Sagrat Cor
Encyclopedia
The Temple Expiatori del Sagrat Cor (səˈɣɾat ˈkɔr; Expiatory Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus) is a Roman Catholic church and minor basilica
located on the summit of Mount Tibidabo
in Barcelona
, Catalonia
, Spain
. The building is the work of the Spanish Catalan
architect Enric Sagnier
and was completed by his son Josep Maria Sagnier i Vidal. The construction of the church, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, lasted from 1902 to 1961.
church and a hotel-casino, with what a "Board of Catholic Knights" acquire the ownership of the field giving it in 1886 to Saint John Bosco, while was visiting Barcelona then invited by Dorotea de Chopitea great patron
and promoter of the project. There arose the idea of a temple dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
, dedication very popular at that time thanks to the impetus of the Pope Pius IX
, and in line with the church built in Rome
by Bosco itself (Sacro Cuore di Gesù a Castro Pretorio
) and the famous Sacré-Cœur in Paris
.
In 1886 its built a neo Gothic
hermitage
, and two years later, during the Universal Exposition urbanizing the Vallvidrera road and built the hermitage beside a pavilion of Mudejar inspiration, which served as lookout, then struck. However, the project will suffer a significant delay mainly due to the occurrence of a new project to build an astronomical observatory on the summit of Tibidabo, which finally made on a nearby hill (Fabra Observatory
). Finally, on December 28, 1902 placed the first stone in a ceremony presided by the Bishop
of Barcelona, Salvador Casañas i Pagès.
The church was built between 1915 and 1951, being consecrated by the Bishop Modrego in the 35th Eucharistic Congress held in Barcelona in 1952. Later made the towers, officially ending the works in 1961.
On October 29, 1961 received the title of minor basilica
, given by Pope John XXIII
.
, chaired by a monumental neo-Gothic church with a monumental double staircase air. The complex consists of a lower crypt
and upper church with a central sole with a dome
on eight column
s. The whole style is based on a Romanesque
line combined with the temple of Gothic
verticality, covered with an octagonal dome crowned with the image of the Sacred Heart, original works of Frederic Marès (destroyed in 1936) and replaced by another of Josep Miret, of 1950.
The building is square, from which arise three apses, and presents a large central tower and four low, defining the four corners of the square, in which were placed statues of the Twelve Apostles, of Josep Miret. The main facade has three bodies, the central wider, chaired by the figure of the Archangel Michael in the arch of the main entrance, and John Bosco in the above pediment
. Above the left door is the statue of Teresa of Ávila
and on the right, Marguerite Marie Alacoque
. Above the door is opened a gallery of arches with tracery.
es and four rose window
s on the facades. In the main altar stands the great crucifix, work by Joan Puigdollers. The windows of the presbytery
are dedicated to Pius X, John the Evangelist
, Marguerite Marie Alacoque
, Paul the Apostle and John Bosco. The left altar has five stained glasses dedicated to various Marian devotions: the Virgin of Antipolo
(Philippines
), Our Lady of Luján
(Argentina
), the Assumption of Mary
, the Our Lady of Guadalupe
(Mexico
) and the Our Lady of Charity
(Cuba
). The right altar is presided by the Risen Jesus, work by Joan de Puigdollers, and its stained glasses are dedicated to Spanish Marian devotions: the Virgin of Almudena
(Madrid
), the Virgin of Núria (Catalonia
), Our Lady of Hope, the Our Lady of the Forsaken (Valencia) and the Our Lady of Begoña
(Basque Country
).
The windows of the four towers contain the Latin
phrase tibi dabo ("I'll give you"), by the name of the mountain
. At the level of the choir include founding saints: Marcellin Champagnat
and Jean-Baptiste de La Salle
on both sides of the presbytery, and Anthony Mary Claret, Joseph Calasanctius
, John Bosco
and Maria Domenica Mazzarello next to the main facade. The windows of the four facades are dedicated to Francis de Sales
, Pius XI, Ignatius of Loyola
, Francisco Javier, Pius IX, Rose of Lima
, Leo XIII and Pius XII. The eight stained glasses of the dome
depicting scenes from the life of Jesus.
and classical
elements, and a decoration close to Modernisme
. The facade has a richly decorated tympanum
with sculptures by Eusebi Arnau representing the Virgin of Mercy
, Saint George
and Saint James, patron saint of Barcelona
, Catalonia
and Spain
, respectively. It consists of three semicircular arch
es on columns, inserted into a large arch, also semicircular, decorated with a mosaic
of the Holy Trinity, by Daniel Zuloaga (destroyed in 1936). In 1955 it became a new decoration by Talleres Bru of Barcelona, which shows an allegory
of the devotion of Spain, represented by its patron saints.
The space of the crypt consists of five nave
s separated by columns, the central wider, with its semicircular
apse
s. The walls and vaults
are lined with alabaster
or decorated with mosaics, with scenes relating to the dedications of the altars: Mary Help of Christians
, Anthony of Padua
, Blessed Sacrament
, Saint Joseph
and the Virgin of Montserrat
. Polychrome alabaster is also the Via Crucis sculpted by Josep Miret. The windows that bring natural light inside, are complemented by stained glass
es, with the following topics: the largest in arch, in the corners, represent the appearance of the Our Lady of the Pillar and the coversion of Reccared
to Catholicism, Saint Ferdinand
and Hermenegild
occupy two large vertical windows, while the smalls located above the door are dedicated to Joachim
, Isidore the Laborer
, Saint Anthony
and Elizabeth of Aragon
, Queen of Portugal.
From the crypt it access to a chapel dedicated to the Perpetual Adoration, excavated in the same mountain in the late 1940's, consists of three naves divided by columns. The interior is decorated with marble and mosaics in the pavement, and paintings of Miquel Farré i Albagés in the vaults, made between 1947-1949. On either side of the main door two steps lead to the level of the temple itself, crowned by the huge bronze statue of the Sacred Heart made by Josep Miret in 1950, replacing the original of Frederic Marès, of 1935, destroyed in 1936. The upward direction from the crypt, through the temple until the sculpture, reflects the rise and the purification of the human condition through the sacrifice and atonement.
Minor basilica
Minor basilica is a title given to some Roman Catholic churches. By canon law no Catholic church can be honoured with the title of basilica unless by apostolic grant or from immemorial custom....
located on the summit of Mount Tibidabo
Tibidabo
Tibidabo is a mountain overlooking Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. At 512 meters it is the tallest mountain in the Serra de Collserola. Rising sharply to the north-west, it affords spectacular views over the city and the surrounding coastline....
in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. The building is the work of the Spanish Catalan
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
architect Enric Sagnier
Enric Sagnier
Enric Sagnier i Villavecchia was a Catalan architect of Spanish nationality.Although now not as well known as his contemporaries Antoni Gaudí, Lluís Domènech i Montaner and Josep Puig i Cadafalch, he was responsible for a number of landmark buildings, was very prolific, and could turn his hand to...
and was completed by his son Josep Maria Sagnier i Vidal. The construction of the church, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, lasted from 1902 to 1961.
History
The idea of building a temple on the summit of the Tibidabo Mountain emerged in the late 19th century to the rumors about the construction of a ProtestantProtestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
church and a hotel-casino, with what a "Board of Catholic Knights" acquire the ownership of the field giving it in 1886 to Saint John Bosco, while was visiting Barcelona then invited by Dorotea de Chopitea great patron
Patronage
Patronage is the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows to another. In the history of art, arts patronage refers to the support that kings or popes have provided to musicians, painters, and sculptors...
and promoter of the project. There arose the idea of a temple dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Sacred Heart
The Sacred Heart is one of the most famous religious devotions to Jesus' physical heart as the representation of His divine love for Humanity....
, dedication very popular at that time thanks to the impetus of the Pope Pius IX
Pope Pius IX
Blessed Pope Pius IX , born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, was the longest-reigning elected Pope in the history of the Catholic Church, serving from 16 June 1846 until his death, a period of nearly 32 years. During his pontificate, he convened the First Vatican Council in 1869, which decreed papal...
, and in line with the church built in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
by Bosco itself (Sacro Cuore di Gesù a Castro Pretorio
Sacro Cuore di Gesù a Castro Pretorio
Sacro Cuore di Gesú al Castro Pretorio is a Roman Catholic parish and titular church in Rome, Italy.It was built in 1887 by Francesco Vespignani. Dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the church is served by the Salesians. It has an adjoining boarding-school of arts and industries.It was...
) and the famous Sacré-Cœur in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
In 1886 its built a neo Gothic
Gothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
hermitage
Hermitage (religious retreat)
Although today's meaning is usually a place where a hermit lives in seclusion from the world, hermitage was more commonly used to mean a settlement where a person or a group of people lived religiously, in seclusion.-Western Christian Tradition:...
, and two years later, during the Universal Exposition urbanizing the Vallvidrera road and built the hermitage beside a pavilion of Mudejar inspiration, which served as lookout, then struck. However, the project will suffer a significant delay mainly due to the occurrence of a new project to build an astronomical observatory on the summit of Tibidabo, which finally made on a nearby hill (Fabra Observatory
Fabra Observatory
The Fabra Observatory is an astronomical observatory located in Barcelona, Catalonia, pointed towards the south at 415 m of altitude over the level of the sea ....
). Finally, on December 28, 1902 placed the first stone in a ceremony presided by the Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of Barcelona, Salvador Casañas i Pagès.
The church was built between 1915 and 1951, being consecrated by the Bishop Modrego in the 35th Eucharistic Congress held in Barcelona in 1952. Later made the towers, officially ending the works in 1961.
On October 29, 1961 received the title of minor basilica
Minor basilica
Minor basilica is a title given to some Roman Catholic churches. By canon law no Catholic church can be honoured with the title of basilica unless by apostolic grant or from immemorial custom....
, given by Pope John XXIII
Pope John XXIII
-Papal election:Following the death of Pope Pius XII in 1958, Roncalli was elected Pope, to his great surprise. He had even arrived in the Vatican with a return train ticket to Venice. Many had considered Giovanni Battista Montini, Archbishop of Milan, a possible candidate, but, although archbishop...
.
Exterior
The external appearance of the church is of a walled fortress of stone of MontjuïcMontjuïc
Montjuïc is a hill located in Barcelona, Catalonia.-Etymology:Montjuïc is translated as 'Jew Hill' in medieval Catalan, or is perhaps related to the Latin phrase Mons Jovicus . The name is found in several locations in the Catalan Countries: the Catalan cities of Girona and Barcelona both have a...
, chaired by a monumental neo-Gothic church with a monumental double staircase air. The complex consists of a lower crypt
Crypt
In architecture, a crypt is a stone chamber or vault beneath the floor of a burial vault possibly containing sarcophagi, coffins or relics....
and upper church with a central sole with a dome
Dome
A dome is a structural element of architecture that resembles the hollow upper half of a sphere. Dome structures made of various materials have a long architectural lineage extending into prehistory....
on eight column
Column
A column or pillar in architecture and structural engineering is a vertical structural element that transmits, through compression, the weight of the structure above to other structural elements below. For the purpose of wind or earthquake engineering, columns may be designed to resist lateral forces...
s. The whole style is based on a Romanesque
Romanesque art
Romanesque art refers to the art of Western Europe from approximately 1000 AD to the rise of the Gothic style in the 13th century, or later, depending on region. The preceding period is increasingly known as the Pre-Romanesque...
line combined with the temple of Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
verticality, covered with an octagonal dome crowned with the image of the Sacred Heart, original works of Frederic Marès (destroyed in 1936) and replaced by another of Josep Miret, of 1950.
The building is square, from which arise three apses, and presents a large central tower and four low, defining the four corners of the square, in which were placed statues of the Twelve Apostles, of Josep Miret. The main facade has three bodies, the central wider, chaired by the figure of the Archangel Michael in the arch of the main entrance, and John Bosco in the above pediment
Pediment
A pediment is a classical architectural element consisting of the triangular section found above the horizontal structure , typically supported by columns. The gable end of the pediment is surrounded by the cornice moulding...
. Above the left door is the statue of Teresa of Ávila
Teresa of Ávila
Saint Teresa of Ávila, also called Saint Teresa of Jesus, baptized as Teresa Sánchez de Cepeda y Ahumada, was a prominent Spanish mystic, Roman Catholic saint, Carmelite nun, and writer of the Counter Reformation, and theologian of contemplative life through mental prayer...
and on the right, Marguerite Marie Alacoque
Marguerite Marie Alacoque
Marguerite Marie Alacoque or Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque was a French Roman Catholic nun and mystic, who promoted devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in its modern form.-Early life:...
. Above the door is opened a gallery of arches with tracery.
Interior
The interior is divided into three naves with semicircular apses, with stained glassStained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
es and four rose window
Rose window
A Rose window is often used as a generic term applied to a circular window, but is especially used for those found in churches of the Gothic architectural style and being divided into segments by stone mullions and tracery...
s on the facades. In the main altar stands the great crucifix, work by Joan Puigdollers. The windows of the presbytery
Presbytery (architecture)
The presbytery is the name for an area in a church building which is reserved for the clergy.In the oldest church it is separated by short walls, by small columns and pilasters in the Renaissance ones; it can also be raised, being reachable by a few steps, usually with railings....
are dedicated to Pius X, John the Evangelist
John the Evangelist
Saint John the Evangelist is the conventional name for the author of the Gospel of John...
, Marguerite Marie Alacoque
Marguerite Marie Alacoque
Marguerite Marie Alacoque or Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque was a French Roman Catholic nun and mystic, who promoted devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in its modern form.-Early life:...
, Paul the Apostle and John Bosco. The left altar has five stained glasses dedicated to various Marian devotions: the Virgin of Antipolo
Antipolo
Antipolo is a city in the Philippines located in the province of Rizal; about 25 kilometers east of Manila. It is the largest city in the Calabarzon Region in terms of population...
(Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
), Our Lady of Luján
Our Lady of Luján
Our Lady of Luján is a celebrated 16th-century icon of the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus Christ. The image, also known as the Virgin of Luján represents a famous Marian advocation. The image still exists; it is on display in the Basilica of Luján in Argentina...
(Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
), the Assumption of Mary
Assumption of Mary
According to the belief of Christians of the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy, and parts of the Anglican Communion and Continuing Anglicanism, the Assumption of Mary was the bodily taking up of the Virgin Mary into Heaven at the end of her life...
, the Our Lady of Guadalupe
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Our Lady of Guadalupe , also known as the Virgin of Guadalupe is a celebrated Catholic icon of the Virgin Mary.According to tradition, on December 9, 1531 Juan Diego, a simple indigenous peasant, had a vision of a young woman while he was on a hill in the Tepeyac desert, near Mexico City. The lady...
(Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
) and the Our Lady of Charity
Our Lady of Charity
Our Lady of Charity also known as Our Lady of Cobre is the patroness of Cuba, whose basilica named, Basílica Santuario Nacional de Nuestra Señora de la Caridad del Cobre built in 1926 is situated in village El Cobre, near Santiago de Cuba, Cuba...
(Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
). The right altar is presided by the Risen Jesus, work by Joan de Puigdollers, and its stained glasses are dedicated to Spanish Marian devotions: the Virgin of Almudena
Virgin of Almudena
The Virgin of Almudena is a medieval icon of the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus Christ. The image is the advocation of the Virgin that serves as a patroness of Madrid, Spain....
(Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
), the Virgin of Núria (Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
), Our Lady of Hope, the Our Lady of the Forsaken (Valencia) and the Our Lady of Begoña
Our Lady of Begoña
The cult of Our Lady of Begoña celebrates an apparition of the Virgin Mary at the site of the Basilica of Begoña, in Bilbao, Spain...
(Basque Country
Basque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
).
The windows of the four towers contain the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
phrase tibi dabo ("I'll give you"), by the name of the mountain
Tibidabo
Tibidabo is a mountain overlooking Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. At 512 meters it is the tallest mountain in the Serra de Collserola. Rising sharply to the north-west, it affords spectacular views over the city and the surrounding coastline....
. At the level of the choir include founding saints: Marcellin Champagnat
Marcellin Champagnat
Saint Marcellin Joseph Benedict Champagnat was born in Rozet, village of Marlhes, near St. Etienne , France...
and Jean-Baptiste de La Salle
Jean-Baptiste de La Salle
Saint Jean-Baptiste de La Salle or John Baptist de La Salle was a priest, educational reformer, and founder of Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools...
on both sides of the presbytery, and Anthony Mary Claret, Joseph Calasanctius
Joseph Calasanctius
Saint Joseph Calasanctius , also known as Joseph Calasanz and Josephus a Matre Dei, was the founder of the Pious Schools and the Order of the Piarists.-The Spanish Years:...
, John Bosco
John Bosco
John Bosco , was an Italian Catholic priest, educator and writer of the 19th century, who put into practice the convictions of his religion, dedicating his life to the betterment and education of street children, juvenile delinquents, and other disadvantaged youth and employing teaching methods...
and Maria Domenica Mazzarello next to the main facade. The windows of the four facades are dedicated to Francis de Sales
Francis de Sales
Francis de Sales was Bishop of Geneva and is a Roman Catholic saint. He worked to convert Protestants back to Catholicism, and was an accomplished preacher...
, Pius XI, Ignatius of Loyola
Ignatius of Loyola
Ignatius of Loyola was a Spanish knight from a Basque noble family, hermit, priest since 1537, and theologian, who founded the Society of Jesus and was its first Superior General. Ignatius emerged as a religious leader during the Counter-Reformation...
, Francisco Javier, Pius IX, Rose of Lima
Rose of Lima
Rose of Lima, , the first Catholic saint of the Americas, was born in Lima, Peru.-Biography:Saint Rose of Lima was born in the city of that name, the daughter of Gaspar Flores, a harquebusier from San German, Puerto Rico, and his wife, Maria de Oliva, who was a native of Lima. She was part of a...
, Leo XIII and Pius XII. The eight stained glasses of the dome
Dome
A dome is a structural element of architecture that resembles the hollow upper half of a sphere. Dome structures made of various materials have a long architectural lineage extending into prehistory....
depicting scenes from the life of Jesus.
Crypt
The crypt was built between 1903-1911, of neo-Byzantine style, combining GothicGothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
and classical
Classics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
elements, and a decoration close to Modernisme
Modernisme
Modernisme was a cultural movement associated with the search for Catalan national identity. It is often understood as an equivalent to a number of fin-de-siècle art movements, such as Art Nouveau, Jugendstil, Secessionism, and Liberty style, and was active from roughly 1888 to 1911 Modernisme ...
. The facade has a richly decorated tympanum
Tympanum (architecture)
In architecture, a tympanum is the semi-circular or triangular decorative wall surface over an entrance, bounded by a lintel and arch. It often contains sculpture or other imagery or ornaments. Most architectural styles include this element....
with sculptures by Eusebi Arnau representing the Virgin of Mercy
Virgin of Mercy
The Virgin of Mercy is a subject in Catholic art, showing a group of people sheltering for protection under the outspread cloak of the Virgin Mary. It was especially popular in Italy from the 13th to 16th centuries, often as a specialised form of votive portrait, and is also found in other...
, Saint George
Saint George
Saint George was, according to tradition, a Roman soldier from Syria Palaestina and a priest in the Guard of Diocletian, who is venerated as a Christian martyr. In hagiography Saint George is one of the most venerated saints in the Catholic , Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, and the Oriental Orthodox...
and Saint James, patron saint of Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, respectively. It consists of three semicircular arch
Arch
An arch is a structure that spans a space and supports a load. Arches appeared as early as the 2nd millennium BC in Mesopotamian brick architecture and their systematic use started with the Ancient Romans who were the first to apply the technique to a wide range of structures.-Technical aspects:The...
es on columns, inserted into a large arch, also semicircular, decorated with a mosaic
Mosaic
Mosaic is the art of creating images with an assemblage of small pieces of colored glass, stone, or other materials. It may be a technique of decorative art, an aspect of interior decoration, or of cultural and spiritual significance as in a cathedral...
of the Holy Trinity, by Daniel Zuloaga (destroyed in 1936). In 1955 it became a new decoration by Talleres Bru of Barcelona, which shows an allegory
Allegory
Allegory is a demonstrative form of representation explaining meaning other than the words that are spoken. Allegory communicates its message by means of symbolic figures, actions or symbolic representation...
of the devotion of Spain, represented by its patron saints.
The space of the crypt consists of five nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
s separated by columns, the central wider, with its semicircular
Semicircle
In mathematics , a semicircle is a two-dimensional geometric shape that forms half of a circle. Being half of a circle's 360°, the arc of a semicircle always measures 180° or a half turn...
apse
Apse
In architecture, the apse is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical vault or semi-dome...
s. The walls and vaults
Vault (architecture)
A Vault is an architectural term for an arched form used to provide a space with a ceiling or roof. The parts of a vault exert lateral thrust that require a counter resistance. When vaults are built underground, the ground gives all the resistance required...
are lined with alabaster
Alabaster
Alabaster is a name applied to varieties of two distinct minerals, when used as a material: gypsum and calcite . The former is the alabaster of the present day; generally, the latter is the alabaster of the ancients...
or decorated with mosaics, with scenes relating to the dedications of the altars: Mary Help of Christians
Mary Help of Christians
Mary Help of Christians , is a Roman Catholic Marian devotion with a feast day celebrated on May 24. John Chrysostom was the first person to use this title in 345 as a devotion to the Virgin Mary....
, Anthony of Padua
Anthony of Padua
Anthony of Padua or Anthony of Lisbon, O.F.M., was a Portuguese Catholic priest and friar of the Franciscan Order. Though he died in Padua, Italy, he was born to a wealthy family in Lisbon, Portugal, which is where he was raised...
, Blessed Sacrament
Blessed Sacrament
The Blessed Sacrament, or the Body and Blood of Christ, is a devotional name used in the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Catholic Churches, Old Catholic, Anglican, and Lutheran churches, to refer to the Host after it has been consecrated in the sacrament of the Eucharist...
, Saint Joseph
Saint Joseph
Saint Joseph is a figure in the Gospels, the husband of the Virgin Mary and the earthly father of Jesus Christ ....
and the Virgin of Montserrat
Virgin of Montserrat
The Virgin of Montserrat is a statue of the Virgin Mary and infant Christ venerated at the Santa Maria de Montserrat monastery in the Montserrat mountain in Catalonia....
. Polychrome alabaster is also the Via Crucis sculpted by Josep Miret. The windows that bring natural light inside, are complemented by stained glass
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
es, with the following topics: the largest in arch, in the corners, represent the appearance of the Our Lady of the Pillar and the coversion of Reccared
Reccared
Reccared I was Visigothic King of Hispania, Septimania and Galicia. His reign marked a climactic shift in history, with the king's renunciation of traditional Arianism in favour of Catholic Christianity in 587.Reccared was the younger son of King Liuvigild by his first wife Theodosia...
to Catholicism, Saint Ferdinand
Ferdinand III of Castile
Saint Ferdinand III, T.O.S.F., was the King of Castile from 1217 and León from 1230. He was the son of Alfonso IX of León and Berenguela of Castile. Through his second marriage he was also Count of Aumale. He finished the work done by his maternal grandfather Alfonso VIII and consolidated the...
and Hermenegild
Hermenegild
Saint Hermenegild or Ermengild , was the son of king Leovigild of Visigothic Spain. He fell out with his father in 579, then revolted the following year. During his rebellion, he converted from Arian Christianity to Roman Catholicism. Hermenegild was defeated in 584, and exiled...
occupy two large vertical windows, while the smalls located above the door are dedicated to Joachim
Joachim
Saint Joachim was the husband of Saint Anne and the father of Mary, the mother of Jesus in the Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican traditions. The story of Joachim and Anne appears first in the apocryphal Gospel of James...
, Isidore the Laborer
Isidore the Laborer
Isidore the Laborer, also known as Isidore the Farmer, , was a Spanish day laborer known for his goodness toward the poor and animals. He is the Catholic patron saint of farmers and of Madrid and of La Ceiba, Honduras....
, Saint Anthony
Anthony the Great
Anthony the Great or Antony the Great , , also known as Saint Anthony, Anthony the Abbot, Anthony of Egypt, Anthony of the Desert, Anthony the Anchorite, Abba Antonius , and Father of All Monks, was a Christian saint from Egypt, a prominent leader among the Desert Fathers...
and Elizabeth of Aragon
Elizabeth of Aragon
Elizabeth of Aragon, also known as Saint Elizabeth of Portugal, T.O.S.F. , was queen consort of Portugal, a tertiary of the Franciscan Order and is venerated as a saint of the Roman Catholic Church.-Biography:Elizabeth was a descendant of one of the most powerful families in Europe:...
, Queen of Portugal.
From the crypt it access to a chapel dedicated to the Perpetual Adoration, excavated in the same mountain in the late 1940's, consists of three naves divided by columns. The interior is decorated with marble and mosaics in the pavement, and paintings of Miquel Farré i Albagés in the vaults, made between 1947-1949. On either side of the main door two steps lead to the level of the temple itself, crowned by the huge bronze statue of the Sacred Heart made by Josep Miret in 1950, replacing the original of Frederic Marès, of 1935, destroyed in 1936. The upward direction from the crypt, through the temple until the sculpture, reflects the rise and the purification of the human condition through the sacrifice and atonement.
See also
- Enric SagnierEnric SagnierEnric Sagnier i Villavecchia was a Catalan architect of Spanish nationality.Although now not as well known as his contemporaries Antoni Gaudí, Lluís Domènech i Montaner and Josep Puig i Cadafalch, he was responsible for a number of landmark buildings, was very prolific, and could turn his hand to...
- ModernismeModernismeModernisme was a cultural movement associated with the search for Catalan national identity. It is often understood as an equivalent to a number of fin-de-siècle art movements, such as Art Nouveau, Jugendstil, Secessionism, and Liberty style, and was active from roughly 1888 to 1911 Modernisme ...
- The model of this church in Catalunya en MiniaturaCatalunya en MiniaturaCatalunya en Miniatura is miniature park inaugurated in 1983 in Torrelles de Llobregat, 17 km from Barcelona. With 60.000 square meters, 35.000 of them devoted to the scale models, it is one of the largest miniature parks in the world, and the largest of the 14 miniature building exhibitions...
.