A 16th-century village, San Lucas Patoni

San Lucas Patoni is a charming village that forms part of the Tierra de Enmedio, very close to the town of San Miguel Chalma, Tenayuca and Santa Cecilia Acatitlán.

The place was founded in the 16th century, when it was an important part of the seat of Tenayuca, where the Royal Crown remained. This area is known for its excellent climate and remarkable nature, full of ash trees, vegetables and fruit trees such as apple, prickly pear, peach, quince and tejocote. The people who lived in that place devoted themselves to rural activities and cattle raising.

Various documents indicate that San Lucas Patoni dates back to the year 1571. Among the documents are the manuscripts of the Archivo de Indias made known by Francisco del Paso y Troncoso, which state that the place was inhabited by only 24 people.

During the colonial period the place began to be called Patoni after a Christ image that the Patoni family gave to the parish. The San Lucas church that received the donation belonged to the Order of Franciscan friars, a congregation that arrived in New Spain in 1521. The friars spread out across the lands of Tenayuca and Teocalhueyacan, seeking to evangelize the Otomi and Mexica peoples of the area.

Inside the renowned parish one could see images of San Lucas, San Juan Diego, the Virgin of Mount Carmel, Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint John, Saint Jude Thaddeus, Saint Martin de Porres, the Virgin of the Assumption and Saint Anthony.

Via | Tlanpantla
Photo | Flickr – Javier