the construction began with a ceremony hosted by archbishop pedro loza y pardavé and pedro romero. the cornerstone was laid on august 15, 1897, and by 1911 the interior columns were already finished. the canon pedro moreno and foreman feliciano arías were in charge of the project, of whom the latter was succeeded by his son jerónimo arías after his death. work on the temple was suspended during the revolution due to religious persecution, lack of guarantees and an economic crisis that the country faced as a result of the conflict.