| Basilica of the Royal Marian Shrine of the Our Lady of Candelaria | |
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Basilica of Our Lady of Candelaria |
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| Basic information | |
| Location | Candelaria, Tenerife, Spain. |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| Province | Archdiocese of Seville |
| District | Diocese of San Cristóbal de La Laguna |
| Year consecrated | 1959 |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Minor basilica, Royal shrine and conventual church |
| Website | dominicosbetica.org |
| Architectural description | |
| Architect(s) | José Enrique Marrero Regalado |
| Architectural style | Neoclassicism |
| Direction of façade | West |
| Groundbreaking | 1949 |
| Completed | 1959 |
The Basilica of the Royal Marian Shrine of the Our Lady of Candelaria[1] (Spanish: Basílica y Real Santuario Mariano de Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria or simply Spanish: Basílica de la Candelaria) is a Roman catholic minor basilica, the first Marian shrine of the Canary Islands,[2] located in the municipality and city of Candelaria on the island of Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain). It is located c. 20 km (12 mi) south of the island's capital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
The basilica is dedicated to the Virgin of Candelaria (Patron of the Canary Islands).[3] The Basilica of Candelaria is the category of cultural interest, declared as such by the Government of the Canary Islands. The basilica was designed by architect José Enrique Marrero Regalado.[4]
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On 1390, Candelaria was a solitary and desert place that the shepherds were frequenting guanches of Menceyato de Güímar (pre-Hispanic kingdom). One evening, two natives who were leading his cattle, saw as some goats they were refusing to happen on having come to the mouth of the ravine, there went forward one of them thinking that there were people who they wanted to steal and they found, on a rock, the Holy Image of the Virgin of Candelaria (declared principal patron of the Canary Islands with posteriority).
The image was found in a beach near to Candelaria, initially the image was moved to Cueva de Chinguaro, which was the palace of the King of Menceyato de Güímar. But later same guanches moved her to Cueva de Achbinico in Candelaria, and there it was venerated since then. At first aboriginal identified with the appearance of their goddess Chaxiraxi (the mother of the gods), but later the Christian conquerors explained that the image was the Virgin Mary. Later a hermitage was constructed. In 1596, King Philip III was declared protector of the Virgin of Candelaria. The Spanish monarch after ascending the throne, gave the title "Royal" to the Sanctuary of the Candelaria. Therefore, it is also the first sanctuary in the Canary Islands to receive that title.[5]
Later a church was constructed, the Basilica of Our Lady of Candelaria is a building that can house up to 5,000 people. Construction began in 1949 and was completed in 1959.[6] The church was built over an old church that was destroyed by fire in 1789. However, the actual construction of the temple were postponed several times for various reasons: the economic crisis of 1931 following the proclamation of the Second Republic and later by the Spanish Civil War and World War II.
Finally, the bishop of Tenerife, Domingo Pérez Cáceres promoted the construction of a large temple commissioning the architect Jose Enrique Marrero Regalado. The new sanctuary would be a neo-Canarian eclectic mix of all styles that have occurred in the Canary Islands. Several donations came from all the islands, the basilica would take almost a decade to finish. Finally, on February 1, 1959 the basilica was consecrated in a large religious ceremony. Nowadays Candelaria is the principal catholic center of peregrination of the Canary Islands[7] and one of the principal ones of Spain, the basilica hosts more than 2,5 million visitors annually.[8][9]
Among the most significant figures who have visited the basilica include heads of state or government, as well as the most prominent figures of the Church, Military, Politics, Sports, Art, etc. Among them occupy an honored role of the current King of Spain, Juan Carlos I de Borbón and Sofia of Greece, who visited while still being princes and then, like kings, in 1977.
The church holds the title and dignity of a minor basilica, bestowed upon it by Pope Benedict XVI on 24 January 2011. That title was officially celebrated on 2 February of that year, coinciding with the feast of Candlemas.[10]
Another feature of the basilica are the mural paintings that are mostly found on the altar. These paintings usually represent angels and other canarian saints who were devotees of the Virgin of Candelaria. Above the altar is where the image of the Virgin.
Every 14 and 15 August this basilica houses pilgrims who come to celebrate the Virgin of Candelaria (Patron of the Canary Islands)[11] the day of her festival. Also, every February 2, pilgrims came to the basilica to celebrate the liturgical feast of Candlemas.
The Basilica of Our Lady of Candelaria is open every day of the year, both in morning and afternoon. The opening of the basilica and masses celebrated in it are the following:[12]
Basilica: open Monday to Friday from 07:30 to 13:00 and 15:00 to 19:30 h. Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 07:30 to 19:30 h.
Masses: Monday through Saturday at 08:00 and 18:00 h. Sundays and holidays at 08:00, 10:00, 12:00 and 18:00 h. You can also access the camarín of the Virgin of Candelaria after each mass.