Basilica of Saint Alexandra of Cárdenas
 Main façade of the basilica | |
| Native name |
|
|---|---|
| Location | Government District, Cárdenas, Nouvelle Alexandrie |
| Religious affiliation | Autocephalous Nazarene Church of Alexandria |
| Status | Active |
| Architecture type | Basilica |
| Groundbreaking | 1686 AN |
| Completed | 1693 AN |
The Basilica of Saint Alexandra of Cardenas (Alexandrian: Basilique de Sainte Alexandra de Cárdenas; Martino: Basílica de Santa Alexandra de Cárdenas) is one of the principal churches of the Autocephalous Nazarene Church in Nouvelle Alexandrie and the seat of the Metropolitan Archbishop of Santander, a Cardinal-Bishop of the Church. It stands in the Government District of Cárdenas, about 800 m northwest of the Palace of Carranza, and was built between 1686 AN and 1693 AN as part of the Cárdenas Plan. The basilica is known for its colonnaded façade and painted vaulted ceilings.
Since the earliest years of the Federation the basilica has served the Monarchy of Nouvelle Alexandrie as the setting for royal weddings, baptisms, funerals, and services of state.
Name
The church's full name is Archbasilica and Metropolitan Cathedral of the Holy Saint Alexandra of Cárdenas. It is dedicated to Saint Alexandra, an early Nazarene martyr venerated as the patron saint of Cárdenas.
History
The basilica was built as part of the Cárdenas Plan, the reconstruction of the city as the federal capital from 1686 AN. Its construction was overseen by Archbishop Jorge de Arvedilla, who held the see from 1680 AN to 1697 AN and is credited with restoring the standing of the Nazarene Church in the Santanderian lands in the decades that followed the collapse of the Empire of the Alexandrians. The basilica was completed during the primacy of Archbishop Leo III of Geneva, and the remains of Saint Alexandra were translated to a shrine beneath its high altar.
The basilica's association with the Crown dates from the reign of King Manco Cápac I, whose funeral rites in 1718 AN included a Nazarene mass at the basilica. Princess Sofia married Brugen Aldef there in 1721 AN, and Prince Pachacuti was married there in 1728 AN. The basilica hosts a solemn procession during the annual Feast of Edgard II, and its bells are rung on royal occasions, most recently at the birth of Prince Inti in 1755 AN. That same year it hosted the national service of thanksgiving that opened the Jubilee of 1755 AN.
Description
Exterior
The main façade faces the Avenida de Palacio Real and is fronted by tall Corinthian columns supporting a marble pediment, above which stand statues of saints. In the centre stands Jesus Christ, rendered as Cristo Salvador (Christ the Saviour), flanked by St. Natsanet and St. Esdras. The other statues, from left to right, depict:
- Saint Jacobus, Patriarch of the Near East
- Saint Thaddaeus, Patriarch of the Near West
- Saint Zacchaus, Patriarch of the East
- Saint Marius, founder of the Congregation of the Sacred Blood
- Saint Luis the Protector
- Saint Christopher, patron saint of travellers
- Saint Paula
- Saint Antiochus, patron saint of Aerla
On the eastern side of the façade is a small loggia from which the Archbishop of Santander delivers his blessing on the great feasts of the Church, among them the Feast of Edgard II and the three days of the Nazarene Feasts. Two further statues stand on that side, of the Virgin Miryam and of Saint Alexandra.
The church is entered through three sets of massive bronze doors. The rightmost is known as the Holy Door, the entrance through which the Archbishop passes before Mass. Sunrise services are held at the basilica on the Feast Day of St. Natsanet, following the custom of the Church.
Interior
Layout
The basilica consists of a wide central nave flanked on either side by an aisle, with the high altar at the crossing of the nave and transept. The central nave holds twelve niches, each with a statue of a saint of the Alexandrian Nazarene tradition.
On the east wall:
- Saint Natsanet
- Saint Esdras, Patriarch of the West
- Saint Jacobus, Patriarch of the Near East
- Saint Thaddaeus, Patriarch of the Near West
- Saint Zacchaus, Patriarch of the East
- Saint Luis the Protector
On the west wall:
- Saint Marius
- Saint Christopher
- Saint Antiochus
- Saint Paula
- Saint Sebastian
- Saint Edgard
Twelve chapels line the aisles, dedicated to saints and to the life of Christ:
- Chapel of the Immaculate Conception
- Chapel of the Resurrection
- Chapel of the Holy Spirit
- Chapel of the Passion of Christ
- Chapel of the Holy Sacraments
- Chapel of Saint Esdras
- Chapel of Saint Jacobus
- Chapel of Saint Thaddaeus
- Chapel of Saint Zacchaus
- Chapel of the Martyrs
- Chapel of Saint Michael the Archangel
- Chapel of Saint Alexandra
The church also has a dedicated baptistery adjoining the west aisle, a cloister to the east of the central nave, and a sacristy behind the high altar. The catacombs beneath the apse hold the tombs of former Archbishops of Santander.
The central nave is a wide open space connecting the cloister, transept, and apse, normally filled with seating for services and private prayer. It has rich marble decoration and a painted ceiling depicting scenes from the life of Christ and the Legend of St. Natsanet. Directly behind the Holy Door hangs the coat of arms of the Order of St. Natsanet, while the two other doors carry the coats of arms of the Congregation of the Sacred Blood and the House of Inti-Carrillo.
The counter-façade carries several paintings, the most famous of which is the Ascension of Christ, a large polyptych with a central panel, a lunette, and a four-panel predella. The central panel depicts the Ascension, and the lunette God in Glory between Angels. Two of the predella panels show scenes from the life of Christ, the Nativity and the Resurrection; the others depict saints of the Church. Two tondi beside the lunette depict St. Natsanet receiving the four scrolls at the Markion River and the Four Patriarchs carrying their copies out into the world.
High altar and apse
The high altar is covered by a ciborium, a freestanding canopy, and bears a golden patriarchal cross, the double-barred cross of the Church, known as the Holy Cross of Saint Alexandra. Wooden panels on the ciborium depict the Crucifixion, with Jesus on the Cross flanked by the Virgin Miryam and St. Natsanet, and side panels of the Four Patriarchs. Two statues at the top of the ciborium depict St. Esdras and St. Zacchaus, the Patriarchs of the West and the East. Behind the altar is a semi-circular choir under a domed ceiling painted with Christ pronouncing the Great Commission to his disciples. A confessional stands below and in front of the high altar, and beneath the altar lies the shrine of Saint Alexandra, holding the relics of the basilica's namesake.
Chapels on the left aisle
Five chapels open onto the left aisle: three along the nave and two alongside the high altar.
The first chapel, directly beside the left door, is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, with frescoes of the early life of the Virgin Miryam and of the Annunciation. Its altarpiece shows the Virgin surrounded by cherubs, with the Archangel Gabriel above her.
The second chapel is dedicated to the Resurrection of Christ, its walls painted with the empty tomb, the appearance to the disciples on the road, the Great Commission, and the Ascension. On the altar, the risen Christ displays his wounds to a doubting disciple.
The third chapel is dedicated to the Holy Spirit, and in particular to its descent upon the first disciples after the Ascension of Christ; the altarpiece shows the disciples and the Virgin Miryam receiving it under tongues of flame.
The fourth chapel is dedicated to the Passion of Christ. Frescoes trace the cleansing of the Temple, the Anointing of Jesus, the Last Supper, and the trial of Christ before the Machiavellians; a carved wooden crucifix from the basilica's first decade, flanked by the Virgin Miryam and a grieving disciple, stands over the altar.
The fifth chapel is dedicated to the Holy Sacraments, the rites by which the faithful of the Nazarene Church are confirmed in the faith. Its frescoes depict the sacraments of the Church, among them Baptism, Holy Communion, Marriage, and the Anointing of the Ill, and its altarpiece the Baptism of the Four Hundred by St. Natsanet at the Markion River.
Chapels on the right aisle
Seven chapels open onto the right aisle: six along the nave and one alongside the high altar.
The first is dedicated to Saint Esdras, first Bishop of Markion City and Patriarch of the West, who carried the body of St. Natsanet and the four scrolls to safety. Its frescoes depict the rescue of the scrolls and the founding of the see of Markion; above the altar, the saint receives the Keys, the emblem of the Church's authority to bind and loose.
The second is dedicated to Saint Jacobus, Patriarch of the Near East, shown in its altarpiece at his writing desk copying the scriptures; the surrounding frescoes follow the faith's journey eastward.
In the third, dedicated to Saint Thaddaeus, Patriarch of the Near West, the saint appears on the road, staff in hand, bearing his copy of the scriptures to the western lands.
The fourth is dedicated to Saint Zacchaus, first Bishop of Ertra and Patriarch of the East, with frescoes of his return to the homeland of St. Natsanet and an altarpiece, worked in mosaic rather than paint, of the saint preaching before the Ertitite throne.
The fifth chapel honours the martyrs of the Nazarene faith, from the persecutions of the Machiavellians to the present day. Over its altar hangs the Martyrdom of St. Natsanet, the saint poisoned at her father's court on her twenty-first birthday.
The sixth chapel belongs to Saint Michael the Archangel, chief of the angels and protector of the faithful, whose frescoes show him as the warrior of God among angels and cherubs; its altarpiece, the Archangel casting down the dragon of the Revelations, is the oldest painting in the basilica.
The seventh chapel is dedicated to Saint Alexandra herself, the basilica's namesake and the patron saint of Cárdenas. Its frescoes follow her life and her veneration in the city, ending at her martyrdom, which also forms the subject of the altarpiece. The chapel draws pilgrims on her feast day.
Baptistery
The baptistery is somewhat secluded from the main body of the church and is entered from the west aisle. It is octagonal, with a broad marble font at its centre surrounded by an ambulatory. Baptism is administered by the pouring of water; the font's wide basin, built in the early years for the older rite of immersion, recalls the Baptism of the Four Hundred in the Markion River. Around the baptistery are three minor oratories, dedicated to Saint Natsanet, Saint Esdras, and Saint Michael the Archangel.
Cloister
The cloister lies to the east of the central nave, a rectangular covered walkway with arched ceilings. It gives access to the private offices and living quarters of the basilica's clergy and lay staff, and is closed to visitors.
Sacristy
The sacristy lies behind the high altar and houses most of the basilica's relics, among them fragments of the Table of the Last Supper, a Nail of the Holy Cross, a Thorn of the Crown of Christ, and a leaf from an early transcription of the Gospel attributed to the school of St. Jacobus.
The sacristy also holds a large collection of liturgical books, including commentaries on the scriptures, hagiographies of St. Natsanet and the Four Patriarchs, and prayer books. Sacred vessels such as chalices, patens, and ciboria are kept in secure display cases, together with the holy oils, water, and wine used in services, and the vestments of the clergy. The sacristy is closed to visitors.
Catacombs
The basilica has traditionally been the burial place of the Archbishops of Santander. Since 1697 AN, three archbishops have been interred in the catacombs beneath the apse. The most elaborate tomb is that of Archbishop Jorge de Arvedilla, the first to be buried there. Several theologians also rest in the catacombs, among them Hernando Lazisse (d. 1714 AN) and Ricardo Ignació (d. 1732 AN).
Transport
The nearest Metro and tram stop is Jardines Reales, about 400 m to the northeast. The basilica is also served by the Metro stops Avenida Derechos, about 900 m north, and Palacio Real, about 900 m southeast, and has a dedicated Capital Bus stop.
