Church of San Juan Evangelista

This temple allows us to contemplate two churches in one, clearly differentiated by their height, workmanship and the patina of its walls. During the sixteenth century they began some works that were not completed, thanks to which we can see a good part of the history of Deleitosa.

The duality is also manifested in the preferences, since the church is dedicated to St. John the Evangelist, although the patron saint of the town is the Cristo del Desamparo (Christ of the Forsaken).

Its origin is uncertain, but in any case the first church may have been built in the fourteenth century or early fifteenth century, when the manor of the Counts of Deleytosa was created.

VISIT
PATRIMONY
C/ Iglesia 8
927 54 00 04
Exteriors
aytodeleitosa@deleitosa.es
Muchas veces la puerta está abierta

The front of the feet, is the oldest one, with arched bell tower framed, has a gothic tracery. Above is a stone with a registration Hebrew. The side ones are identical. Half point arch of strong and elegant workmanship. The sundial on its south façade and the incomplete walls next to the abside.

Almost everything we see is from the 16th century, but there are still some very interesting traces of that first church from the 14th century. From the outside you can see the two heights, the old low and the more modern high and slender.

The bell tower itself gives us that sequence perfectly drawn in its bricks. We see the ancient one below and the modern one as it raises its powers to the top.

this church is part of a very important fortified environment, here next to us is what is known as the Castle of which there are practically no remains but, even today in the popular tradition there are tunnels that connect the church with the castle and even with much more remote places in the Sierra.

the temple is dedicated to St. John the Evangelist, which is a late vocation in general. However, the patron saint of the town does not have the absolute protagonism of the Cristo del Desamparo, whose main festivities are held in September with the festivities of the Christs.

It is a very interesting carving, as it is reported that “Christ presents an anguished expression in the face and the abundance of blood streaks give the figure an inexcusable pathos when it comes to representing the agony of the Redeemer”. Of course, it has great expressiveness and is of impressive originality and artistic value.

But there are two other Christs: one dates from the second half of the 14th century, in Gothic style. It was restored in the 1980s and another attributed to the 18th century, the oldest of a pose and attitude quite different from the modern ones.

One of the most exciting moments throughout the year is the Candelas, when the girls are presented at the church. It was the Jewish custom to present newborn children in the temple in Jerusalem. Therefore, the Virgin Mary took the child in her arms and brought him to Jerusalem to present him to the temple.

MÁS PUNTOS de interés