The Church of La Merced was the first convent and church founded after the initiative of four Mercedarian friars from Guatemala in 1537. The simplicity of its architecture is due to the little influence that this order had on the religious and civil life of the province. The interior of the sacristy preserves the original construction of a semicircular arch and a continuous barrel vault. In the 18th century, the main altarpiece and the sides were built, as well as the upper and lower choir. In 1822, an earthquake produced a crack in the façade of the Parish of San José, so that the Church of La Merced became the place chosen to attend religious services.
The festival of the Just Judge is one of the most important festivities in San Cristóbal de las Casas. It is celebrated on September 24 and is a mixture of the Catholic religion and indigenous traditions. The party begins with a mass in the church of La Merced, followed by a parade of the Pot-bellied and Mercedarios. The Panzudos are characters that represent the deadly sins and the Mercedarios are the guardians of the La Merced neighborhood. The parade is a fusion of cultural and religious miscegenation; each character through his clothing represents symbols.
