The Cathedral of Tucupita or Divina Pastora is a religious temple that is consecrated to the Virgin Mary in her dedication of the Divina Pastora and functions as the headquarters of the Apostolic Vicariate of Tucupita, which was created on July 30, 1954.
This cathedral is located in the Tucupita municipality of the Delta Amacuro state. It is limited to the north by Plaza Miranda, to the south by Av. Arismendi, to the east by Calle Centurión and to the west by Calle Mariño.
It has a fairly simple architectural plan and of great beauty. It also has religious images highly revered by the delta sector, immense murals and beautiful stained glass windows recalling religious history.
The plans for its construction were devised by Monsignor Argimiro Álvaro García de Espinoza, who was the first vicar of Tucupita and titular bishop of coropiso (Oscarlyz Meza, 2015).
The Cathedral of the Divina Pastora was the first church in the region in the shape of a cathedral, given its large physical dimensions, having an area of approximately 1,532 square meters. In addition, it is made up of 2 twin towers 4 meters high that identifies it.
History
The devotion of the Divine Shepherd comes from Seville, Spain, when a Capuchin priest named Fray Isidoro dreams of the image of a virgin who had a peasant dress and a flock of sheep around. After this, this religious asks to draw it in the hands of the artist Alonzo Miguel de Tovar.
In 1705 to be exact, the sculpture of the Virgin was carved, which was carried in procession to Andalusia, Spain. Later she is taken to Venezuela, heading to Lara state.
In Venezuela its beginnings date back to the eighteenth century, when through countless facts and stories in the city of Barquisimeto the Divina Pastora gained popularity and millions of believers.
Every January 14 of each year millions of believers go to visit her to ask for the welfare of their family, health, progress or happiness. In 2016, visit 161 was held where a large number of people could be seen.
Despite the fact that the pilgrimages, marches and invocations of the Divina Pastora are made in Barquisimeto, the cathedral of that city is dedicated to the Virgen del Carmen, while the one in Tucupita chose to honor the Divina Pastora.
Building
The cathedral of the Divina Pastora began to be built in 1957 under the government of Marcos Pérez Jiménez, who provided a lot of help for the development of this work.
However, due to the fall of the Marcos Pérez Jiménez government, it was after 25 years, when the cathedral opened its doors to be at the service of believers.
This was built with the purpose of providing all social classes in the country a space through which people could receive the teaching given by the bishops.
Opening
It was in September 1986, under the government of the lawyer Luis Herrera Campins, when the cathedral was finally inaugurated. From this date, it is available to all passionate believers.
Over time this work was reconditioned in three phases:
-The first phase consisted of vivifying the perimeter with human capital: workers, technicians and engineers.
-The second phase was the recovery of the perimeter lighting system.
-The third phase was based on the implementation of a cleaning and maintenance plan on the entire surface of the exterior surface.
characteristics
Among the main characteristics are its huge spaces in the town, the modern materials with which it was built, the varied collection of images and the new objects they have.
Physical dimensions
The Tucupita Cathedral has an area of 1532 m2. The intrinsic space of the temple is 1352 m2 (52 meters long by 26 meters wide) and it is built on the base of 180 piles with depths that vary from 12 to 18 meters.
Objects and images
- Cortudelta. (December 4, 2013). Characteristics of the Cathedral of Tucupita. Retrieved on November 23, 2017, from Cortudelta: cortudelta.wordpress.com.
- Gil, A. (January 14, 2016). La Divina Pastora, her story and her miracles. Retrieved on November 23, 2017, from Actual33: actual33.com.
- Institute of Cultural Heritage. (2006). Venezuelan Cultural Heritage Catalog. Guayana Region: DA-04. Retrieved on November 24, 2017, from Alba Ciudad: albaciudad.org.
- Meza, O. (March 2, 2015). Divina Pastora Cathedral. Retrieved on November 23, 2017, from Turismo Delta: turismodeltano.blogspot.com.
- Ministry of Popular Power for Tourism. (2014). Delta Amacuro State. Retrieved on November 24, 2017, from Mintur: mintur.gob.ve.