Oath of Saint Raphael Church
In 1274 Córdoba was hit by a strong pest. In that moment Bishop Don Pascual
built a hospital and a cemetery for the sicks. It was situated in the Triumph Square place where the Triumph of Saint Raphael (by Jean Michel Verdiguier) is.
The first appearance of the Saint Raphael was in front of Simón de Sousa, the headmaster of the Mercedarian Convent, the Saint said: "...Tell the Bishop Don Pascual that God is very satisfied with his labour and care, of his prays for other people and the Virgin Maria; put my image on the top of the tower bell of the Mosque and celebrate my saint’s day every year..."
Then a second time appeared the saint to Simon de Sousa, who told it t the bishop and this one ordered to put an image of it on the top of Saint Peter Church belltower. To "Father Roelas" it
appeared a lot of times; the last one was in 1578, it was the swear appearance and it said: "I swear for Jesus Christ that I am Saint Raphael and I am the guard of this city". This oath appears on every board below Saint Raphael.
In this way the cult for Saint Raphael Archangel was born. The bishop and the town council left for Rome to apply for a day for praying him, Saint Raphael. It was released on the seventh May, the day of the last appearance. Many celebration were performed in the city to celebrate the
decision taken in Rome, even a bullfighting in the Corredera Square.
In 1652, the 24th Don Jose Valdecañas proposed that the house where Roelas lived was dedicated to God, applying the custody for the town hall. Then it was created the saint Raphael brotherhood in 1655. After some years the hermitage was set up in 1735.
After being sacred and blessed the brotherhood thinks that the hermitage is too small for so many believers, and decides to
raise money to make a church in the same place. So after having recollected 61.148 reales, the temple was built by Vicente López Cardera, between 1796 and 1806. This architect came from the Saint Ferdinand Academy, he had neoclassical tasted and he was influenced by Ventura Rodríguez and his disciples.
The façade is divided into three parts and seven streets where the arches are alterned to the walls. In the first part there is a shoultered arch, and the lateral ones with atriangular pediment, on it there is a pediment decorated with shields, trygliphs, and metopes. The second part presents a similar structure but the central one has a triangular pediment with
windows and entrances.in the third part there are three streets and it is ended with a triangular pediment. Here there are three sculptures: "Saint Acisclus" and "Saint Victory" and "Saint Raphael Archangel" presiding the complex. In the lateral ones, separated by little balustrades there are two towers with three parts. The first are with squared plan, being the bells in the second one, opening through arches. The third part has an eight side plan, on which there is a vault ended by a pinacle.
The inside part of the church is very original: there are three naves; the central one is higher and wider than the lateral ones.it has galleries with tribunes and a high choir. The central nave has a circle where there is the transept and a great vault. The lateral naves wrap the central one, like a circle and in the middle the is a tabernacle with "Saint Raphael Archangel".
built a hospital and a cemetery for the sicks. It was situated in the Triumph Square place where the Triumph of Saint Raphael (by Jean Michel Verdiguier) is.
The first appearance of the Saint Raphael was in front of Simón de Sousa, the headmaster of the Mercedarian Convent, the Saint said: "...Tell the Bishop Don Pascual that God is very satisfied with his labour and care, of his prays for other people and the Virgin Maria; put my image on the top of the tower bell of the Mosque and celebrate my saint’s day every year..."
Then a second time appeared the saint to Simon de Sousa, who told it t the bishop and this one ordered to put an image of it on the top of Saint Peter Church belltower. To "Father Roelas" it
appeared a lot of times; the last one was in 1578, it was the swear appearance and it said: "I swear for Jesus Christ that I am Saint Raphael and I am the guard of this city". This oath appears on every board below Saint Raphael.
In this way the cult for Saint Raphael Archangel was born. The bishop and the town council left for Rome to apply for a day for praying him, Saint Raphael. It was released on the seventh May, the day of the last appearance. Many celebration were performed in the city to celebrate the
decision taken in Rome, even a bullfighting in the Corredera Square.
In 1652, the 24th Don Jose Valdecañas proposed that the house where Roelas lived was dedicated to God, applying the custody for the town hall. Then it was created the saint Raphael brotherhood in 1655. After some years the hermitage was set up in 1735.
After being sacred and blessed the brotherhood thinks that the hermitage is too small for so many believers, and decides to
raise money to make a church in the same place. So after having recollected 61.148 reales, the temple was built by Vicente López Cardera, between 1796 and 1806. This architect came from the Saint Ferdinand Academy, he had neoclassical tasted and he was influenced by Ventura Rodríguez and his disciples.
The façade is divided into three parts and seven streets where the arches are alterned to the walls. In the first part there is a shoultered arch, and the lateral ones with atriangular pediment, on it there is a pediment decorated with shields, trygliphs, and metopes. The second part presents a similar structure but the central one has a triangular pediment with
windows and entrances.in the third part there are three streets and it is ended with a triangular pediment. Here there are three sculptures: "Saint Acisclus" and "Saint Victory" and "Saint Raphael Archangel" presiding the complex. In the lateral ones, separated by little balustrades there are two towers with three parts. The first are with squared plan, being the bells in the second one, opening through arches. The third part has an eight side plan, on which there is a vault ended by a pinacle.
The inside part of the church is very original: there are three naves; the central one is higher and wider than the lateral ones.it has galleries with tribunes and a high choir. The central nave has a circle where there is the transept and a great vault. The lateral naves wrap the central one, like a circle and in the middle the is a tabernacle with "Saint Raphael Archangel".
Text: J.A.S.C.
Traslated by Sara Moretti
Art, Culture and Tourism in Cordoba