Santos in Oaxaca's Ancient Churches

A study of santos in 16th-century and other churches in Oaxaca, Mexico


By Claire and Richard Stracke
Funded by a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation

In San Pablo Mitla:

Calvary group
Christ: Ecce Homo
Christ in a coffin

Christ resurrected
Crucifix
Immaculate Heart of Mary
Our Lady of Sorrows
Our Lady of Sorrows (Soledad)
Our Lady of the Assumption (1)
Our Lady of the Assumption (2)
Palm Sunday Christ
St. Anthony of Padua
St. John the Baptist
St. Joseph (1)
St. Joseph (2)
St. Paul (1)
St. Paul (2)
St. Peter
Trinity
Unidentified saint

Other santos not photographed

San Pablo Mitla

Shown above is the church of St. Paul in Mitla, a town in the Central Valley about 30 miles (50 km.) from Oaxaca City. On the day of our visit in 1991, the church was being decorated by lay women known as Senadoras in the Hermandad de la Virgen del Carmen. The senadoras were wearing uniforms similar to the habits of Franciscans, and indeed to the gown worn on statues of their patron, Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Our tour begins in the narthex of the church with a Calvary grouping.

Photo by Ivanpares.
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