Iglesia San Agustín, Chile

Iglesia San Agustín
Iglesia de San Agustín (Spanish)

Facade of Iglesia San Agustin

Basic information
Location Santiago, Chile
Affiliation Roman Catholic
Year consecrated 1625, 2004
Ecclesiastical or organizational status Church
Architectural description
Architect(s) First Construction: Unknown

Reconstruction: Julio Lepe
Facade: Fermín Vicaceta

Architectural style Baroque & Neoclassical
Completed 1625

Our Lady of Grace, commonly known as Iglesia de San Agustín (Church of St Augustine) or Templo de San Agustín[1], is a Catholic church in downtown Santiago, Chile owned by the Order of Saint Augustine. Built in 1625, it is the second oldest church in Chile after Saint Francis of Assisi's church. The Order of Saint Augustine in Chile was established within this church and monastery.

The first church was built in 1608, but has been since rebuilt. Inside, is a wooden carving of Jesus Christ, known as Cristo de Mayo. According to local legend, the crown of thorns around the statue's head slipped down to its neck during the 1647 Santiago earthquake. When someone tried to move the crown back up to the statue's head, the face of Christ began to bleed and the ground started shaking. The crown has remained untouched, still around the statue's neck.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b Andrew Benson; Melissa Graham (3 August 2009). The Rough Guide to Chile. Penguin. p. 94. ISBN 978-1-4053-8381-3. http://books.google.com/books?id=XPr4ktEI8JEC. Retrieved 10 December 2011.