Santa María Huatulco | 
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See aerial photo.
Photos of church (62K). Photo of plaza.
This man, according to folklore, is recognized as the Saint Thomas apostle, and according to the history of Mexico, is Quetzalcoatl.
He arrived carrying a a very beautiful timber, like a cross.
This event was unusual and amazing, and many people came to the beach to meet him.
The white man saluted them benevolent in their own language. And he remained for a few days teaching them many things. And every day he was on his knees praying. When he departed, he told the people that the holy timber should remain on the beach, and despite the large size and weight he erected it on the beach by himself.
Due to these events, large pilgrimages of native indians from many places would come to the beach to admire the holy timber.
From this comes the name, Quauhtlelco, a Nahuatl word that means: Cuauhtli - timber; Telosa - to bow; and Co - place. The whole word means Huatulco - the place where the timber is adored. [This information was taken from a photo taken of the plaque at the church and I am not certain that my spelling of these Indian words is correct. I will try to verify this later.]
In the year 1587, the English pirate Thomas Cavendish (refer to History of the Region) arrived at the famous Huatulco port. After coming in to rob the town, he tried to demolish the holy cross with axes and saws but could not. Then he tied the cross with ropes to his ship which sailed into the open sea and still could not move it. He also tried to burn it but it remained standing.
In this altar is a small cross which is an authentic fragment of the Holy Cross from the same holy timber which the people keep with veneration.
In 1612, Bishop Juan de Cervantes brought part of the cross to the cathedral in Oaxaca. From this piece he fashioned a copy of the original, which remains there today. Other fragments of the Holy Cross are in a cathedral in Puebla, and in the Vatican in Rome.
The anniversary of the Holy Cross is celebrated annually in late February.
In the central plaza is a church which contains a piece of an old cross which has an interesting history. The following information comes from the plaque in the church. I am told this plaque has since been moved to the church in Santa Cruz.Fragment of the Holy Cross of Huatulco, Oaxaca.
Two thousand years ago in the time of the apostles of Jesus, the native indians of this area saw coming from the sea , as if he came from Peru, an old white man with long hair and a beard, and a large cape with an overcoat.
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