Hidden in plain sight, San Juan Evangelista y Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe holds tales that stretch back centuries. It stands on the corner of Augusto Rodín and Millet streets. This church faces Valentín Gómez Farías Plaza in Colonia Insurgentes Extremadura. It is more than just a pretty facade.
Legend says that around 1675, a typhus epidemic devastated the San Juan neighborhood. The inhabitants’ huts were burned to stop the spread. After the fires died down, one wall remained standing. On it was an image of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Locals believed this was a miracle. They started construction on the San Juan Evangelista church. It was dedicated to Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe.
Later, the location of San Juan Evangelista y Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe became significant. Pilgrims from Morelos and southern Mexico City sought a closer place of worship. The Basílica de Guadalupe was far. They transformed San Juan Evangelista into a Guadalupan sanctuary.
The church’s administration changed hands over time. Secular clergy took over in 1870 after the expropriation of convents. The sacred Mitra of Mexico entrusted the church to the Josefino fathers in 1911. San Juan Evangelista y Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe has been under their care ever since.
Locals wanted the church to be formally recognized. In 1938, they petitioned Archbishop Luis María Martínez. They requested that San Juan Evangelista be declared a temple to the Virgin of Guadalupe. The Virgin’s image held a place of honor there. Today a relief of the Virgin of Guadalupe adorns the door.
The architecture of San Juan Evangelista reflects its long history. It was likely designed by Pedro de Arrieta. The facade is made of quarry stone. A niche above has a sculpture of San Juan. The courtyard features gardens and a stone cross. The cross is carved with a crown of thorns.
Two bell towers rise above the church. Below a window is a relief of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Octagonal windows flank it. Angels hover above the windows. One angel holds the sun. The other holds the moon.
Inside, the church follows a Latin cross plan. Rib vaults and barrel vaults cover the space. The interior displays plasterwork from the early 20th century. Stained glass windows depict the four apparitions of the Virgin of Guadalupe.
Look closely at the facade’s archway. There you will spot a small figure of the Virgin of Guadalupe. The decorations feature floral and vegetal motifs. These details add to the church’s charm.
San Juan Evangelista y Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe has faced challenges. The 2017 earthquakes caused structural damage. Cracks appeared in the arches and vaults. The facade lost pinnacles and pieces of its gargoyles. The church is a historical monument. It was declared as such in 1932. San Juan Evangelista y Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe stands as a testament to faith. It is a landmark in the community.