Cathedral

Humahuaca

The temple was built in 1631 and consecrated to Our Lady of Candles, Patroness of the Prelature of Humahuaca. Since 1969, it has been named Prelatic Cathedral, due to the creation of the Territorial Prelature of Humahuaca that includes part of the Quebrada, Puna and Salta Valleys (Iruya and Santa Victoria Oeste). The colonial style building was built in adobe and stone. It has only one nave, its walls are more than a meter wide and its roof is vaulted. Until 1880, it was gabled and made of wood. It has two towers and a classic front. One of its towers houses the bell tower where the bell donated by Pedro Ortíz de Zárate, Martyr of Zenta, is located. Upon entering, you can see the collection of paintings of the Cuzco School of the Prophets of the Old Testament, the work of the aboriginal painter Marcos Zapaca in the eighteenth century. On the left hand side, the image of the Recumbent Christ, dating from 1720, is an articulated image made of wood and bamboo cane. The main altar was carved in wood and covered in 22 carat gold leaf. From bottom to top, we find the images of St. Anthony of Padua, St. Barbara, St. Roque, St. Joseph and the Child of Patience or Sleeping Baby Jesus; all these are images from the 18th century. In the center, you can see the image of our Lady of Candles made by the native Tito Yupanqui in 1640. It is a cardon wood carving covered in plaster on the hands and face, with embroidered clothes donated by the faithful. In her right hand, she carries a silver candle, a basket with two turtle doves and a cane. In her left hand, she holds the Child Jesus in a blessing attitude carrying a globe that represents the world. Its festivity is on February 2 when the image is taken out in procession around the streets of Humahuaca. Another altarpiece is that of the Holy Trinity, which is located on the right side of the temple where God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are represented. There is also the image of the Virgin of Sorrows or the Sorrowful Mother and the ashes of the First Bishop of Humahuaca Monsignor José María Marquez Bernal. In the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, you can appreciate the original ceiling from the year 1631. This place also shelters one of the three replicas that exist in the world of the Lord of Miracles de Salta, Our Lady of Candles pilgrim from the year 1720, and the image of the Black Madonna or the Indigenous Virgin Mary carved in stone by the natives. The whole church is covered with cardon wood and the furniture is made of the same wood. In the sacristy, there are more paintings of the Cuzco School, eighteenth century furniture and liturgical vestments with gold embroidery of the eighteenth century. The entire architectural complex was declared a National Historic Monument in 1941.

Lic. Victor Manuel Zerpa

Source: Historical Archive of the Prelature of Humahuaca. Archives of the Confraternity of Our Lady of Candles. Stories from citizens. Interview with Father Alonso Sanchez.