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Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Managua

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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.
The main façade of the cathedral on Palm Sunday in 2017.
12°07′58″N 86°15′57″W / 12.132687°N 86.265853°W
Location Managua
Country Nicaragua
Denomination Catholic Church
Website Managua Cathedral Website
History
Status Cathedral
Founded 1991
Founder Cardinal Miguel Obando y Bravo S.D.B.
Dedication Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Consecrated September 4, 1993
Architecture
Functional status Active
Architect Ricardo Legorreta
Architectural type Cathedral
Style Eclectic, Romanesque and Arabic
Completed August, 1993 (present Cathedral)
Construction cost USD 4.5 Million
Administration
Province Ecclesiastical Province of Nicaragua
Archdiocese Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Managua
Clergy
Archbishop Leopoldo José Cardinal Brenes
Rector Pbro. Luis Alberto Herrera
Vicar Pbro. Silvio Josué Romero
Pbro. Mario Guevara
Pbro. Rodolfo López

Immaculate Conception Cathedral, 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.

History

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 (Nicaraguan 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

  • Managua
  • Religion in Nicaragua

References

  1. Back to citation "Deadly history of earthquakes: 23 December 1972". BBC News. Retrieved 2007-10-30.
  2. Back to citation "Catedral Managua: Historia" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2007-10-11. Retrieved 2007-10-30.
  3. Back to citation "Nicaragua Briefs: Obando's New Cathedral Off to a Strange Start". Envío. Archived from the original on 2020-07-28. Retrieved 2007-10-30.
  4. Back to citation "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. Back to citation "Arrojan bomba molotov a Catedral de Managua; dañan imagen venerada". Excélsior (in Spanish). 31 July 2020. Retrieved August 1, 2020.