Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels,

Cartago
Coordinates: 09°51′50″N 83°54′46″W

(Redirected from Basílica de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles (Cartago))

The Basílica de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles (Our

Lady of the Angels Basilica) is a Roman Catholic basilica in Basilica of Our Lady of the
Costa Rica, located in the city of Cartago and dedicated to the Angels
Virgen de los Pardos, officially known as Virgen de los Ángeles Basilica de Nuestra Señora de
(the Lady of the Angels). The basilica was built in 1639 and was los Ángeles
partially destroyed by an earthquake. The basilica has since
been restored and constitutes a unique mix of colonial
architecture as well as 19th-century Byzantine style; the
current building dates back to 1939.[1]

The Basilica of Our Lady of

the Angels is consecrated to
the Virgin of Nuestra
Señora de los Ángeles, a View of the basilica from the plaza
small representation of the
Religion
Virgin Mary carrying the
infant Jesus, said to have Affiliation Roman
been discovered by a Catholic
peasant girl in Cartago. District Diocese of
Nighttime view Tradition claims that the
Cartago
little girl found the small
statue on a rock and took it Ecclesiastical or minor basilica,
home. The next morning organizational National
she found that the statue status Architectural
was not there but back at Heritage
the rock, so she took it to
Leadership Mons. José
the priest and he locked it
Rafael Quirós
in a small box. The next
morning the statue was Quirós
back at the rock. During the Location
construction, the church
Location Cartago, Costa
was destroyed by
Rica
earthquakes so many times,
it was finally decided to Geographic 09°51′50″N
move it to the location coordinates 83°54′46″W
where the statue was found Architecture
and they were able to finish
construction. Many people Architect(s) Luis Llach
think that the earthquakes Llagostera
were signs that the Lady of Type Church
Our Lady of the Angels is displayed
Los Ángeles wanted the
at the main altar of the Basilica Style Byzantine style
basilica built there.
Groundbreaking 1912
Completed 1924
 Owing to the dark Website
complexion of the stone
Official Website (http://www.santuari
statue, she is sometimes
onacional.org)
affectionately called La
Negrita or Reina de
Cartago (lit. Queen of Cartago). The original statue is kept in a
golden shell inside the basilica. An official decree declared the
Virgin of the Angels the official patron of Costa Rica.
Basilica interior
In the days leading to August 2, the Basilica is the object of
extensive pilgrimage and visitation by over a million believers
(estimates range from 1 to 2.5 million people), many of whom walk from different points
throughout the country. However, most people join the 22-kilometer walk to the basilica from San
José and surrounding communities. Locally the pilgrimage is known as the Romería and is one of
the most enduring of Costa Rican traditions. As a demonstration of their piety, many people choose
to crawl part or the complete journey on their hands and knees.

At the basilica they wash themselves and drink the water from the rock on which the statue was
found. Scientists have since found this water to be safe to drink even though no filtration or
chemicals are used to purify the water.

The basilica is open all day long and it is not uncommon to find several people stopping in for a
prayer. In addition people will bring small silver medals shaped like body parts, where the shape
represents the body part the pilgrim is concerned about. They leave them in front of "La Negrita" in
hope that they will be cured. After a time, these medals are collected and stored. A selection of
some of them can be seen in a museum Museum in the same site.

References
1. Trejos, Alonso (1991). Geografía Ilustrada Costa Rica (in Spanish). San José, Costa Rica:
Trejos Editores. p. 128. ISBN 9977-54-029-2.

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