The Archbishop of Seville, Mons. José Ángel Saiz Meneses, will preside over the Eucharist of Pontifical Coronation of Santa María de la Antigua, Patroness of Panama, and the first diocese established on the Tierra Firme American Firm in 1513.
From September 4 to 10, the Spanish Prelate will participate, invited by the archbishop Mons. José Domingo Ulloa, in the scheduled acts that commemorate the 512 years of the creation of the Diocese of Santa María la Antigua by Bula of Pope Leo X and the centenary of his erection as a metropolitan headquarters.
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The central event will take place on Tuesday, September 9 when, during the Eucharist that will be held in the Metropolitan Basilica Cathedral, Mons. Saiz will crown the image of Santa María de la Antigua with a medal made in Seville by the Orfebres brothers Fernando and José Luis Marmolejo, who has been suffered by the devotees of this Marian invocation.
The goldsmiths explain that “the pontifical crown, designed and elaborated as the fruit of art and devotion, is not only a material jewel, but an act of chiseled love in gold, stones and symbols,” according to a statement from the Archbishopric of Seville.
“In it, the colors, flowers, fruits and stars that evoke our history, our roots and our hopes are present. Each flash of the crown is a reflection of the faith of generations that, from the small town of Santa María la Antigua to the metropolis of Panama, have invoked the Virgin as Mother and Patroness,” they add.
The crown has different characteristic elements in which the Sevillian altarpiece of the chapel dedicated to the Virgin in the cathedral, the colors of the Panamanian flag and garlands of flowers and fruits as a representation of the great event that is celebrated.
The devotion to Santa María la Antigua has its origin in Seville, where many of the first conquerors and evangelizers of the New World trusted their lives before crossing the Atlantic. Therefore, the private churches of Seville and Panama are especially twin.
Typical Mass of San Miguelito
In addition to presiding over the pontifical coronation, Mons. Saiz will visit the Panama Canal, will know the indigenous community Emberá, to learn about the traditions and crafts of the inhabitants, and will preside over the National Meeting of Cursing Leaders, which will feature a hundred attendees.
The first Sunday of September will preside over the typical Mass of San Miguelito in the Christ Redeemer parish, the first temple after the Second Vatican Council where this celebration was held, characterized “by the inculturation of typical Panamanian elements, such as dance and the incorporation of drums,” according to the Archbishopric of Seville in a statement.
On Monday, September 8, the Santa María la Antigua Catholic University of Panama will invest the Archbishop of Seville with the doctorate honor, In the course of a solemn academic act, in which the prelate will impart a dissertation entitled The Church of Seville between Spain and the continent of hope: spiritual mother of the first diocese on the mainland, Santa María de la Antigua.
The extinct City of Our Lady of the Antigua
One of the first Spanish exploration areas in the continent was the Darién area, which Colombia and Panama currently share. There, Vasco Núñez de Balboa and Martín Fernández de Enciso decided to found a city, finding a lot of resistance from the local inhabitants.
Since several of the Spaniards were from Seville, they promised that they would give the name of the Marian invocation to the city if they managed to defeat their opponents. Thus, in September 1510, the Spaniards founded the new city with the name of Santa María de la Antigua.
“The chief’s hut of the Cacique was converted into the first church and an image of the Virgin of the Antigua was enthroned. Its existence in American soil is explained, because the person in charge of the chapel where the image is located in the cathedral of Seville used Hispanic archbishopric.
For ten years the city became the center of numerous expeditions, as well as the first episcopal headquarters in the continent.
In 1519 the city of Panama and Pedro Arias Dávila was founded ordered the transfer of the population of Santa María de la Antigua, including the bishop, to the new foundation, with all its belongings, due to the difficulties in living in the jungle.
The city of Santa María de la Antigua was practically deserted and was destroyed to the ashes in 1524 by the indigenous people.
Nicolás de Cárdenas
Born in 1980, I am a Spanish and journalist’s husband and father with more than 20 years of experience in print and digital media, specialized in socio -political and religious information. I have worked more than 10 years in defense of human rights and I have accreditations in journalism and comprehensive communication. Since July 2022, I am a correspondent for ACI Press and Ewtn News in Spain, covering international events of the Catholic Church.