Catedral de San Juan Bautista -San Juan, Puerto Rico

 

“Church is the only place where someone speaks to me and I do not have to answer back.”

Charles de Gaulle

After our visit to the Cathedral of San Jose, we slowly walked down to see the Cathedral de San Juan Bautista aka Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist. As we got closer, we started hearing the most angelic music we’ve ever heard. We walked up the steps of the cathedral following the angelic music till we got to the top of the stairs. The church was partitioned off for a wedding but the doors were wide open so we could hear this mesmerizing music pouring out of the cathedral. Since we couldn’t go inside, we decided to come back the next day after listening to the music for awhile.

The next day we came back and we were able to get inside this lovely church to see the wonderful architecture and beautiful pieces of art. The architectural style of this churches outside facade is 19th century Neoclassical. The inside of the cathedral had medieval looking architecture with high arched ceilings and intricate stained glass windows. The floor is a  black and white checked tile.  The central Naive consists of eight pillars that help support a barrel vaulted ceiling with sky lights. The gorgeous main alter shows a crucified Christ and on the sides of the alter shows images of San Juan Bautista and the Virgen de los Remedios.

There are many relics to see such as ornaments and garments from when Pope John Paul II visited Puerto Rico in 1984 including the robe he wore when visiting. The stained glass windows are beautifully designed. In this special cathedral, lies the remains of Juan Ponce de Leon, the first governor of Puerto Rico. There is a beautiful statue carved from white marble in his honor where he has been entombed since 1908. Also laid to rest here is Saint Pio aka Saint Pius who is a first century Christian martyr. His wax-coated mummified remains were brought to the island in 1862 in a glass box to be seen by all. His waxed mummy sits in a clear glass container in one of the side chapels.

Walking by one large picture of an elderly gentlemen dressed in a blue suit. I wondered who the man was since it wasn’t labeled. I researched it and found that the shrine and picture is of Blessed Carlos Manuel Rodriguez Santiago. He was the first Puerto Rican and the first Caribbean born lay person in history to be beautified.

The cathedral is also the National shrine of Our Lady of Divine Providence, the patron saint of Puerto Rico. I noticed a beautiful portrait of a lady surrounded by baby angels that really moved me as well as a gorgeous statue nearby. It wasn’t labeled but I assume this was either of Our Lady of Divine Providence or Our Lady of Guadalupe with the tittle “Patron on Mexico and Empress of the Americas. Since it wasn’t labeled, I could only guess. Either way, both the portrait and the statue are beautifully made.

This church is the grandest religious building on the island as well as being the second oldest church in the Western Hemisphere and the oldest church in the Americas. Alonso Mano came to Puerto Rico in 1513 as the first Bishop in America and helped direct the construction of this magnificent cathedral in 1521. The original church was built out of wood and straw but was destroyed by a hurricane in 1526 but later rebuilt in 1529 out of stone. Then again the church was destroyed by the hurricane in 1539 and rebuilt in 1540.

Yet that was not to be the only damage that would happen to this fine church. It was again heavily damaged in 1615 by another hurricane. Later is was ransacked by the British in 1598, and then the Dutch set it on fire in 1625. The church was restored and enlarged in 1917 and is in great condition now. It is now the seat of the Arch Diocese of San Juan.

This beautiful cathedral is located at 151 C. del Cristo, San Juan, Puerto Rico. It is open Monday – Friday from 9 – 4. It is closed Saturday closed. Sundays hours are from 8 – 1. This is a beautiful Catholic cathedral that is a must see while in Old San Juan with a fascinating 500 year history. Take some time to go visit.

Till next time. Bye for now.