After our fast go to to San Bartolome Apostol Parish in Nagcarlan, Laguna, we headed subsequent to Saint John the Baptist church in Liliw. We additionally had our lunch within the White Home Bistro 1938, an ancestral home that was transformed right into a Filipino Delicacies restaurant. We continued our pilgrimage in Laguna and headed subsequent to Majayjay. Right here, we visited one other previous but lovely church devoted to Saint Gregory the Nice. The final time I went to the city of Majayjay is after I visited their fashionable Dalitiwan spring resort.
Apparently, Majayjay virtually share the identical historical past with the Nagcarlan Church. When the Spaniards arrived in Laguna and began colonizing the cities in 1571, they arrived on this place located on the foot of Mount Banahaw that was known as by the locals as Malay Barangay, a reputation that was finally modified to Majayjay. When the Franciscans arrived within the city in 1571, they constructed the primary church out of sunshine supplies like nipa and bamboo and devoted it beneath the patronage of San Gregorio Magno (Saint Gregory the Nice). The church, nevertheless, was destroyed by hearth in 1576. In 1578, Franciscans Fathers led by Padre Juan De Plasencia (one of many first Franciscan friars who arrived within the nation and the creator behind the Doctrina Christiana) and Padre Diego Oropesa began to evangelize the city and a brand new church was constructed that very same 12 months. Nevertheless, it took 16 years earlier than the city had its first parish priest.
Father Antonio Nombela was assigned in Majayjay in 1594. 5 years later (1599), the development of the stone church has began. It was, nevertheless, briefly postponed after the makeshift church was burned in 1606. Development of the stone church was resumed in 1616 and was accomplished in 1649. Since then, the church went via a number of mishaps over time and went via a sequence of rehabilitation. The longest building came about in 1711 and took 19 years to finish (1730).
On completion in 1730, the church turned the largest within the Philippines. A century later, the stone church was destroyed by storm and was repaired in 1839, 1842 and 1848 respectively. The roof was changed with galvanized iron in 1892 beneath the supervision of Father Gregorio Platero. Throughout the American occupation, the church served as headquarters of the American military nevertheless it was additionally completely destroyed throughout the Spanish and American Revolution and was repaired once more in 1912.
The latest rehabilitation came about in 1954 with the assistance of the Nationwide Conservation Society of the Philippines and in 2001, the church was declared as a Nationwide Cultural Treasure by the Nationwide Museum.
Majayjay Church incorporates a very old-looking Romanesque-style façade constructed with pink adobe bricks much like church buildings in Liliw and Nagcarlan. The three tiered facade options a number of niches and a triangular pediment with a single round area of interest. The niches include photographs of the 4 evangelists; (backside tier) Saint John and Saint Luke; (center tier) Saint Mark and Saint Matthew. The uppermost tier enshrines the photographs of Saint Peter, Saint Paul, and Saint Gregory the Nice.
Liceo de Majayjay
The belfry of Majayjay church
Statue of Saint Mark
Statue of Saint Matthew
Saint Gregory the Nice
A statue of the Immaculate Conception on the patio of the church
The principle facade can be connected to a five-story excessive sq. bell tower on one aspect and the Liceo de Majayjay on the opposite. It’s a Catholic college beneath the supervision of the native parish and the Diocesan Catholic College System of the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Pablo.
The inside of Majayjay church
The inside of the church is equally mesmerizing. It accommodates a grand-looking retablo mayor and 4 different minor retablos with intricate designs.
The church incorporates a three-tiered retablo mayor and 4 aspect altars. Apparently, the church accommodates vintage photographs of santos, reliquaries and century-old liturgical objects.
The topmost tier of the altar options photographs depicting the scenes of the Calvary. Subsequent to it are the photographs of the Immaculate Conception an Saint Claire. The lowermost tier comes with niches enshrining photographs of Saint Anthony of Padua, San Diego de Alcala, and San Gregorio Magno.
Picture of Immaculate Conception in one of many aspect altars
Picture of Saint Joseph in one of many aspect altars
Sacred Coronary heart of Jesus.
One of many vintage bas reliefs which might be displayed on the partitions of the church. This one depicts the picture of the Inmaculada Concepcion
One other bas aid depicting the Nativity
The Calvary
Mater Dolorosa
Santo Entierro
The grand altars of Majayjay church
The altar’s dome options lovely and heavenly portray depicting the ascension and resurrection of Christ. You can too spot a pulpit close to the altar with lovely intricate particulars
One other wonderful characteristic of Majayjay church is the gorgeous choir loft. This big swallow nest organ loft as soon as had an actual pipe organ.
The church additionally incorporates a newly-installed digital pipe organ, the biggest within the province of Laguna.
Historic marker of Majayjay church
Issues It is best to learn about Saint Gregory Parish of Majayjay Laguna
- The Church was based in 1571 which makes it one of many oldest church buildings not simply in Laguna however within the Philippines
- It was declared as Nationwide Cultural Treasure in 2001
- The city celebrates the SaGreMa Pageant (San Gregorio Magno) each September 3 in commemoration of the Feast day of their patron saint.
- For mass schedules: Be happy to go to their Fb web page (San Gregorio Magno Parish)
This put up is a part of my Laguna Pilgrimage sequence 2022: Be happy to examine the remainder of my entries right here:
Additionally be happy to go to my articles about these Laguna church buildings
Locations to go to in Laguna
Information References: Inquirer Life Model / San Gregorio Parish FB/ Johannus Organ Philippines