The Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Coromoto[1] (Spanish: Basílica Menor Santuario Nacional Nuestra Señora de Coromoto) is a minor Basilica[2] and National Shrine[3] dedicated in honor of Our Lady of Coromoto, patroness of Venezuela is 25 kilometers from the city of Guanare, Portuguesa, Venezuela. Today its pastor is the priest Allender Hernández.
| Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Coromoto | |
|---|---|
| Basílica Menor Santuario Nacional Nuestra Señora de Coromoto | |
 | |
 | |
| Location | San Genaro de Boconoíto |
| Country |  Venezuela |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic Church |
The shrine is built on the site where the faithful believe the Virgin appeared to the Native American chief Coromoto.
The construction project was prepared in 1975 by exiled Spanish architect Juan Capdevila Elías and Venezuelan architect Erasmo Calvani, but it was not until early 1980 when work began.
The work was interrupted several times, so it was in February 1996 when it finally could be consecrated by Pope John Paul II, in the presence of more than two million devotees awaiting the consecration of the temple. On October 20, 2007, it was elevated by Pope Benedict XVI to the dignity of minor basilica.[4]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Coromoto, San Genaro de Boconoíto
- ^ Leal, Elsa. "Nuestra Señora de Coromoto: 63 años de su coronación - El Impulso". El Impulso (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2016-04-29.
- ^ "Santuarios imperdibles para la Semana Mayor". www.el-nacional.com. Archived from the original on 2016-06-02. Retrieved 2016-04-29.
- ^ "Virgen de Coromoto: de Santuario a Basílica en Noticias24.com". www.noticias24.com. Archived from the original on 2016-05-30. Retrieved 2016-04-29.