Higüey Basilica
The Basilica of Higüey , officially called Basilica Catedral Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia , is a modern Catholic shrine in the city of Salvaleón de Higüey in the Dominican Republic . It is the cathedral of the Diocese of Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia en Higüey in Higüey and one of the most visited shrines in the Caribbean .
Portrait of Mary of Altagracia
The image of Mary , which was restored in Spain in 1978, probably comes from the Spanish town of Garrovillas de Alconétar , although there are also references to Siruela in Badajoz . Both cities have the Virgin of Altagracia as their patroness and dedicated chapels to her. Another fact that refers to the Extremadura region is Nicolás de Ovando , born in Brozas (10 km from Garrovillas) , who served as commandant of Lares (11 km from Siruela) before becoming Governor of India in 1502 arrived in Hispaniola . The image of Mary of Altagracia anticipates the colors of the Dominican flag .
history
The basilica replaces an old sanctuary from 1572. An international competition was announced for the construction in 1947, from which the architects André-Jacques Dunoyer de Segonzac and Pierre Dupré were selected. The basilica was built by these French architects from 1954 on the instructions of the first bishop of Higuey, Juan Félix Pepén , and was completed after 17 years.
The present basilica was consecrated on January 21, 1971 in the presence of the then President Joaquín Balaguer . It was declared a Dominican Monument on October 12 of the same year . On October 17, 1971, Pope Paul VI. the church to the rank of minor basilica . Two years later, on August 15, 1973, the basilica also became the cathedral of the diocese of Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia en Higüey .
On October 12, 1992 Pope John Paul II personally renewed the Marian coronation of the image of La Altagracia with a silver headband during his second visit to the country , after Pope Pius XI. 1922 had made the coronation of Mary.
architecture
The basilica with space for 3000 worshipers was built in the center of the city and forms the shape of a Latin cross with its structure . The main entrance is a bronze door with a gold band of 24 carats. 45 bronze bells were hung in the church tower. The most notable detail of its architecture is the elongated arches that depict the praying hands of the Madonna of Altagracia. At the top of the highest arch there was originally a cross that was believed to have been torn off by Hurricane David in 1979. It was only replaced by a new cross in 2014.
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Basílica Catedral Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia on gcatholic.org
- ^ A b Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia
- ↑ Dominican Republic: "Basilica of Higuey" among the 50 extraordinary churches in the world
Coordinates: 18 ° 36 ′ 58 ″ N , 68 ° 43 ′ 1 ″ W.