Porciuncula (see below) is from a chapel near Assisi in Italy that Saint Francis restored and made the center for the Franciscan Order.
The large church built at Pecos Pueblo beginning in 1622 was named Nuestra Señora de los Angeles de Porciuncula de los Pecos. It was the largest European structure north of Mexico until destroyed in the Pueblo Revolt of 1680. The ruins there now are from the smaller 18th century church.
“Our Lady” was apparently “Queen of the Angels” in Los Angeles, but only “of the Angels” 150 years earlier in Pecos.
Makes me think of Bangkok, which of course is not the real name of the capital of the Kingdom of Siam (Thailand). In fact many Thais in the provinces have never heard it called Bangkok.
Bangkok, meaning “village of wild plums” was the original site of the capital city before being relocated across the Chao Praya river by King Rama I to a more defensible place. Thais know their capital as Krungtep (pronounced grung tayp).
But Krung Thep is short for:
“Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit”
That gloroius name has earned it a place in the Guiness Book of World Records as the longest place name.
So what does it mean?
“The city of angels, the great city, the residence of the Emerald Buddha, the impregnable city (of Ayutthaya) of God Indra, the grand capital of the world endowed with nine precious gems, the happy city, abounding in an enormous Royal Palace that resembles the heavenly abode where reigns the reincarnated god, a city given by Indra and built by Vishnukarn.”