Santos in Oaxaca's Ancient Churches

A study of santos in 16th-century and other churches in Oaxaca, Mexico


By Claire and Richard Stracke
Funded by a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation

In Santa María de la Natividad Zaachila:

Christ in a coffin
Immaculate Heart of Mary
Nativity of Mary
Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Resurrected Christ
St. Nicholas Factor 1
St. Nicholas Factor 2

Resurrected Christ

Resurrected Christ:
The upturned gaze seems more appropriate to the sorrowing St. John at the cross. The figure is on a hexagonal green wooden stand.

Basis for Identification: Vexillum in the left hand, fingers of the raised right hand formed for blessing. Nail wounds in the hands.

Other characteristics: White robe, cincture, and cape. 

Site: Church of Santa María de la Natividad Zaachila.

Location: Above the altar in the first bay of the north wall of the nave (see note).

Media and construction: Wood, gesso, paint, polyester garments. Eyes: glass, with lashes. Hair: wig. Parted lips show teeth. The vexillum is of wood painted silver.

Size: About feet (165 cm.)

Comparable santos in Oaxaca: Achiutla, Santa Ana del Valle, Cuilapan, Mitla, Teitipac, Teotitlán, TeposcolulaYanhuitlán.

External Links:
Wikimedia Commons: Statues of Resurrection of Christ in Mexico
Catholic Encyclopedia: Resurrection of Jesus Christ
Wikipedia: Resurrection of Jesus
Christian Iconography: The Resurrection

Next: At the end of the north wall, a statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Previous santo

Introduction to Santa María Zaachila

Santos Home Page

Note: On this site, references to the cardinal directions in a church always assume that the main altar is at the east end of the church, the narthex or entry area at the west end, and the two walls of the nave on the north and south. (The nave is the long central section.)  Actual orientations may differ.

The photo shown here is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. You are free to share or remix it on two conditions: first, that you attribute it to the photographers, Claire and Richard Stracke, without implying any approval of your work on their part; second, that if you alter, transform, or build upon this photo, you may distribute the resulting work only under the same or similar license to this one.