Temple of St. Francis of Assisi

Saint Francis of Assisi is one of the most beloved saints and the one to whom the faithful most commend themselves due to his great devotion to Christ.

It is one of the temples on the shore of Lake Pátzcuaro where the religious syncretism that occurred between the Spanish and the Tarascan people is reflected, in addition to interpreting a very local legend of the Tarascan cosmos that in turn is mixed with the elements of nature such as hills, rivers, springs, stones, flowers and animals such as fish, birds, among others.

A festival is held in his honour at the Temple every 4th of October, during which the meeting between the patron saint and the Sultan of Egypt, Melek el Kamel, during the siege of Damietta by the Crusaders is represented in dance form.

Eight days that reflect months of work and community collaboration led by the Cargueros Capitanes, Cargueros Ayudantes, who take care of the image of the Saint for a year; and their respective Uandaris, who must speak the language and be married couples. They are in charge of coordinating and supervising that everything is done as “custom” indicates, because they have already been Cargueros and have the knowledge; thus the male is in charge of coordinating the males and the females. Uandaris to women.