Cross removed from tower in Cárdenas and taken down due to risk of collapse after damage from multiple lightning strikes

The Latin cross that topped the bell tower of the Chapel of San Antonio de Padua in the city of Cárdenas, province of Matanzas, was removed this Sunday due to the risk of collapse, after suffering structural damage caused by multiple lightning strikes over the course of a century.

The information was shared by Henry Delgado Manzor, a photographer and promoter of Cardenense architectural heritage, who published a chronicle titled "Under the Fire of Heaven: The Cross That Should Have Been Removed" on Facebook, accompanied by photographs from Rolando Trujillo.

According to Delgado Manzor, "over the course of a century, the 26-meter tall bell tower of the Chapel of San Antonio de Padua has endured numerous lightning strikes."

The most recent incident occurred on the night of March 13, during a severe local storm with strong wind gusts, hail, and abundant lightning strikes, which affected the Latin cross located at the top of the octagonal base pyramid, causing significant damage to its structure.

That impact was not the first to leave a visible mark: in June 2025, pieces detached from the structure had already caused damage to the temple's own roof, highlighting the progressive deterioration and the urgent need for action.

"The damage caused by the impact of the lightning, combined with other factors, has led to the decision to remove the colossal cross due to the danger it represented," explained Delgado Manzor in his post.

The chapel, inaugurated on June 13, 1925 in commemoration of the feast of Saint Anthony of Padua, to whom it is dedicated, celebrates its first centenary this year.

Its Gothic-style tower is one of the most recognizable architectural elements of Cárdenas, a city of great heritage value whose historic center was declared a National Monument in March 2022 by the National Council of Cultural Heritage of Cuba, a recognition that encompasses 67 blocks featuring eclectic and neoclassical architecture from the 19th century.

The deterioration of Cuba's religious heritage is a structural problem exacerbated by decades of neglect and a lack of resources for restoration, a situation that impacts temples and churches across the island.

The historical absence of modern lightning rod systems in tall structures like church towers makes them frequent targets for electrical discharges, especially in a country with high atmospheric electrical activity during the summer months.

Delgado Manzor appealed to the community to reverse the loss: “Now it’s time to join efforts to restore a new cross that will beautify the slender Gothic tower, a symbol of the community's faith, and this time it should be accompanied by a modern lightning rod system.”