Justo Gallego Martinez, an 86-year-old farmer from Spain, has spent the last 50 years of his life single-handedly building a large cathedral in a suburb of Madrid, without any architectural knowledge or construction experience.

Considering the sheer size of Justo Gallego’s junk cathedral, almost 40 meters (131 feet) tall, with its large dome and spires towering over nearby apartment buildings, it’s almost impossible to believe it’s the work of a single man. But it just goes to show how far people can stretch their limits in the name of a higher purpose. In Gallego’s case, it was his faith and love of God. His mother was very pious and he grew up with a deep Christian faith and an overwhelming desire to dedicate himself to the Creator. After working as a farmer and as a bullfighter, Don Justo, as everyone calls him, joined a Trappist monastery, where he spent eight years as a monk. He was forced to leave the monastery in 1961, after he contracted tuberculosis, but promised himself that if he survived the illness he would dedicate his life to building a  a chapel in the name of the Lady of The Pillar (the Blessed Virgin Marry), who he prayed to during the ordeal. His prayers were answered and he stayed true to his vow, laying the first brick of what would become a unique cathedral, almost 50 years ago.



Javier Martin Espartosa

Justo Gallego worked on the cathedral mainly by himself, occasionally getting help from his six nephews and volunteers, and although he always worked in a hurry, hoping to see the whole thing finished, there’s only so much one man can do. The shell of the edifice may be almost complete, but he still has much work to do. There are thousands of windows to paint, the central dome has yet to be covered, the floor is bare and the spiraling staircases are only half done. Don Justo is well aware he might not live long enough to see his masterpiece finished, but still he says ”When I look at what I’ve created, it overwhelms me and I give thanks to the Lord.”



Dubas

Whatever happens, one thing is for certain, Justo Gallego Martinez doesn’t regret a single day of the many he’s put into his junk cathedral. ”If I lived my life again, I’d build this church again, only bigger. Twice the size,” he says. ”Because for me, this is an act of faith.”



Jorge Louzao Penalva