Iglesia San Agustín, Chile
Iglesia de San Agustín — Our Lady of Grace, commonly known as Church of St Augustine or Templo de San Agustín,[1] is owned by the Order of Saint Augustine. It is a Catholic church, located in downtown Santiago de Chile, Chile.
| Iglesia San Agustín Iglesia de San Agustín (in Spanish) | |
|---|---|
 Facade of Iglesia San Agustin | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Church |
| Year consecrated | 1625, 2004 |
| Location | |
| Location |  |
| Geographic coordinates | 33°26′27″S 70°38′56″W |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | First Construction: Unknown Reconstruction: Julio Lepe |
| Style | Spanish Baroque & Neoclassical |
| Completed | 1625 |
History
Built in 1625, Iglesia de San Agustín is the second oldest church in Chile after Saint Francis of Assisi's church. The Order of Saint Augustine in Chile was established within this church and monastery.
The first church was built in 1608, but has been since rebuilt. It is in the Spanish Colonial Baroque & Neoclassical architectural styles.
In the church is a wooden carving of Jesus Christ, known as Cristo de Mayo. According to local legend, the crown of thorns around the statue's head slipped down to its neck during the 1647 Santiago earthquake. When someone tried to move the crown back up to the statue's head, the face of Christ began to bleed and the ground started shaking. The crown has remained untouched, still around the statue's neck.[1]
There is also a sub-altar dedicated to Saint Rita of Cascia, which contains a relic of hers (a small piece of bone).
References
- Andrew Benson; Melissa Graham (3 August 2009). The Rough Guide to Chile. Penguin. p. 94. ISBN 978-1-4053-8381-3. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
