Cathedral of Saint Mark the Evangelist, Roman Catholic cathedral in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Mexico.
The Cathedral of Saint Mark the Evangelist stands on the south side of Tuxtla Gutiérrez's central plaza. Its neoclassical building has been remodeled repeatedly, and its tower holds a carillon of 48 bells cast in 1981 by the Dutch foundry Petit & Fritsen. Below the belfry, a mechanical procession of the twelve apostles appears at the front of the tower each hour, while five other bells, not connected to the carillon, sit in openings at the center of the façade.
Dominican friars from the convent of Tecpatán built the first church here in 1560 and dedicated it to Saint Mark, adding his name to the village of Tuchtla. The building served as a Dominican convent church until 1965, when the Diocese of Tuxtla was erected on 24 July and the church became its cathedral. It was remodeled repeatedly, including repairs after Carrancista troops under General Jesús Agustín Castro used it as a barracks in 1914 and left it half-destroyed; the priest Joaquín Palacios had it re-roofed with a Catalan vault in 1916.
The cathedral serves as the center of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Tuxtla, shaping the religious life of the city through regular masses and ceremonies throughout the year. Local communities gather here for major celebrations and daily worship.
The carillon rings automatically every hour with clear tones that carry throughout the city. The central plaza in front of the building offers the best vantage point for watching the mechanical apostles display.
The carillon was crafted by the Dutch bellfoundry Petit & Fritsen in 1981, representing a rare instance of European bell-making expertise installed in Mexico. The synchronized coordination between the bells and the apostle display creates an unusual example of mechanical artistry.
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