Jaro Cathedral
{{Short description|Roman Catholic church in Iloilo City, Philippines}}
{{Use Philippine English|date=March 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox church
| name = Jaro Cathedral
| fullname = National Shrine of the Our Lady of Candles
| other name = Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary
| native_name = {{native name|es|Catedral Metropolitana de Santa Isabel de Hungría y Santuario Nacional de Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria}}
| image =
Jaro Cathedral (Catedral de Jaro) (cropped).jpg
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| caption = Main façade with the stairs leading to the image of Our Lady of Candles
| pushpin map = Visayas#Philippines
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| map caption = Location in the Visayas##Location in the Philippines
| coordinates = {{coord|10.72351|N|122.55622|E|dim:30_region:PH_type:landmark|display=inline,title|format=dms}}
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| location = Jaro, Iloilo City
| country = Philippines
| language(s) = Hiligaynon, English
| denomination = Roman Catholic
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| bull date = {{start date|1865|5|27}}
| founded date = {{start date|1587|4}}
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| dedication = Elizabeth of Hungary
| dedicated date = {{start date|1965|5|26}}
| consecrated date = {{start date|1874|2|2}}
| cult = Our Lady of Candles
| relics = Josemaría Escrivá
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| heritage designation = National Historical Landmark
| designated date = 1976
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| architectural type = Cathedral
| style = Romanesque Revival
| groundbreaking = {{start date|1869|2|22}}
| completed date = {{start date|1874|2|2}}, {{start date|1965|5|26}}
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| length = {{cvt|71.8|m}}Measured using Google Earth.
| width transepts = {{cvt|49.8|m}}
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| other dimensions = Façade facing northeast
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| dome quantity = 1
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| tower quantity = 3
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| deanery = Saint Peter
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| archdiocese = Jaro
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| archbishop = Midyphil Billones
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| rector = Rev. Fr. Jose Alberto Guillen
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The National Shrine of the Our Lady of Candles, also known as the Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary and colloquially as Jaro Cathedral, is a cathedral located in the district of Jaro in Iloilo City, on the island of Panay in the Philippines. The seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Jaro, it was placed under the patronage of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary.{{Cite web | url=http://www.exploreiloilo.com/guide/jaro-cathedral-and-belfry/ |title = Jaro Cathedral and Belfry}} It was established in 1575 as a visita (chapel-of-ease) of Oton by the Augustinians and as a separate parish in 1587. The present-day structure of Jaro Cathedral was built in 1874.
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines formally declared the cathedral the National Shrine of Our Lady of Candles (Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria) in 2012. The cathedral is the fourth national shrine in the Visayas and Mindanao, after the Basilica del Santo Niño in Cebu (1965), Mandaue Church (2001), and Virgen de la Regla Church in Lapu-Lapu City (2007).{{Cite news|title=The Roman Catholic National Shrines of the Philippines |url=https://bengoeswhere.com/2020/06/28/the-roman-catholic-national-shrines-of-the-philippines/ |website=Ben Goes Where |date=June 28, 2020}} Likewise, it is also the second Marian-dedicated national shrine in Visayas and Mindanao, and the first in Western Visayas.{{Cite web | url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/136861/nat%E2%80%99l-shrine-declaration-for-jaro-cathedral | title=Nat'l shrine declaration for Jaro cathedral | Inquirer News| date=January 30, 2012}}
The distinct and notable feature of the cathedral is its main belfry (Campanario de Jaro) separated across the church in Plaza Jaro.
The image of Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria (Candelaria) perched atop the façade of the cathedral, is the first Marian image canonically crowned personal by a Pope and Saint (John Paul II) in the Philippines and Asia. Also, through the said canonical crowning, the Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria has been declared as the official Roman Catholic patron of Western Visayas and Romblon, and made known Jaro as the 'center of Candelaria devotion in the Philippine islands'.
History
File:Cathedral church. Jaro, Iloilo, KITLV 1402345.tiff as pictured in the 1920s or 1940s]]
File:Jaro Cathedral papal visit marker 2022-07-05.jpg, as well as the canonical coronation of the Our Lady of Candles image]]
Jaro Cathedral was first established as a {{lang|es|visita}} (chapel-of-ease) of Oton on March 3, 1575, and later became a {{lang|es|visita}} of Arevalo in 1584. It later became a parish in April 1587 under the advocation of Our Lady of the Nativity.
In 1636, the {{lang|es|población}} was transferred from Alanga to its present location for favorable weather and protection from Moro attacks. On October 31 of the same year, the patron was changed to Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria.{{Cite news|title=Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral in Jaro, Iloilo |url=https://www.theoldchurches.com/philippines/iloilo/iloilo-city/jaro-metropolitan-cathedral/ |website=TheOldChurches |access-date=March 31, 2023}}
After a century, plans for building a stone church were put in place by Fr. Juan Aguado. The first stone church was constructed from 1742 to 1744. The church was damaged by two earthquakes in 1787 and in the 19th century. Instead of reconstructing the church, it was built on a new site. The construction of the current cathedral structure was initiated by the first Bishop of Jaro, Mariano Cuartero, O.P. Construction began on February 22, 1869, and was consecrated in January–February 1874. It was destroyed by the January 1948 Lady Caycay earthquake and later repaired in 1956 by the first Archbishop of Jaro, José María Cuenco.{{Cite news|title=Jaro Cathedral: The oldest in Panay |first=Frederick |last=Nasiad |work=Bandera |publisher=Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc. |date=July 24, 2013 |url=https://bandera.inquirer.net/22683/jaro-cathedral-the-oldest-in-panay |access-date=March 31, 2023}}
The Marian image of Our Lady of Candles also has the distinction of being canonically crowned personally by Pope John Paul II during his visit to Iloilo City on February 21, 1981, making it as the only Marian figure to be given such stature in the Philippines.{{cite web |url=http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/index.php/en/lifestyle/tourism/29802-2014-03-30-12-33-28 |title=BusinessMirror - Iloilo City: Where the past and present meet for the future |website=www.businessmirror.com.ph |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140503095520/http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/index.php/en/lifestyle/tourism/29802-2014-03-30-12-33-28 |archive-date=May 3, 2014}}
The National Historical Institute of the Philippines declared the Jaro Cathedral a historical landmark in 1976.{{cite web | title =Cathedral of Jaro, Iloilo | url=http://www.waypoints.ph/detail_gen.php?wpt=jaro | accessdate = May 1, 2010}}
In January 2012, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines approved the cathedral as the National Shrine of Our Lady of Candles, the second Marian-dedicated church or cathedral (1st National Shrine in Western Visayas) to receive such status in Visayas and Mindanao.{{Cite web | url=http://www.cbcpnews.com/?q=node/18224 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203081440/http://www.cbcpnews.com/?q=node/18224 | url-status=usurped | archive-date=February 3, 2014 |title = CBCP News Service}} It was declared as such on February 2 of the same year.
Architecture
File:Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral inside (Jaro, Iloilo City; 10-22-2022).jpg in 2022]]
The shrine is constructed in the Romanesque Revival style, deviating from semi-circular arches. A distinctive feature is that the bell tower, Jaro Belfry, is located across a busy street from the church, on Jaro Plaza,See Jaro Belfry across Plaza Rizal Street on this [https://www.google.de/maps/@10.7231656,122.5565907,19z map] resembling Ilocos churches.{{Cite web |last=Admin |date=December 29, 2013 |title=Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral |url=http://www.iloiloweddingnetwork.com/jaro-metropolitan-cathedral/ |access-date=November 2, 2022 |website=Iloilo Wedding Network |language=en-US}} Typically, belfries are built next to their churches. In this case, the tower was adjacent to an earlier church, but an earthquake destroyed the church and left the tower. Another distinctive feature is the stairs attached to the front façade of the cathedral, over the main entrance, leading up to a shrine featuring a statue of Our Lady of Candles. The church also possesses relics of St. Josemaría Escrivá.{{Cite web | url=http://heritageconservation.wordpress.com/category/iloilo/ |title = Iloilo}}
Another feature of the church is its all-male ensemble of saints placed on the main pillars, with the exception of the Virgin Mary's icon. The arrangement is in response to Molo Church's all-female theme.{{Cite web | url=http://iloiloilove.com/jaro-nuestra-senora-de-la-candelaria/ | title=Jaro's Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria: A Mother to all Ilonggos}}
File:Jaro Belfry (Campanario de Jaro).jpg
On the cathedral grounds are several archdiocesan and parish offices, and a perpetual adoration chapel. About a block away is the archdiocesan seminary, St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary, and across the plaza is the archbishop's palace.
Notable events
- Our Lady of Candles canonical crowning - During the apostolic visit of Pope John Paul II in the Philippines in February 1981, he crowned the image of the Our Lady of Candles, the first and only Marian image to receive such honor without a papal legate in the Philippines and Asia. Such event elevated the status of Candelaria as the patroness of Western Visayas and Jaro Cathedral as center of Candelaria devotion in the Philippine islands.
- Baptisms of notable people - national hero, journalist and, and co-founder of the Propaganda Movement, Graciano Lopez Jaena, who was born in Jaro was baptized on December 20, 1856, in Jaro Cathedral. Ilonggo senator Grace Poe, a foundling herself, was found and baptized in Jaro Cathedral.
Gallery
File:Jaro Cathedral Facade.jpg|Northeast façade
File:Dome_of_Jaro_Cathedral.jpg|Dome
File:Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria de Jaro 2022-07-05.jpg|Encased image of the Our Lady of Candles, patron of Western Visayas
File:Jaro Cathedral Heritage Marker.jpg|Church NHI historical marker installed in 1976
File:Jaro Cathedral Side Facade.jpg|Northern flank
File:Jaro_Cathedral_-_Chapel_of_Lights.jpg|Chapel of Lights ({{lang|es|Capilla de Luces}})
File:Jaro Cathedral Altar.jpg|Main high altar
File:Jaro Cathedral dome 2022-07-06.jpg|Dome interior
File:Jaro Cathedral right side nave 2022-07-06.jpg|Seats at the right side nave
File:Jaro Cathedral right-side interior 2022-07-06.jpg|One of the cathedral's side altars
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Commons category-inline}}
- {{Official website|http://ourladyofcandlesnationalshrine.com}}
- {{Facebook|JaroCandelaria}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20100513033658/http://www.cbcponline.net/jurisdictions/jaro.html Archdiocese of Jaro on Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines online]
- [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08323d.htm Archdiocese of Jaro on the Catholic Encyclopedia]
- [http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/djaro.html Archdiocese of Jaro on Catholic-Hierarchy.org]
{{Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Jaro}}
{{Iloilo City}}
Category:Roman Catholic cathedrals in the Philippines
Category:Roman Catholic churches in Iloilo City
Category:Spanish Colonial architecture in the Philippines
Category:Romanesque Revival church buildings in the Philippines
Category:Buildings and structures in Jaro, Iloilo City
Category:Tourist attractions in Iloilo City
Category:Roman Catholic national shrines in the Philippines