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 Right here, we visited one other outdated but stunning church devoted to Saint Gregory the Nice. The final time I went to the city of Majayjay is after I visited their well-liked 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 referred to as by the locals as Malay Barangay, a reputation that was ultimately 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 underneath 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 writer behind the Doctrina Christiana) and Padre Diego Oropesa began to evangelize the city and a brand new church was constructed that very same yr. Nonetheless, 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. Building of the stone church was resumed in 1616 and was accomplished in 1649. Since then, the church went by way of a number of mishaps through the years and went by way of a sequence of rehabilitation. The longest building passed off in 1711 and took 19 years to finish (1730).
On completion in 1730, the church grew to become 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 underneath the supervision of Father Gregorio Platero. In the course of the American occupation, the church served as headquarters of the American military but it surely was additionally completely destroyed in the course of the Spanish and American Revolution and was repaired once more in 1912.
The newest rehabilitation passed off 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 encompasses a very old-looking Romanesque-style façade constructed with crimson adobe bricks just 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 comprise pictures 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 also 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 faculty underneath 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 incorporates a grand-looking retablo mayor and 4 different minor retablos with intricate designs.
The church encompasses a three-tiered retablo mayor and 4 aspect altars. Apparently, the church incorporates vintage pictures of santos, reliquaries and century-old liturgical objects.
The topmost tier of the altar options pictures 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 pictures 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 reduction depicting the Nativity
The Calvary
Mater Dolorosa
Santo Entierro
The grand altars of Majayjay church
The altar’s dome options stunning and heavenly portray depicting the ascension and resurrection of Christ. You may as well spot a pulpit close to the altar with stunning intricate particulars
One other superb function of Majayjay church is the attractive choir loft. This enormous swallow nest organ loft as soon as had an actual pipe organ.
The church additionally encompasses a newly-installed digital pipe organ, the biggest within the province of Laguna.
Historic marker of Majayjay church
Issues You need 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 Competition (San Gregorio Magno) each September 3 in commemoration of the Feast day of their patron saint.
- For mass schedules: Be at liberty to go to their Fb web page (San Gregorio Magno Parish)
This publish is a part of my Laguna Pilgrimage sequence 2022: Be at liberty to verify the remainder of my entries right here:
Additionally be at liberty to go to my articles about these Laguna church buildings
Locations to go to in Laguna
Information References: Inquirer Life Fashion / San Gregorio Parish FB/ Johannus Organ Philippines
