Spain’s Toledo Cathedral at 800: A tour of its Marian and Eucharistic heart

The dean of Toledo Cathedral revealed the Marian and Eucharistic heart of the cathedral, which is celebrating a jubilee on the 800th anniversary of the beginning of its construction.

The Archdiocese of Toledo in Spain is in the midst of celebrating a jubilee on the occasion of the 800th anniversary of the laying of the first stone of its cathedral in August 1226.

On Oct. 25, Primatial Archbishop Francisco Cerro opened the holy door in a ceremony without precedent. EWTN News Español, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, asked the cathedral dean, Father Juan Pedro Sánchez Gamero, for a tour of some of the most significant elements that, in his opinion, showcase the deep Marian and Eucharistic heart of the church.

Inside, the cathedral houses an immense wealth of heritage accumulated over the centuries featuring works by artists such as Goya, Titian, Berruguete, Luca Giordano, Caravaggio, and El Greco, all in the service of evangelization.

“Everything here is made for him — specifically so that by contemplating it, everyone may come to Jesus Christ and get to know him much better,” explained the dean as he began the tour at the Chapel of the Descent.

The site of this chapel is located where tradition places the high altar of the Visigothic church dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the first church on the present site of the cathedral, and where the people of Toledo come to touch the stone associated with a remarkable event according to tradition: “The Virgin Mary descended from the heavens to bestow a chasuble upon St. Ildefonso, in recognition of his fervent defense of Mary’s virginity,” the dean explained.

After admiring the small original chapel, the tour continued along the left aisle of the central nave to admire the monstrance crafted by Enrique de Arfe (Custodia de Arfe), built from the one used by the Servant of God Queen Isabella (1451–1504) for her private devotion. “When she died, it was Cardinal [Francisco Jiménez de] Cisneros [1436–1517] who purchased it from Queen Isabella’s estate for the cathedral” and ordered it to be made of new pieces that highlight the human and divine nature of Jesus Christ.

“Above is the Holy Spirit beneath the cross. Then there is a child holding an orb, [as if] saying: God is man, Jesus is man, and he is here. And further down, there is a magnificent figure of the risen Christ, which declares: He is God. Jesus is not only man; he is also God,” the priest explained.

The third area the dean highlighted is the main chapel. Its layout is credited to Cisneros and it serves as the liturgical heart of the church. Sánchez drew attention to the imposing gilded and polychromed Baroque altarpiece, specifically noting the central placement of the tabernacle, which was moved there from a side chapel.

This tabernacle is also at the origin of the “Transparente,” another expression of devotion to the Eucharist within the cathedral, which, in the view of the dean, represents an architectural “bold stroke” in the service of the liturgy; it involves an opening made in the vault above to allow light to stream down toward the tabernacle, creating “an explosion of joy directed toward the Eucharist.”

At this point, the dean took the tour back to the center of the cathedral, where the choir is located. Upon passing through the gate, an image of the “White Virgin” holding the child Jesus in her arms greets the visitor.

“It is the most beautiful Gothic-era Virgin I have ever beheld. Observe the tenderness, the motherhood of Mary, her smile, and the pleasure she takes in having her chin caressed by her Son, as well as the way she holds him close to her breast. They express to each other mutual delight, joy, tenderness, and her motherhood that is truly worth contemplating,” Sánchez remarked.

The dean next takes the tour to the chapter house, the upper reaches of which are adorned with numerous motifs alluding to the Virgin Mary, while, just below, one can see portraits of all the bishops of the primatial see of Spain, from St. Eugenius to Braulio Rodríguez, the archbishop emeritus of Toledo.

The tour concludes at the Chapel of the Rosary, where a jubilee Mass is celebrated daily under the patronage of the patroness of Toledo who last year received a silver lily (a papal distinction) to commemorate the centenary of her canonical coronation.

This story was first published by EWTN News Español, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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