The Cruz de Mañozca (Mañozca Cross), otherwise known as the Cruz de Tepeapulco (Tepeapulco Cross), is a 16th century atrial stone cross placed in the courtyard of the

Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral The Metropolitan Cathedral of the Assumption of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven (), also commonly called the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral, is the cathedral church of the Catholic Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mexico, Archdiocese o ...

, in the

historic center of Mexico City The historic center of Mexico City (), also known as the Centro or Centro Histórico, is the central neighborhood in Mexico City, Mexico, focused on the Zócalo (or main plaza) and extending in all directions for a number of blocks, with its fart ...

, in the

Cuauhtémoc Borough Cuauhtémoc (, ), also known as Cuauhtemotzín, Guatimozín, or Guatémoc, was the Aztec ruler (''tlatoani'') of Tenochtitlan from 1520 to 1521, and the last Aztec Emperor. The name Cuauhtemōc means "one who has descended like an eagle", and ...

. The cross was created for the , Tepeapulco, Hidalgo, and was eventually brought to Mexico City at the request of

archbishop In Christian denominations, an archbishop is a bishop of higher rank or office. In most cases, such as the Catholic Church, there are many archbishops who either have jurisdiction over an ecclesiastical province in addition to their own archdi ...

Juan de Mañozca y Zamora Juan de Mañozca y Zamora (1580 – 12 December 1650) was a Roman Catholic prelate who served as Archbishop of Mexico (1643–1650).Spanish colonization of the Americas The Spanish colonization of the Americas began in 1493 on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola (now Haiti and the Dominican Republic) after the initial 1492 voyage of Genoa, Genoese mariner Christopher Columbus under license from Queen Isabella ...

Franciscans The Franciscans are a group of related organizations in the Catholic Church, founded or inspired by the Italian saint Francis of Assisi. They include three independent religious orders for men (the Order of Friars Minor being the largest conte ...

installed in Tepeapulco, Hidalgo, and built the . As was the case with the various temples and churches of the time,

atrial cross An atrial cross is a large cross placed in the ''capilla abierta'', atrium, or large open space in front of Mexican church buildings. Most from recent centuries are in stone, with extensive ornamental carving in relief. They are a distinctive ele ...

es were built in the enclosure. The cross was formerly located in the front of the convent, which was abandoned during the 17th century. At the request of

Juan de Mañozca y Zamora Juan de Mañozca y Zamora (1580 – 12 December 1650) was a Roman Catholic prelate who served as Archbishop of Mexico (1643–1650).Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral The Metropolitan Cathedral of the Assumption of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven (), also commonly called the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral, is the cathedral church of the Catholic Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mexico, Archdiocese o ...

in 1648. Mañozca y Zamora found it surrounded by weeds and described it as "a cross of red stone masonry, twelve rods high (approximately ) ..engraved with great care by the first religious". Since then, the cross has been installed in various areas of the cathedral and is located at the rear of the original cathedral in the Patio de los Canónigos courtyard, whose access is restricted to the public.

Gallery

File:Metropolitan Cathedral of Mexico City 2015 87.jpg, Southwestern atrial cross, where the cross once stood File:Catedral Metropolitana y Sagrario, Ciudad de México - Cruz.jpg, Southeastern atrial cross, where the cross once stood File:Catedral y Sagrario Metropolitano 77.jpg, The cross as of 2012

References

External links

* 16th-century establishments in New Spain Individual crosses and crucifixes Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City Historic center of Mexico City History of Hidalgo (state) {{Mexico-struct-stub