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 Míguel Arcángel in Spanish) is a large Catholic church located in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. It was the biggest Catholic church during the time Honduras was a colony, and it's still one of the best-preserved historical buildings in the country.

History of the Cathedral
- Building the New Church
Cathedral Architecture
Important People Buried Here
National Monument Status
Gallery
See also

History of the Cathedral

On the left side of this old picture, you can see part of the La Limpia de la Inmaculada Concepción church. This church was there even after the new cathedral was finished. This picture is the only visual proof it existed.

In 1746, a fire destroyed the main church in Tegucigalpa, which was called Iglesia de La Limpia de la Inmaculada Concepción. This church was located in the central park.

Because of this, in 1756, the Bishop of Honduras, Diego Rodriguez de Rivas y Velasco, ordered a new church to be built in the same spot. He put Father Jose Simeon Zelaya Cepeda in charge of this important project.

Building the New Church

The parish dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel was created in 1763. The construction of the new cathedral began between 1765 and 1786. Father Jose Simeon Zelaya Cepeda, who had studied in Comayagua, led the building work. The architect for the project was Joseph Gregory Billzarian Quiroz from Guatemala. The church was officially opened and blessed by Fray Antonio de San Miguel in 1782.

In 1858, the city government of Tegucigalpa decided to tear down what was left of the old church. This old church was next to the new cathedral. 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 built in its place.

View of the Cathedral of Tegucigalpa in 1904.

The cathedral survived the civil wars in Honduras in 1919 and 1924. Many buildings in Tegucigalpa were damaged by bullets during these wars, but the cathedral remained standing.

Between 1934 and 1938, a long process began to restore the building. The goal was to protect the beautiful artworks inside. In 1934, Honduran painter Teresa Victoria Fortín Franco worked with teacher Alejandro del Vecchio to decorate and restore some of the cathedral's art.

Over the years, archaeologists have dug inside the church to learn how it was built in the 18th century. More recently, its original salmon color was brought back. The latest restoration work included updating its inside and the courtyards on its sides.

Cathedral Architecture

The golden altarpiece from the 18th century inside the cathedral.

The cathedral is about 60 meters (197 feet) long, 11 meters (36 feet) wide, and 18 meters (59 feet) high. It has one main section with a vaulted ceiling, and its dome reaches 30 meters (98 feet) high. The building's style is Baroque, which is known for being grand and detailed.

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 dome. These paintings were done with the agreement of Bishop Fray Diego Rodrigo de Rivas.

The main altar is decorated in a "rockery" style, and it has a beautiful silver front. There is also a lovely sculpture of San Miguel. Behind the cathedral, there is a courtyard with an altar dedicated to the Virgin of Lourdes.

In 1823, an earthquake caused serious damage to the cathedral. Because of this, it was closed for repairs for six years. In 1934, the Honduran painter Teresa Victoria Fortín Franco helped restore some of the artworks inside the cathedral.

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 has a special place in Honduran history, not just for Tegucigalpa but for the whole country. It has been the most famous and traditional church since the early 1900s.

Because it is such an old building, a plan was made to restore its inside, the entrance area, the side courtyards, and the front. 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 was the builder of the cathedral.
Priest José Trinidad Reyes, who started the Honduran National University.
General José Santos Guardiola, who was a President of Honduras.
General Manuel Bonilla, who was also a President of Honduras.
Bishop José María Martínez y Cabañas, the first leader of the Archdiocese of Tegucigalpa.

National Monument Status

The cathedral was officially declared a National Monument in July 1967. This happened because the Archbishop of Honduras at the time, Monsignor Héctor Enrique Santos Hernánde, asked the Chamber of Deputies to make it a protected site.