Authorities from the Archdiocese, historians, and cultural heritage experts have issued a call to save and preserve the Expiatory Temple of Our Lady of Consolation and part of the convent in Mérida. These colonial buildings date back more than four centuries.
Historical Significance
Historian Jorge Rodríguez Basora explained that the complex, founded in 1596, includes the only convent that operated at the peninsular level and the temple, established in 1619. This site is one of the oldest colonial complexes in Mérida and holds significant cultural and historical importance. It is a key reference point in urban, devotional, and historical matters, alongside the Cathedral of San Ildefonso, the Dragons’ Barracks, and the San Benito cloister.
Current Condition
Known today as the Temple of the Nuns, the building and part of the convent, which covered more than two hectares during colonial times, require community attention for conservation. The church faces issues with water filtration and humidity in the roofs and walls, particularly at the main altar. Maintenance and waterproofing efforts ceased during the 2021-2022 pandemic and for other reasons.
Formation of a Conservation Board
Rodríguez Basora announced that experts in heritage conservation, researchers from the Autonomous University of Yucatán, the parish community, and some businessmen will soon form a board to raise funds for the temple’s conservation and maintenance.
Campaign for Preservation
Parish priest Justo David Ceballos Uc reported the launch of a campaign titled “Let’s Rescue the Expiatory Temple of Our Lady of Consolation.” The campaign aims to gather support and financial contributions to preserve this important historical heritage.
Collaboration with INAH
Ceballos Uc mentioned that the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) is collaborating on this effort, given its responsibility to attend to the country’s vast historical and cultural heritage. The community’s support is also being solicited in this crusade.
Upcoming Conference
On December 5, experts Leslie Karina Gil Espadas, Felipe Castro Medina, Carlos Armando Mendoza, Luis Miguel Cámara, and Jorge Luis Rodríguez will hold a joint conference to discuss the site’s historical and cultural importance. Attendees will have the opportunity to contribute to the cause. The meeting will take place at 6 p.m. inside the temple, with an invitation to contribute to the Banamex account 7901 731, interbank code 002910 703 7901 7316.
Historical Background
The construction of the temple began on March 29, 1610, under Governor Carlos de Luna y Arellano, attached to the convent founded in June 1596 by Conceptionist nuns from Mexico City. It is the only convent for women in the Yucatán peninsula, established to provide a retreat for those who did not marry. Empress Carlota visited and donated to the convent during her stay in Mérida in 1865. The Franciscan temple, completed in 1633, features remarkable architecture with a single nave and several altars. Despite its closure in 1867 due to the Reform Laws, it remains a significant symbol in the history of Yucatán and Mexico.
Source: Amexi
