Skip to content

We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away.

Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you.

Help Now >

Amazing 400-year-old church re-emerges from Mexican reservoir

Free World Class Education
FREE Catholic Classes
The last time it was visible was in 2002

The 400-year-old Temple of Santiago, also called the Temple of Quechula, has reemerged from Mexico's Nezahualcoyotl reservoir.

We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away.

Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you.

Help Now >

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - The colonial-era church became visible following a drought
that decreased the water level of the Nezahualcoyotl reservoir by 82 feet.

The church was originally flooded in 1966, despite its 30-foot walls. The bell tower is 48 feet above the ground of the church and the entire structure stands at 183-feet-long and 42-feet-wide.

The Temple of Quechula was built by monks led by Friar Bartolome de la Casas, who arrived in the mid-16th century and was greeted by the Zoque people in Quechula.

Carlos Navarrete, an architect who reported about the church with the help of Mexican authorities, said: "The church was abandoned due [to] the big plagues of 1773-1776. At that time we still found the wood form the chorus loft and the roof beams. Also a large ossuary of the victims of the plague that depopulated the area. 

"It was a church built thinking that this could be a great population center, but it never achieved that. It probably never even had a dedicated priest, only receiving visits from those from Tecpatan."

The Temple of Santiago depended on Tecpatan, a nearby monastery founded in 1564. Tecpatan and the Temple of Quechula were built with architectural similarities, which led Navarrete to believe both were constructed by the same builder at nearly the same time.

The last time the Temple was visible was in 2002, when the water had reached such a low level that people were able to walk inside. 

Leonel Mendoza, a local resident, said people were celebrating in 2002. "They came to eat, to hang out, to do business. I sold them fried fish. They did processions around the church," Mendoza explained.

Though the church is not as fully exposed as it was thirteen years ago, Mendoza has been ferrying people to view what they can of the remains.

---

The California Network is the Next Wave in delivery of information and entertainment on pop culture, social trends, lifestyle, entertainment, news, politics and economics. We are hyper-focused on one audience, YOU, the connected generation. JOIN US AS WE REDEFINE AND REVOLUTIONIZE THE EVER-CHANGING MEDIA LANDSCAPE.

Join the Movement
When you sign up below, you don't just join an email list - you're joining an entire movement for Free world class Catholic education.

Lent logo
Saint of the Day logo
Deacon Keith Fournier Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you. Help Now >
Light Your Free Payer Candle for a departed loved one

What is Palm Sunday?

Live on March 20, 2024 @ 10am PDT

Catholic Online Logo

Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited.

Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.