Veracruz, Mexico — The Gulf Coast (North America)
The Convent of the Bethlehemites
Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, April 23, 2019
1. The Convent of the Bethlehemites Marker
El antiguo convent de Betlehemitas del siglo XVIII establecido por Pedro de Betancourt, fue desde su origen convento-hospital, con el nombre de los Santos Reyes o el de Nuestra Señora de Belen. En diciembre de 1775 los hermanos después de iniciarse los tramites de fundación, se bendijeron las instalaciones de enfermería empezando a funcionar el establecimiento hospitalario con la ayuda de los frailes.
El Convento-Hospital de los Betlehemitas dejó de prestar servicio a principios del siglo XIX, ya que la orden de los frailes encargada de administrarlo fue abolida por la Corte de España el 1º de mayo de 1820. A solicitud de los capitulares del Ayuntamiento de Veracruz al Gobierno Central fechada el 14 de agosto de 1823, los bienes de los Betlehemitas pasaron a manos de las autoridades porteñas a través de la Junta de Caridad, quienes tomaron el edificio del convento para trasladar ahí el Hospital de San Sebastián.
A dos siglos de la fundación del Convento-Hospital de los Betlehemitas, el 24 de octubre de 1975, se cerró. El edificio volvió a abrir sus puertas el 21 de abril
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The Convent of the Bethlehemites
The former Bethlehemites convent of the eighteenth century was established by Pedro de Betancourt and was from the very beginning a convent-hospital, with the name of the Holy Kings or Our Lady of Bethlehem. In December 1775, the brothers, after the official foundation, blessed the nursing facilities and the hospital began operating with the help of the friars.
The Convent-Hospital of the Bethlehemites stopped functioning at the beginning of the 19th century, since the order of friars in charge of administering it was abolished by the Court of Spain on May 1, 1820. At the request of the members of the Veracruz City Council to the Central Government dated August 14, 1823, the assets of the Bethlehemites passed into the hands of the Veracruz authorities through the Charity Board, who took charge of the convent building and moved the San Sebastian Hospital here.
Two centuries after the foundation of the Bethlehemites Convent-Hospital, on October 24, 1975, it was closed. The building reopened on April 21, 1987 as the headquarters of the Veracruz Institute of Culture.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Churches & Religion
Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, April 23, 2019
2. The Convent of the Bethlehemites Marker
The marker can be seen to the right of the main entrance of the building in this view.
Location. 19° 11.865′ N, 96° 8.083′ W. Marker is in Veracruz. Marker is on Calle Francisco Canal just east of Avenida Ignacio Zaragoza, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Veracruz 91700, Mexico. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Julio S. Montero Plaza (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); The Veracruz City Museum (about 90 meters away); Lieutenant José Azueta (about 120 meters away); The Bastion of Santiago (about 120 meters away); 100th Anniversary of Firefighting in Veracruz (about 120 meters away); Independence Heroes of Veracruz (about 150 meters away); Francisco Javier Clavijero Echegaray (about 150 meters away); The Mexican Naval Academy (about 210 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Veracruz.
Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, April 23, 2019
3. The Convent of the Bethlehemites
The building is now the Veracruz Institute of Culture.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 19, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 2, 2019, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. This page has been viewed 90 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 2, 2019, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana.
