One of the longest series of historical events occurred in the oldest Catholic Parishes in North America. As you know now and then we have investigated quite a few Cathedrals & Churches but none such as old as The Basilica Cathedral Of St. Augustine which was started in the year 1565. Ponce Deleon a Spanish explorer was the first to set foot here. What turned into wealth and power eventually became a crusade to spread Catholicism amongst the various Indian tribes throughout the coastlines of Florida. 

But like most churches the history is usually about religion but this church was not started on the belief in Christ but rather it was about a war. A war that was about who would secure Florida first between the French and The Spanish. This was a time when pirates rules over the seas and battles were fought between the Indians when explorers landed on Florida's ancient shores and ships battled using cannon fire.

At the time in 1565 when Kings rules the nations in Europe a man by the name Don Pedro Menendez De Aviles was given the position of a Captain of a great Spanish Fleet. The king wanted Florida to be of Spanish Rule. At the time the French were in Florida Waters commanded by a famous Sea Captain Jean Ribault. Menendez was sent on a quest to prevent this so he was given a missionary and military duty.

He sailed out in 1565 from port Cadiz with 19 ships and over 1,100 men but deadly storms forced them to turn back. Then days later he tried again with over 1,500 soldiers, artisans, farmers, women, and even children. On board the fleet was four priest Francisco López de Mendoza Grajales, Rodrigo García de Trujillo, and Pedro de Rueda the other name is not known. Eventually they made it to Puerto Rico to stock up on supplies then they set off on a quest to Florida.

When they were setting off they wanted to establish a settlement around Cape Canaveral that is where they sited land on the Feast Of St. Augustine Of Hippo. There was an engagement with four French Warships. However there was no losses on either site. However this is what the Catholic Church tells you but further research tells another sinister story that the crew of Menendez slaughtered the French in the Bay Of St. Augustine for their own taking including Fort Caroline which is up to the north. So history proves that the battle that took place their were many losses perhaps not for Menendez but the French who were beached in the St. Augustine Bay due to hurricanes were captured and killed.

 Menendez withdrew and they established there settlement further north on the Matanzas River also known as the River Of Dolphins. He anchored his ships near the Indian Village of Seloy and named the area St. Augustine after the day he sighted his first land in Florida on the feast day of this saint. He claims that a comet guided him to the Florida coast as it was traveling westward.

When they reached landfall artillery sounded off and trumpets. The crew had gone ashore singing the hymn "Te Deum Laudamus" carrying a cross. They all knelt down and kissed it. The Indians watched from afar and even imitated the explorers. A site near the church marks where Don Pedro landed and his Chaplain performed the first Catholic service in North America. 

From that time on the parish began to grow as the church was constructed. It did not become a cathedral till a later time. But over the years the church had been rebuilt many times as Queen Anne's War and Pirates caused the churches destruction from fire. So many times it burnt down and was rebuilt keeping the classic Spanish Missionary look. Since the wood structure seemed to not hold up a man by the name Henry Flagler a railroad tycoon funded the rebuilding of the church which is the current structure built in 1797. That structure was a Spanish Colonial Renaissance style piece of beauty and then in the 1880s it was reconstructed with a tower added.

Not only is this one of the oldest churches in the nation it is also in my opinion very active supernatural wise. Of course there are more haunted churches that I been to this cathedral has a long history of events perhaps due to the fires, wars fought in the area, and the many different cultures that attended this church. There is just about 500 years of energy to the grounds of this church so alot of old ghost and stories are told. Lets not forget that three people are also buried inside the Cathedral.  If you wish to learn a more in depth history visit the link below you will be quite intrigued by all the historical events that happened here. http://www.thefirstparish.org/fullstory.asp?perm=story&archive=1 

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Rick-AngelOfThyNight

The Cathedral Additional  History

The original parish church was located where A1A Alehouse is today. It was called Nuestra Senora de los Remedios. The second parish church was located on St. George Street south of the plaza. On February 13, 1788 government officials, at the urging of Father Hassett, ordered work to begin on a suitable Catholic Church. The Spanish crown approved the plans in March of 1790. The Cathedral was started in 1793 in Spanish mission style. It represents the oldest Catholic congregation in the United States with records dating back to the 16th century. The original architect was Mariano de la Rocque. The contractor was Don Miguel Ysnardy (who acquired the title of Steward of the building). The Cathedral was dedicated on December 8, 1797 the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. There are three people buried inside the Cathedral: Father Camps, Don Miguel Ysnardy, and Father Font who died within a year of his arrival in St. Augustine (January 13, 1793). The Cathedral has parts of the old Numbre de Dios, Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe de Tolomato, and Nuestra Senora de la Soledad within its building stones as they were all torn down for the building of the Cathedral. 


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