As I was leaving the ex-convent of Culhuacán I saw the nearby towers of another church. I had read about when I was researching Culhuacán, and I decided to walk a block along a narrow street to see it. It is called the Santuario del Señor del Calvario (Sanctuary of the Lord of Calvary). It is highly venerated place for the people of Culhuacán.
The story goes that in the 1530s, just a decade after the Spanish conquest, a group of indigenous stone cutters heard a baby crying in a nearby cave. (Another version says that they saw a bright light emanating from the cave.) They cleared away the brush and stones at the entrance to the cave, and inside they found a recumbent statue of Jesus. In the late 1800s a church was built over the cave, which is considered by local residents to be a holy site.
A colorful gateway was at the entrance. I suspect it was there for some holy day. The Spanish says, "Thank you, Lord. Shed blessings and health."
The interior of the church is very pretty and perfectly maintained. I do not know where the image of Christ is. I did not go right up to the altar to investigate.
Notice the man working on the pilaster to the right. He was applying gold paint to the decorations. It appeared that he was completing his work because everywhere the church gleamed with freshly applied gilt.
Even the ceiling is beautifully decorated.
A painting on one of the side walls portrays the story of the discovery of the statue.
Another spot with an interesting history in a neighborhood unknown to tourists
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