Cathedral-Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar
This amazing cathedral was built on the site of the first Marian shrine in Spain and is important to Spanish speakers the world over.
The legendary story of the origin of this cathedral is that shortly after the crucifixion of Jesus (and before the assumption of the Virgin Mary) Saint James was preaching without success to the inhabitants of ( Roman-occupied ) Spain. In his depression he sat down next to the Ebro when the Virgin appeared to him and gave him a pillar of jasper. She instructed Saint James to build a church in her honour and, according to tradition, stating: “This place is to be my house, and this image and column shall be the title and altar of the temple that you shall build”. James is said to have built a small chapel provided with a statue of the Virgin standing on the pillar. Although that chapel was destroyed it is traditionally held by some devotees that the statue and column survived and are the items venerated in the current cathedral. It is more likely, however that the 15 inch tall statue, on its 5.9 ft jasper column, was produced in 1462 (some say after a fire of 1434 destroyed the original). Apart from 3 days each month the statue is covered in a protective “mantle” and two metal cases (the outer one in silver).
The current building is the third version of the church. It was built in 1686 in the baroque style. Additional towers and domes were added kn the 19th and 20th centuries. The Cathedral has numerous ornate chapels, dedicated to a wide range of important Christian saints, all provided with ornate domed ceilings, of which the most venerated is the Chapel of Our Lady of the Pillar. In 1905 the statue of the Virgin was provided with an ornate gold crown designed by by the Marquis of Griñi. In 1910 the crown was valued at almost £19000. At various ceremonies the statue is dressed in a variety of vestments and in recognition of the importance of this place, not just to Spain, but to the entire Spanish speaking world (at the time of St James the language was actually Latin) their designs reflect the former world wide rach of Spain.
The former Spanish colonies (and other countries where Spanish is widely spoken) have donated their own national versions of these vestments to the Cathedral. All the countries which have made the donations are recognised by having their flags displayed in the building, a feature which is curious unless one knows the context. Pope John Paul II visited the Basilica twice and both times he referred to the El Pillar as: “Mother of the Hispanic Peoples”.
Spain celebrates its colonial past on the Dia de la Hispanidad (Day of the Hispanics) which is held on both the anniversary of Columbus’ “discovery” of the New World and the feast of Our Lady of the Pillar, which celebrates the first apparition of the Virgin Mary to people who would later rule much of the world. The celebrations are magnificent, including the amazing “Presentation of Flowers”. The date is October 12th.
Externally the church dominates the skyline, particularly viewed from the north and west with its series of towers looking every bit as grand as anything in the Vatican.
Know Before You Go
Outside the Cathedral in the Pl. de Ntra. Sra. del Pillar ( a magnificent square to the south of the building) are loads of fine restaurants. The "Menu de Dia" prices are reasonable given the location but often they are not available to diners who wish to sit on the terrace and take in the view.
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