Matanzas Cathedral . The Matanzas Cathedral or San Carlos Borromeo Cathedral , is a religious and place of worship for the Catholic Church . It was the Parish Church of the city of Matanzas . In it the settlement books of baptisms , marriages and deaths of some Matanzas personalities are preserved.
Summary
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- 1 Location
- 2 History
- 3 First trades
- 4Edificio final
- 5 Historical documents
- 6 Fountains
Location
It is located in the Matanzas Este People’s Council (Matanzas) , on Jovellanos Street between Milanés and Medio Street, in the area of the city bounded by the Yumurí River and the San Juan River . Near the Parque de La Libertad and the Palacio de Junco Provincial Museum .
History
Cathedral bell
one of the towers
High altar
Temple
The first stone of what is now known as the Cathedral of Matanzas was placed and blessed by Don Diego Avelino de Compostela on October 12, 1693 together with the governor, Don Severino de Manzaneda, who witnessed the ceremony in which the altar was raised and placed the cross.
In the aforementioned religious service, the patronage of San Carlos and San Severino was consecrated to the city of Matanzas . This is the first mass of which there is news, while the following day the Sacred Sacraments were administered to Domingo Rodríguez and Catalina Rodríguez, both natives of San Francisco de Tenerife.
The blessing of the first stone of the church was the founding act of the city of Matanzas, in those early days a provisional guano temple was built located on the corner of Milanés and Jovellanos streets, putting the bell on a wooden gallows while the masonry church was being built. In history it has been recorded as the first priest who had Matanzas the name of Don Sebastián Luis Benítez in 1695 , the construction of the building was completed in September 1695 but a strong storm destroyed it in 1712 and it was not until several years later that it was totally renovated.
first trades
During the years in which it was renovated, religious services were held in a private house located on Calle Medio (former Calle de Ricla) # 11 owned by Don Diego G. Amoedo, staying temporarily until 1736 , and he was granted the honor to place two chains hanging from columns and a coat of arms on the door.
end building
In 1725 the construction of the new church began with the help of a subscription from neighbors, and the temple was completed in 1736. The Matanzas Cathedral had many modifications until today:
In 1800 , the council approved the sale of the lots located at the angle behind it, which led to the breaking up of La Manzana – Plaza Originaria and the opening of the so-called Alley of the Sacristy.
In 1801 a tower was placed on it and in 1855 it received the form it retains to this day, being its parish priest Jacinto Martínez; Thanks to special donations, two lateral chapels were built to the main altar and the floor was made of marble. Don Fernando Sishka, ecclesiastical notary and notary public of Matanzas, gave in 1859 two cristoff silver lecterns bought in Paris and Dr. Manuel Aguabella gave a beautiful monstrance for this same date; valuable objects that are still preserved in the Cathedral.
Between 1872 and 1874 , Celestino del Pandal carried out restoration work on the building. In 1880 the park on the north side was configured, beautified in 1896 with leafy trees.
In 1912 it was elevated to the rank of Cathedral and important repairs and adjustments were made, among others, the execution of the mural paintings that adorn its interiors.
Outstanding parish priests were Fathers Manuel Francisco García and Jacinto M. Martínez who widened the temple with the lateral naves, Father Alberto Méndez who actively participated in the efforts to liberate Cuba from the colonial yoke, in the 20th century the figure of Father Jenaro Suárez Muñiz, who rebuilt the temple in 1927 when its ruin threatened, provided it with a marble plinth and restored its altars, and the interior decoration dating from the 1930s is due to his initiative.
historical documents
From the historical point of view it is very precious, in its archives the baptismal seats of:
- The eminent composer José White Laffite, the Matanzas poet José Jacinto Milanés , the doctors Domingo Lecuona Madam, Ángel Arturo Aballí and Juan Guiteras Gener and the painter Pío Alejandro Dubrocq
- The death certificate of Gabriel de la Concepción Valdés(Pacido) where his execution is recorded.
