Saint Isidoro of Leon - Basílica
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  21st, december, 1063 King Fernando I and Sancha consecrate the ancient church; today only exist the north and west walls and the eastern door, ocluded. Doña Urraca, king and queen's daughter, began and promoted the new church, and "enriched the church with several donations"; after her death, in 1101, King Alfonso II and his sister, infant-queen Sancha, resumed the building, commissioned to Pedro Deustambem (who was buried in the temple). The structure of the church draws a three aisles latin cross plant. The head of the church is shaped by three half circled apses. The elder chapel was begun in 1513. It is covered by a cross-shaped arched roof at the inside; outside, it looks like a tower or a house block. It's ascribed to Juan de Badajoz, sr. The retable was made in XVIst. century. It has 24 pictures, disposed in four spaces consecrated to the Holy Virgin, Christ and the life of St. Thomas.  |
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The most important gate is at the side arms of the cross and the one
opened in the centre of the south frontage, which is the main porch
to the temple. It's called Puerta del Cordero (The Lamb Gate), because
of its decoration: the Holy Lamb with two angels is engraved in the
tympanum, added to the sacrifice of Isaac, Sara at the door of the shop,
Ismael the archer riding across the desert. At left, a figure of St.
Isidoro, at right St. Pelayo; after, King David, five musicians and
the Zodiacal symbols. Puerta del Perdon (The Forgiveness Gate) is the
name of the south cross door, that's consecrated to the pilgrims. A
dog and a lion, guardians of the church, support the tympanum in which
a biblical scene is developed: the Deposition of Christ, the women in
front of the sepulchre and the Ascension. Both sides of the arch, St.
Peter and St. Paul.
The church has been into a continuous evolution from the last twenty
centuries.
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Tympanum
of the Gate of the Lamb. Click on image to see a larger picture. |
Tympanum
of the |
| THE PRIVILEGE OF PERMANENT DEMONSTRANCE
In 16th century, whoever was the author of "La Pícara Justina", he put in her words this description of the Collegiate church of St. Isidoro, which was called of St. Isidro then: "If I were very devotee, I would have to devote myself to see St. Isidro of Leon, because that one house, in precious relics, is Jerusalem; in indulgences, Rome; in greatness of buildings, a Pantheon; in religion, the anchoret; in choir, a sky; in the divine cult, wealth, brocades, silver and gold, a temple of Salomon". We know that the Collegiate church was that and much more at that time. |
Nevertheless, which always has attracted the Leon people towards its Basilica are not the treasures of its past wealth nor those exceptional qualifications, but the permanent presence of the Sacrament solemnly exposed, by immemorial privilege. We don't know when the permanent monstrance began, but the XVI st century
provides wide information about this fact: Dr Navarro's statutes, a testimony
of the elder canon Dr. Siliceo, the chronicler Ambrosio de Morales and
the testimony, in 1593, of the Papal Nuncio, Camilo Cayetano, who testifies
that at St. Isidoro in Leon "by privilege and pardon, the Blessed sacrament
is always present". |
The people from Leon considers this monstrance as their principal devotion. The temple is open day and night and never lacks of prayers. More information: |
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