegucigalpa.

National Monument Status

The cathedral was declared a National Monument in July 1967. This happened through Legislative Decree No. 8. The Archbishop of Honduras at the time, Monsignor Héctor Enrique Santos Hernández, asked the Chamber of Deputies for this recognition.