The St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral (also Chilpancingo Cathedral; ) is the main Catholic church of the city of
Chilpancingo
Chilpancingo de los Bravo (commonly shortened to Chilpancingo; ; Nahuatl: Chilpantzinco ()) is the capital and second-largest city of the Mexican state of Guerrero. In 2010 it had a population of 187,251 people. The municipality has an area of ...
in
Mexico
Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...
. It is consecrated to the Virgin Mary in its invocation of St. Mary of the Assumption and has been the episcopal seat of the
Diocese of Chilpancingo-Chilapa for some years, since it was previously located in the city of Chilapa de Álvarez. It is located in the downtown area within the architectural and historical complex that occupies the First Congress of Anahuac Civic Square. Its construction took place at the end of the 18th century and beginning of the 19th century.
Built in
Neoclassical style, it consists of a single nave. The main portal, with two sections and a
frontispiece
Frontispiece may refer to:
* Frontispiece (books), a decorative illustration facing a book's title page
* Frontispiece (architecture)
In architecture, the term frontispiece is used to describe the Façade, principal face of the building, usually ...
, has wooden panelling. The first section features bossage, without columns, and an arch; the second section features a choir window, framed by two square
Tuscan order
The Tuscan order (Latin ''Ordo Tuscanicus'' or ''Ordo Tuscanus'', with the meaning of Etruscan order) is one of the two classical orders developed by the Romans, the other being the composite order. It is influenced by the Doric order, but wit ...
columns; on the sides are two large medallions. The arches of the second section support a triangular
pediment
Pediments are a form of gable in classical architecture, usually of a triangular shape. Pediments are placed above the horizontal structure of the cornice (an elaborated lintel), or entablature if supported by columns.Summerson, 130 In an ...
. On top is a frontispiece portraying the eagle of
Iturbide's imperial coat of arms.
In this place, on September 13, 1813, General
José María Morelos y Pavón
José is a predominantly Spanish and Portuguese form of the given name Joseph. While spelled alike, this name is pronounced very differently in each of the two languages: Spanish ; Portuguese (or ).
In French, the name ''José'', pronounced , ...
established the seat of the
First Congress of Anahuac, in which he proclaimed himself Servant of the Nation and where he presented the Act of Independence and the famous document known as the ''
Sentimientos de la Nación
''Sentimientos de la Nación'' ("Feelings of the Nation"; occasionally rendered as "Sentiments of the Nation") was a document presented by José María Morelos y Pavón, leader of the insurgents in the Mexican War of Independence, to the Nationa ...
'' ('Feelings of the Nation').
During the earthquake of Saturday, December 10, 2011, the cathedral suffered structural damage.
See also
*
Roman Catholicism in Mexico
The Mexican Catholic Church, or Catholic Church in Mexico, is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope, his Curia in Rome, and the national Mexican Episcopal Conference. According to the Mexican census, ...
*
St. Mary's Cathedral
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mary Cathedral, Church
Roman Catholic cathedrals in Mexico
Chilpancingo
Buildings and structures in Guerrero
Religion in Guerrero
19th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in Mexico