Church of the Holy Spirit, the oldest in Havana City

Located in the historic center of Havana, on the corner of Cuba and Acosta streets, Church of the Holy Spirit is one of the most visited, by parishioners and travelers.

It’s considered the oldest in the city and it is said that it was the second parish that had the town of San Cristobal de La Habana. A place where illustrious “habaneros” were baptized, among them, Jose de la Luz y Caballero.

Owner of an interesting history, it becomes the ideal place to feel the religious ambiance of colonial Cuba.

An interesting history

Bishop Jeronimo Valdes ordered it to be built from a small chapel, which blacks “libertos” had erected in the year 1638. The royal patronage and Bishop Manrique de Lara granted its construction, in honor of the “Divino Parakletos”, name given to the Holy Spirit in the Christian liturgy and theology.

Then, the denomination of the Church of the Holy Spirit, whose inauguration dates back to 1855, stands out for its simple, grey-colored construction.

According to the history, in the year 1648 due to the increase of the population in the slum, the church was declared auxiliary parish, until it was given the parish prerogative in 1661.

For a papal bull in 1772 and later a royal decree in 1773, it was favored as “the only immune church in the city of Havana”, which expressed that any person could ask for shelter before the authorities or justice.

By the year 1760, according to data read in the text “Lo que fuimos y lo que somos”, by Jose M. de La Torre explains that:

“His congregation comprised some 1100 souls and until the beginning of the XIX century he left every night of it, as of other churches, The Rosary Brotherhood that was exercised in this devotion, by all over the streets of the city.”

The Vincentian Fathers took charge of the church from the year 1863, rebuilding it and turning it into the temple, whose inauguration dates back to January 31, 1867, and have last until today.

In 1936 the remains of Bishop Jeronimo Valdes were found in the Church of the Holy Spirit, who gave rise to the profusion of “valdeses” in the relationship of Cuban surnames, for having promoted the founding of a charity house in 1695, which was annexed to the church.

Now at days, the Church of the Holy Spirit works with the celebration of all its masses. Cubans and foreigners come from everywhere to recognize, among the Church walls, an inestimable part of the history of our Wonder City.

Its architecture plus something else

The facade of the church looks like a mixture of architectural styles, from Arabic to neoclassical, with its high-strut presbytery and a ribbed vault of Gothic Foundation.

The chapel is simple, but beautiful. Its coffered ceiling is one of the best preserved examples of “Mudejar” on the Caribbean island.

In its modest conception it has a single nave that leads to its altar. Located to the left of the church, its three-body tower, it was considered the second highest point of the city for years, only surpassed by that of San Francisco of Assisi. In the distance it highlights the clock of the tower, placed in 1808.

The altars are decorated by paintings of Nicolas de la Escalera to whom the religious congregations commissioned paintings for the churches, inspired by the Spanish school of the 17th century and under the influence of the renowned painter Murillo.

The existence of the gigantic oil painting “The Burial of Christ”, by Cuban painter Aristides Fernandez, also deserves to be highlighted. Also the beautiful gardens in the Andalusian-style interior courtyard.

A distinctive element, and perhaps the most outstanding of the temple, are the funerary crypts that are preserved inside, the only ones existing in the country, discovered in 1953; as well as the magnificent sepulcher of Bishop Valdes found 17 years earlier. Visitors can access the vaults, in coordination with the highest authority of the church.

From Monday to Saturday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, and on Sundays from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, visitors and devotees can access, free of charge, to such ancient and interesting construction.

Other Catholic buildings in Havana

The Catholic Churches of Old Havana represent, for those who visit it, an excellent opportunity to contact with the religious universe of the New World.

La “Iglesia de la Merced”, on Cuba Street, is recognized as one of the most sumptuous temples of the Cuban capital. La “Iglesia de Paula” is a jewel of Havana’s heritage, and is used today as a concert hall of ancient music and exhibition space of prominent artists of Cuban plastic arts.

La Santa Metropolitana Iglesia de la Catedral in Havana (Havana’s Cathedral), located on San Ignacio Street, as well as Convento de San Francisco de Asis, in front of the plaza with the same name, are added to the various Catholic scenes that achieve invaluable passages of the island social history and religion.

The only religious building with a balcony on its façade, a constructive detail characteristic of 18th century domestic architecture, is Church of Santo Cristo del Buen Viaje, a temple where once the sailors were entrusted to return or depart from their trips.

Very close to the Museum of the Revolution and the National Museum of Fine Arts, is located the Church of the Santo Angel Custodio. This is one of the most popular for being the place where Jose Marti was baptized and it developed too part of the plot of the Cuban novel Cecilia Valdes.

The Catholic buildings that nest in Old Havana, together with museums, squares, hotels, restaurants and fortifications, are striking options to wander through an old, but undeniably attractive city.

Bring the past to life

The mystical aroma of the past is breathed, without a doubt, in the Church of the Holy Spirit. The temple, with its history and distinctive architecture, invites a meeting with the past, with an era where Catholic sentiment reigned among the inhabitants of colonial Havana.

Originally published at havanaprivatesuite.com.