Iglesia de San Bartolomé de Barva
Encyclopedia
The Iglesia de San Bartolomé de Barva is a church in Barva
, Costa Rica
. The first church was established between 1568 and 1575, and dedicated to Saint Bartholomew; it is rumored to have been built on an indigenous burial ground. In 1613 a more permanent Franciscan
mission and convent was established to convert the native Cot, Quircot, and Tobosí people; at this time, the church was rededicated to the Assumption of the Virgin, to remain its patron until 1888. In 1681, governor Miguel Gómez de Lara began on a new temple, also built of adobe, which was completed in 1693.On Feb. 15, 1772, an earthquake destroyed the convent and severely damaged the old church; however, it stood to the north of the current temple until it finally collapsed in an earthquake on December 12, 1888. In 1793, Barva was granted an independent parish
. Construction of the current temple began in 1867, with the cornerstone laid by Monseñor Joaquín Anselmo Llorente, the first Bishop of Costa Rica; however, construction was halted by the 1888 earthquake which finally destroyed the old church. The temple was finally consecrated on August 11, 1893 by Bernardo Thiel Hoffman, the German-born second Bishop of Costa Rica, and re-dedicated back to St. Bartholomew.
Every year on August 24, the people of the town have a celebration dedicated to the saint, and the highlight of the celebration is the unique masquerade
, where people go out wearing masks and hit others with pig and cow bladders.
Barva
Barva is a small city and canton in Costa Rica, located 3 km north of Heredia. It was named in honor of Barvak, an indigenous chief who ruled the area before the arrival of the Spanish. It is divided into six political districts: Barva, Santa Lucía, San José de la Montaña, San Pedro, San...
, Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
. The first church was established between 1568 and 1575, and dedicated to Saint Bartholomew; it is rumored to have been built on an indigenous burial ground. In 1613 a more permanent Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
mission and convent was established to convert the native Cot, Quircot, and Tobosí people; at this time, the church was rededicated to the Assumption of the Virgin, to remain its patron until 1888. In 1681, governor Miguel Gómez de Lara began on a new temple, also built of adobe, which was completed in 1693.On Feb. 15, 1772, an earthquake destroyed the convent and severely damaged the old church; however, it stood to the north of the current temple until it finally collapsed in an earthquake on December 12, 1888. In 1793, Barva was granted an independent parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
. Construction of the current temple began in 1867, with the cornerstone laid by Monseñor Joaquín Anselmo Llorente, the first Bishop of Costa Rica; however, construction was halted by the 1888 earthquake which finally destroyed the old church. The temple was finally consecrated on August 11, 1893 by Bernardo Thiel Hoffman, the German-born second Bishop of Costa Rica, and re-dedicated back to St. Bartholomew.
Every year on August 24, the people of the town have a celebration dedicated to the saint, and the highlight of the celebration is the unique masquerade
Masquerade ball
A masquerade ball is an event which the participants attend in costume wearing a mask. - History :...
, where people go out wearing masks and hit others with pig and cow bladders.