The construction of the first Santa Muerte temple along with a 33 foot tall effigy of the Skeleton Saint in Guatemala is causing considerable controversy both nationally and especially in the town where it’s being built. There is already a temple to the Guatemalan folk saint of death, Rey San Pascual, in the town of Olintepeque, which is relatively unknown outside the region and not polemical
Over the past decade devotion to Santa Muerte in Guatemala has grown rapidly to the point that almost all Guatemalans have heard of the Mexican folk saint but not of native son, Rey San Pascual. As in Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras, and Ecuador, the Bony Lady is a regular in the crime pages of Guatemala, typically with altars found by law enforcement at narco stash houses. Thus, the construction of the temple adjacent to a prison has generated controversy due to Santa Muerte’s depiction as a narco-saint in the Guatemalan press.
Residents of the Llanos de Urbina district in Cantel, Quetzaltenango, have once again taken to social media to denounce the ongoing construction of a temple dedicated to Santa Muerte. In a video published on February 19, on the NESANoticias site, residents showed the current state of construction of the temple. They also revealed that a giant effigy of the Skeleton Saint, standing 33 feet tall, has been erected on the temple grounds.
Some residents continue to oppose the inauguration of the temple. Since October 2024, locals have expressed concerns that the site could be linked to gangs or criminal groups, as it was built next to a penitentiary. Some neighbors are calling on the owners to shut down the temple, citing rituals that have been conducted since construction began.
On February 20 a meeting was held between temple representatives, community leaders, and the Municipality of Urbina, Cantel, to address the issue that has disrupted local peace. However, the temple’s legal representatives stated that they do not intend to continue with the construction of the Santa Muerte church and requested to withdraw from the discussion.
The mayor of Cantel, however, pointed out that the construction of this temple is unlawful, as it has been carried out without a construction permit and has disturbed the community’s order and public peace. Along the same lines, municipal authorities reiterated that in response to residents’ requests, they would work to prevent the temple from being operational, particularly because the majority of the local population opposes it.
“The Municipality of Cantel has not granted any permit for the construction of the temple of death,” stated a municipal worker during the meeting between the parties. The fate of the first Santa Muerte temple in Guatemala is unclear at the moment but should be determined over the next few months.
Most Holy Death 