The small town of Huaro is located 4 km south of Andahuaylillas.
Its white church dedicated to John the Baptist was built at the end of the
17th century.
Its structure, made up of a single nave, is of classic style. Its façade is
enlivened by indigenous decorations and flanked by a bell gable.
Inside, the Renaissance altar is among the oldest of Peru. However, the
magnificent pair of frescos made by Tadeo Escalante, situated on both sides of
the entrance gate, is undoubtedly the most fascinating artwork in the church.
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Detail of the facade
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In the sculpture above the door, God the Father is represented as a
man with a triangle on his head and a large beard.
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With his right hand he makes the sign of the Trinity, and with his
left hand he holds an armillary sphere surmounted by a cross.
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Poor man and rich man scene.
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Poor man and rich man scene
The top scene has the caption: «Death in the House of the Poor.» The
lower scene has the caption: «Death in the Rich House.»
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The exhibition information reads: «In "Death in the Poor Man's House"
an allusion is made to the dying person's opportunity to repent for
the salvation of his soul. While in "the rich man's house", Death
bursts into life suddenly.»
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Tree of Life scene
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Tree of Life scene
The tree of life is the reward for Jesus-followers who overcome worldly
persecution. Most commentators suggest that this reward is the presence
of God (and immortality) that Adam and Eve had before the Fall in
Genesis 3.
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The exhibition information reads: «While Christ, about to strike the
end bell, Death cuts down the trunk of the tree of life. At the same
time, the demon pulls a rope tied to the top of the tree, where a
group of people celebrate the banality of the life that humanity
leads. Although everything seems to indicate the imminent irruption,
the Virgin Mary intercedes for mercy.»
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Hour of Death scene
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Hour of Death scene
The hour of death is a sacred moment because it is a passage from this
life to that promised by the Lord. It marks the end of the earthly
pilgrimage and the beginning of the pilgrimage to the kingdom of heaven.
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On the left side of the scene, we can see Death represented in the
form of a skeleton with a scythe in his right hand, and a sand clock
in his left hand.
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On the right side of the scene, we can see a dying man on his
deathbed. Death approaches from behind. Two priests accompany the
dying man, one with an open book, and the other with a cross. A demon
lurks under the bed.
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In the background of the scene, we can see couples who are approached
by Death.
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In the foreground of the scene, at the bottom, we see symbols of power
and authority scattered across the floor. We can also see a newborn in
the crib who is approached by an angel and Death.
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Detail of the Hour of Death
Death is represented by a skeleton holding a scythe in its right hand
and a sand clock in its left hand.
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A small figure appears on the skeleton's chest representing the
immortal soul that resides within the mortal body.
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The exhibition information reads: «Death marks the hour of the end
with his hourglass and the wheat reaper, symbol of the cutting of
life.»
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Last Judgment scene
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Last Judgment scene
Christianity considers the Second Coming of Jesus Christ to entail the
final judgment by God of all people who have ever lived, resulting in
the approval of some and the penalizing of most.
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On the left side of the painting we can see the souls that go to
Heaven.
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On the right side of the painting we can see the souls descending to
Hell.
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The exhibition information reads: «"I saw a throne set in heaven, and
someone sitting on the throne [...] and around the throne was a
rainbow."» (This phrase is taken from Revelation 4:2-3.)
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The Throne in Heaven: «4. 1 After this I looked, and there before me
was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard
speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you
what must take place after this.” 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and
there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. 3
And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A
rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne.» Revelation
4:1-3.
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See more at
Last Judgment - Wikipedia.
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Detail of the Last Judgment
At the top of the Last Judgment scene, we can see Christ with three
lightning bolts in his hand.
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Beneath Christ, Calvary is represented with the instruments of the
Passion.
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Underneath Calvary is the archangel Saint Michael overcoming the
devil.
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Underneath the devil we can read the caption: “Resurrection of the
Dead.”
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Detail of the Last Judgment
On the left side of the scene, we can see the blessed souls entering
Paradise.
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The caption above the singing angels reads: «COME, blessed of my
Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of
the world» (Matthew 25:34-39).
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The caption above the souls reads: «Souls chosen by the Lord's
mercies».
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Detail of the Last Judgment
In the lower left corner of the scene, we can see Purgatory.
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The caption above Purgatory reads: «Great tribulations and in the
Blood of the lamb they washed their consciences.»
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The caption beneath Purgatory reads: «Have compassion and pity on us,
O you who are our friends, relatives and acquaintances.»
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Purgatory is a passing intermediate state after physical death for
purifying or purging a soul. A common analogy is dross being removed
from metal in a furnace.
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In Catholic doctrine, purgatory refers to the final cleansing of those
who died in the State of Grace, and leaves in them only "the holiness
necessary to enter the joy of heaven"; it is entirely different from
the punishment of the damned and is not related to the forgiveness of
sins for salvation. A forgiven person can be freed from his "unhealthy
attachment to creatures" by fervent charity in this world, and
otherwise by the non-vindictive "temporal (i.e. non-eternal)
punishment" of purgatory.
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See more at
Purgatory - Wikipedia.
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Detail of the Last Judgment
In the lower right corner of the scene, the souls that descend to Hell
enter the mouth of a monster where they are received by demons and a
frog.
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The caption over the monster's mouth reads: «They threw them into the
bonfire, There the eternal gnashing of teeth, There will be the cry of
the Mighty Ones They will suffer Mighty torments.»
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In Inca mythology, the frog was considered a sacred animal associated
with water and fertility. It was believed to have the power to bring
rain and ensure bountiful harvests.
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A traditional concoction, known as the "viagra of the Inca", is made
from skinned, blended frogs and is popular across South America.
- Therefore frogs were associated with the sin of lust.
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Hell scene
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Hell scene
In religion and folklore, hell is a location or state in the afterlife
in which souls are subjected to punitive suffering, most often through
torture, as punishment after death.
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The top caption reads: «Woe to us, because we sin, there is no remedy
in Hell, where there is no order but eternal confusion.»
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The bottom caption reads: «Woe to me that I remain burning, alas that
I could, I can no longer, alas that I must burn forever, alas that I
will never see God.»
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Underneath the scene we can read this poem:
«To this horrible torment
With the great penalty of Damage
They will not be sentences of one year
Centuries will last without a story
Without a moment's relief
Eternally I must be
And in the fire of this Hell
I must rage forever»
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See more at
Hell - Wikipedia.
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Detail of the Hell scene
The souls of sinners are about to be devoured by a monster.
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Among the souls of sinners who are about to be devoured, we can see a
friar, a bishop and even a cardinal.
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Paradise scene
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Paradise scene
At the top of the scene, we can see God the Father on the right side,
God the Son on the left side, and the Holy Spirit in the center.
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In the row below, are the four evangelists and the choir of angels.
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In the bottom row are the saints. In the center of the saints is an
armillary sphere with a palm tree on top, and a friar on each side.
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Detail of the Paradise
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God the Father is represented as a man with a triangle on his head and
a large beard. With his right hand he makes the sign of the Trinity,
and in his left hand he holds a scepter.
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God the Son is represented as a lord with a triangle on his head and a
small beard. With his right hand he makes a gesture of salute, and in
his left hand he holds a scepter.
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God the Holy Spirit is represented as a dove with a triangle behind
it.
- Many little angels surround the three characters.
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Detail of the Paradise
In the center below this scene, is an armillary sphere with a palm tree
above, and one friar on each side. The friar on the left represents a
Dominican, and the friar on the right represents a Franciscan.
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The exhibition information reads: «"I grant you, palm tree, the
privilege of having one of your branches carried by my angels and
planted in my Father's paradise."» (This phrase is taken from the
Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew, XXI, 1.)
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The palm of victory: «XXI 1. The next morning, they set out, and as
they set out, Jesus turned to the palm tree and said: I grant you,
palm tree, the privilege of having one of your branches carried by my
angels. and planted in my Father's paradise. I want to confer this
favor on you, so that it can be said to those who have won in any
fight: You have obtained the palm of victory. And, as he said this,
behold, an angel of the Lord appeared above the palm tree, and, taking
one of its branches, he flew towards heaven with it in his hand. 2.
And when they saw this, they all fell on their knees and became as if
they were dead. But Jesus said to them: Why has fear invaded your
hearts? Do you not know that this palm tree that I have had
transported to paradise will be prepared for all the saints in a place
of delight, just as it has been prepared for you in this desert? And
everyone got up full of joy.» Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew, XXI, 1-2.
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See more at
Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew - Wikipedia.
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Confessional
A confessional is a box, cabinet, booth, or stall in which the priest in
some Catholic churches sits to hear the confessions of penitents.
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The confessional is usually a wooden structure, with a centre
compartment—entered through a door or curtain—in which the priest
sits, and on each side there is a latticed opening for the penitents
to speak through and a step on which they kneel. By this arrangement
the priest is hidden, but the penitent is visible to the public.
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See more at
Confessional - Wikipedia.
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Albert of Trapani
Painting with scenes from the "Life of Saint Albert, Confessor of the
Order of Carmelites and prior provincial of the Convent of Sicily."
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Albert of Trapani (born Albert degli Abati; Sicilian:
Sant’Albertu di l’Abati; c. 1240 – 7 August 1307) was an
Italian Roman Catholic priest and a professed member of the
Carmelites.
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He practiced great austerities upon himself to make himself poor in
the spirit of Jesus Christ and went out preaching and evangelizing; he
was known for working and maintaining a positive relationship with
Jews as well as for his powers of healing.
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See more at
Albert of Trapani - Wikipedia.
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Wooden ceiling of the church
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Saint John the Baptist
The church is consecrated to Saint John the Baptist.
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John the Baptist (c. 1st century BCE – c. 30 CE) was a Jewish preacher
active in the area of the Jordan River in the early 1st century CE.
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According to the New Testament, John anticipated a messianic figure
greater than himself; in the Gospels, he is portrayed as the precursor
or forerunner of Jesus.
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John used baptism as the central symbol or sacrament of his
pre-messianic movement. Most biblical scholars agree that John
baptized Jesus, and several New Testament accounts report that some of
Jesus's early followers had previously been followers of John.
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See more at
John the Baptist - Wikipedia.
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Church choir with pipe organ
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Exhibition information
Exhibition information pointing to the location of the various scenes.
- View from the altar to the church door.
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Five sacred hearts
Above the church door are these five sacred hearts facing those leaving
the church.
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The heart in the center represents the heart of Christ surrounded by a
crown of thorns.
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On the right side of Christ's heart is the heart of the Virgin Mary
pierced by a sword.
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On the right side of the Virgin Mary's heart is the heart of Saint
Joseph surmounted by white lilies.
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On the left side of Christ's heart is a heart with the Virgin and
Child on his lap.
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On the left side of the heart with the Virgin and Child is, perhaps,
the Virgin with the dead Christ on her lap (Pietà).
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See more at
Sacred Heart - Wikipedia.
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See also
Sources
Location
