Hope in the Highlands – Part 6 – Aim High

David Scott Fields II, Senior Writer • July 25, 2022

“Aim High” was the theme of Wednesday’s adventures in Arequipa, since the Sheets and I climbed not one but two bell towers – one attached to a monastery and one to a cathedral. The cathedral was the Basilica Cathedral of Arequipa. This massive religious site can be seen from all over the city. We made a mad dash across town to make it in time for the last tour of the day, but it was well worth it.

For starters, our tour guide graciously did the tour in English so I could understand it (though my Spanish comprehension got better with each day in Peru). And then under her expert guidance we learned more about the site.

Construction began on the cathedral in 1540, the same year Arequipa was founded. Though the facilities have faced near destruction on many occasions from fires, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions, the cathedral has always been rebuilt. Its most recent partial destruction was on June 23, 2001 when an 8.4 earthquake devastated the region.

Within the cathedral are works of art and many priceless treasures – so priceless in fact that we were not allowed to take pictures of them for security reasons. Down the main aisle of the expansive sanctuary, pillars displayed statues of each of the 12 apostles (with the exception of Judas who was replaced by Matthias). However, perhaps the most popular statue is that of the “Winged Devil,” a wooden icon in the shape of Satan with a pulpit built directly over it so the priests could literally trample Beelzebub as they preached.

After the tour of the interior of the cathedral (which also included a massive pipe organ) we made our way to the roof and bell towers. From those heights we were able to admire the beautiful city spread out before us. There is no questioning the cathedral is impressive, but as we made our way home a question lingered in my mind. Were the people who worshipped in the cathedral, as they looked to their icons, truly worshipping the Lord in spirit and truth?

References

Scripture quotations are from The ESV ® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version ®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.