Don Abeyta was a wealthy and influential Basque landowner in New Mexico. He was the builder of the Santuario de Chimayo on land he owned. He was one of the first members of the Penitentes. He originally built a small chapel in about 1810 on the site. He asked and received permission from Father Sebastian Alvarez and the Diocese of Durango to build a larger church where Mass could be said as the healing and curative properties of the soil were drawing pilgrims. He hired local santeros to create the art for the church. By 1816 the present church had been built. There are many legends and stories of how Don Abeyta came to build the Santuario. After his death, by special permission from Bishop Lamy in Santa Fe, Don Abeyta was buried in the Chapel of our Lord of Esquipulas, El Santuario de Chimayo.
Don Abeyta was a wealthy and influential Basque landowner in New Mexico. He was the builder of the Santuario de Chimayo on land he owned. He was one of the first members of the Penitentes. He originally built a small chapel in about 1810 on the site. He asked and received permission from Father Sebastian Alvarez and the Diocese of Durango to build a larger church where Mass could be said as the healing and curative properties of the soil were drawing pilgrims. He hired local santeros to create the art for the church. By 1816 the present church had been built. There are many legends and stories of how Don Abeyta came to build the Santuario. After his death, by special permission from Bishop Lamy in Santa Fe, Don Abeyta was buried in the Chapel of our Lord of Esquipulas, El Santuario de Chimayo.
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