Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Managua

(Redirected from Cathedral of Managua)

The Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of Mary (Spanish: Catedral Metropolitana de la Inmaculada Concepción de María), referred to as the New Cathedral (La Nueva Catedral), is located in Managua, Nicaragua. It was dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary.

Managua Cathedral
The Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of Mary
Catedral Metropolitana de la Inmaculada Concepción de María
The main façade of the cathedral on Palm Sunday in 2017.
Managua Cathedral is located in Nicaragua
Managua Cathedral
Managua Cathedral
Location in Nicaragua
12°07′58″N 86°15′57″W / 12.132687°N 86.265853°W / 12.132687; -86.265853
LocationManagua
CountryNicaragua
DenominationCatholic Church
WebsiteManagua Cathedral Website
History
StatusCathedral
Founded1991
Founder(s)Cardinal Miguel Obando y Bravo S.D.B.
DedicationImmaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
ConsecratedSeptember 4, 1993
Past bishop(s)Miguel Obando y Bravo S.D.B. (1993-2005)
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Architect(s)Ricardo Legorreta
Architectural typeCathedral
StyleEclectic, Romanesque and Arabic
CompletedAugust, 1993 (present Cathedral)
Construction costUSD 4.5 Million
Specifications
Number of domes63
Administration
ProvinceEcclesiastical Province of Nicaragua
ArchdioceseRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Managua
Clergy
ArchbishopLeopoldo José Cardinal Brenes
RectorPbro. Luis Alberto Herrera
Vicar(s)Pbro. Silvio Josué Romero

Pbro. Mario Guevara

Pbro. Rodolfo López

History

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The cathedral was built in 1991 to serve as a replacement for the Old Cathedral of Managua or St. James' Cathedral (Catedral de Santiago). The old cathedral was damaged and thought to be unrestoreable after a 1972 earthquake that destroyed 90% of the city.[1]

The new cathedral was designed by the Mexican architect Ricardo Legorreta. Construction began around August 1991, and the cathedral was inaugurated on September 4, 1993. The cost of the newly built cathedral was estimated at $4.5 million.[2] The new cathedral has generated much controversy, particularly about its architectural style and finance.[3] The costs were covered partially thanks to the help of American Tom Monaghan, owner of Domino's Pizza.[4] Locals refer to it as La Chichona on account of the plethora of cupolas adorning it which resemble many chichas (Spanish: slang for "breasts").

A fire started by a Molotov cocktail damaged an image of Sangre de Cristo y el Santísimo in the cathedral on July 31, 2020. Neither of the two people in the cathedral at the time were injured.[5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Deadly history of earthquakes: 23 December 1972". BBC News. Retrieved 2007-10-30.
  2. ^ "Catedral Managua: Historia" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2007-10-11. Retrieved 2007-10-30.
  3. ^ "Nicaragua Briefs: Obando's New Cathedral Off to a Strange Start". Envío. Retrieved 2007-10-30.
  4. ^ "DOMINO'S FOUNDATION Membership, Structure, Finances As a private foundation, Domino's Foun". Skepticfiles.org. Archived from the original on 2011-06-07. Retrieved 2012-05-24.
  5. ^ "Arrojan bomba molotov a Catedral de Managua; dañan imagen venerada". Excélsior (in Spanish). 31 July 2020. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
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