Two-Part Interview with Dr. Rubén Mendoza
Part 1
In Part 1 of this interview, I talk with trailblazing archaeologist Dr. Rubén Mendoza.
Recounting his unexpected path from a curious young boy to a renowned scholar, Mendoza shares his pioneering work decoding the missions’ architectural secrets.
His discoveries point to an incredible cosmic architecture. The missions were constructed with startling precision to capture rays of sunlight during solstices, equinoxes, and sacred feast days.
This strategic solar geometry suggests a profound intermingling of European and indigenous astronomy.
Mendoza builds a compelling case that the missions embody a masterful hybrid tradition melding European and Native American influences into an architectural marvel.
Part 2
In Part 2 of this interview, we delve further into the hidden astronomical alignments of many California mission churches. The orientations allowed sunlight to illuminate altars, tabernacles, and statues of saints on specific liturgical dates like the solstices, equinoxes, and religious feasts.
Dr. Rubén G. Mendoza explains the advanced knowledge of astronomy, calendars, and celestial mechanics that the Franciscan missionaries brought and applied in the architectural design of the missions.
Rubén describes how the illuminations shift yearly due to the lunar cycle and explains why this knowledge was, at times, lost. His quest to rediscover these hidden spectacles took him to Vatican astronomy archives, containing meticulous calculations from centuries ago.
Although his interpretations have faced backlash, new examples keep emerging. He continues to write about the missions’ complex legacies and offer counterpoints to narratives about figures like Junípero Serra.
Learn More
- Website: Solstice Chronicles
