It all started when Justo Gallego, a member of the Trappist Order, fell ill with tuberculosis. He had to leave the monastery and return to his hometown of Mejorada del Campo. The Spaniard began to pray fervently. He swore that he would build a cathedral if the Lord would deliver him from his illness. Soon the disease really receded.
It was in 1961. Now Senor Gallego is 91 years old, and he continues to fulfill his oath. Every day he gets up early and goes to lay new bricks. The dome of the temple already rises 40 meters, but it is still far from completion.
God help you: A 91-year-old monk has been building a grand cathedral on his own for half a centuryGod help you: A 91-year-old monk has been building a grand cathedral on his own for half a century The land on which Justo is building was inherited by him. He has no engineering education, and the materials are provided free of charge by local construction companies. At the same time, Senor Gallego uses improvised materials. If you look closely, you will notice that the columns, for example, are made of plastic buckets filled with concrete.
God help you: A 91-year-old monk has been building a grand cathedral on his own for half a centuryGod help you: A 91-year-old monk has been building a grand cathedral on his own for half a centuryGod help you: A 91-year-old monk has been building a grand cathedral on his own for half a century The dome was created in the image and likeness of the dome of St. Peter's Cathedral in the Vatican.
God help you: A 91-year-old monk has been building a grand cathedral on his own for half a centuryGod help you: A 91-year-old monk has been building a grand cathedral on his own for half a centuryGod help you: A 91-year-old monk has been building a grand cathedral on his own for half a centuryGod help you: A 91-year-old monk has been building a grand cathedral on his own for half a centuryGod help you: A 91-year-old monk has been building a grand cathedral on his own for half a centuryGod help you: A 91-year-old monk has been building a grand cathedral on his own for half a centuryGod help you: A 91-year-old monk has been building a grand cathedral on his own for half a centuryGod help you: A 91-year-old monk has been building a grand cathedral on his own for half a centuryGod help you: A 91-year-old monk has been building a grand cathedral on his own for half a century