MEXICO’S CATHEDRAL

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 18 November 1929, Page 4

MEXICO’S CATHEDRAL

A WORLD-FAMOUS FANE. REPAIRS TO BE CARRIED OUT. Tho Cathedral of Mexico, said to.be the moist elaborate place of worship in the world, is being repaired by the Government prior to turning it over to church authorities, in accordance with the terms of the religious settlement in Mexico. The sum expended by the Government thus far in repairing the cathedral totalled about £BISO. It was found, that in addition to the interior and exterior of the edifice the foundation also requires , repair. It is estimated that several million pesos will have to be expended in repairing the foundation.

FIRST BUILT IN 1524. The cathedral, which has not been in us:y during the Just three years when alii Catholic churches in the country were dosed, wais naturally in need of repair. Because, of the age of the building, construction of wVich began in 1575, general deterioration, including cracks in the walls, which ere attributed by some to earthquakes, had to be remedied'.

The repair work 'proceeded under orders of the Ministry of Finance. The foremost architects' and engineers of Mexico were appointed to .superintend the work. The. Cathedral of Mexico is the second cathedral built on Tbo first "'as completed in 1524 on the ruins of an old Aztec temple demolished at the time of the Spanish conn iX'st. That cathedial was torn down in 1573 by special permission of Clement VII. and the present caihedrail was oonsecreated in 1(367.

ORNATE' INTERIOR. The interior of the structure is very ornate. In the centre, are two rows or Dario .pikiMis and a. b-autifuk octagonal dome by Tolm. There are -14 chapels .situated at inteiyiai.s ailong tiie sides, some of them being fine specim-mts of Churiiguerreseque .work, elaborate carving in wood overlaid witlr go-.ds The cha.pels are dedicated to the various saints.

In the rear of the cathedral is the Altar of Kings, which is the work of the same artist who tCasignad one of the altars in the Cathedral at Seville. On the right of the altar is the satisfy, the walls of which are covered with paintings more than 200 years old. The bells of the cathedra] leave a deep impression on American and Canadian tourists who hear them. The largest belt is nearly 19 feet in circumference. and is one of the largest in the world. The belli-shaped towers of the cathedral are 203 feet high. The cathedra,l itself iis 300 feet long and 117 feet wide.