Catholic Church in Venezuela: Cathedral of Caracas celebrates 158 years of consecration

The Metropolitan Cathedral of Caracas, capital of Venezuela, is now 158 years after having been consecrated. Within the framework of this anniversary, the Archdiocesan archive of Caracas He reviewed the various changes that the temple has suffered since its construction and the great historical relevance he has had for the country.

The cathedral was enshrined on August 12, 1867. According to the Catholic encyclopediathis consecration is a solemn act in which a certain building is dedicated exclusively to divine cult, marking it as a sacred place where the sacraments and other liturgies will be held.

This custom, inherited from the apostolic era, prints an indelible brand on the building due to which it can never be transferred to common or profane uses. The anniversary of the consecration is solemnly celebrated as a double first class party with an eighth every recurrent year, until the Church falls into ruins or desecrated.

“Since its consecration, the Cathedral has been the spiritual heart of Caracas. Its doors have always been open to receive all those who seek refuge, comfort and hope. He has witnessed the most important moments in the life of many generations,” says the Archdiocese of Caracas In your Instagram account.

“May our mother Church remain for many more years a meeting place, prayer and testimony of our faith in Jesus Christ,” he adds.

Brief history and relevant facts of the Caracas Cathedral

Santa Ana’s metropolitan cathedral dates back to 1577, just 10 years after The Caracas Foundation. In the place where the building is built today, a first temple of stones was built, “small but solid”, as shared by the Archdiocesan file.

In 1636, King Felipe IV of Spain ordered the transfer of the episcopal headquarters of the city of Coro to Caracas and in 1638, the original temple finally acquires the title of Cathedral. This first church was destroyed in 1641 by an earthquake, and provisionally rebuilt to 1665, when the construction of a larger temple is commissioned.

In 1709 the main altar is placed below the first vault. Except for the last remodeling in the twentieth century, explains the Archdiocesan file, the altar has remained in the same place until today without major changes.

In 1711 a new facade is built, and in 1723 the cathedral reaches what is its current structure: five ships, four side chapels and the large chapel or ship of San Pedro, in addition to a tower with 10 bells, the highest building in Caracas for the time (30 meters today).

In 1812, another earthquake completely destroyed the enclosure. Being rebuilt respecting the previous distribution and dimensions. In addition, during this historical period, the Caracas Cathedral was the scene of important episodes of the War of Independence in Venezuela.

For the Tricentennial of the Foundation of Caracas, in 1867, the temple was consecrated after a reform ordered by the Archbishop of Caracas, Mons. Silvestre Guevara and Lira.

Already in the twentieth century, in 1933, the roof of tiles was replaced by a plating, the marble floor was changed and the columns were thinned. These works, in charge of Gustavo Wallis, were not completed due to lack of resources and would be until 1967, when Wallis himself would take care of the last great remodeling of the cathedral.

In accordance with the provisions of the Second Vatican Council, modifications were made to the main altar, the presbytery was extended, four columns were suppressed and a new archbishop’s throne of white marble were placed.

This article was originally published on August 12, 2024. It has been updated for republication.