Quiapo Church

{{Short description|Roman Catholic church in Manila, Philippines}}

{{Infobox church

| name = Quiapo Church

| fullname = Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno

| other name = Saint John the Baptist Parish (canon)

| native_name = {{unbulleted list|{{native name|fil|Basílika Menor at Pambansang Dambana ni Hesus Nazareno }}}}

| native_name_lang = fil

| image = StJohnTheBaptistParishQuiapo.jpg

| image_size = 270px

| alt =

| caption = Main façade of the church

| coordinates = {{coord|14.598782|N|120.983783|E|dim:30_region:PH-00_type:landmark|format=dms|display=inline,title}}

| pushpin map =

| map caption =

| location = Quiapo, Manila

| country = Philippines

| language(s) = Filipino, English{{efn|For the 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. Pilgrim's Masses every Saturday}}

| denomination = Catholic Church

| previous denomination =

| sui iuris church = Latin Church

| religious institute =

| churchmanship =

| membership =

| attendance =

| website = {{URL|quiapochurch.com.ph|Quiapo Church}}

| former name = Church of the Camisa{{Cite AV media|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/johntewell/5865262027 |title=Camisa Church, Binondo, Manila, Philippines, late 19th century or early 20th century |website=Flickr |access-date=May 31, 2023}}
Minor Basilica and National Shrine of the Black Nazarene{{cite news |last1=Del Rosario |first1=Rhowen |title=Quiapo Church officially declared as nat'l shrine |url=https://mb.com.ph/2024/1/29/quiapo-church-officially-declared-as-nat-l-shrine |access-date=8 January 2025 |work=Manila Bulletin |date=29 January 2024 |language=en}} (2024)

| bull date =

| founded date = {{start date and age|1588}}

| founder = Antonio de Nombela

| dedication = John the Baptist

| dedicated date =

| consecrated date = {{start date and age|1987|9|28}}

| cult = Black Nazarene

| relics =

| events = {{lang|es|Traslación}}

| past bishop =

| people =

| status = {{flatlist|

}}

| functional status = Active

| heritage designation =

| designated date =

| architect = Juan Nakpil
José María Zaragoza

| architectural type = Basilica

| style = Mexican Baroque

| years built = {{ubl|{{abbr|c.|circa}} 1588 ({{abbr|dst.|destroyed}} 1603)|{{abbr|c.|circa}} 1686 ({{abbr|dst.|destroyed}} 1863)|1864–1899 ({{abbr|dst.|destroyed}} 1929)|1933–1935; 1984–1986}}

| groundbreaking = {{start date|1933}} (main façade)
{{start date|1984}} (expansion)

| completed date = {{start date|1935}} (main façade)
{{start date|1986}} (expansion)

| construction cost = {{Philippine peso|8 million|link=yes}} (expansion)

| closed date =

| demolished date =

| capacity = 1,000 (seating){{Cite news|title=Quiapo Church now allowed to accept 100 mass attendees |date=July 5, 2020 |first=Leslie Ann |last=Aquino |work=Manila Bulletin |url=https://mb.com.ph/2020/07/05/quiapo-church-now-allowed-to-accept-100-mass-attendees/ |access-date=February 19, 2023}}

| length = {{cvt|78.8|m}}Measured using Google Earth.

| width = {{cvt|33.0|m}}

| width nave = {{cvt|11.5|m}}

| width transepts = {{cvt|33.0|m}}

| height =

| diameter =

| other dimensions = Façade facing southwest

| floor count =

| floor area = {{convert|2,410.5|sqm|abbr=on}}{{cite journal |last1=Lico |first1=Gerald |date=2016 |title=Building Faith: Architecture and Sacred Spaces of Quiapo Church |journal=Journal of Southeast Asian Architecture |pages=13, 31-50 |publisher=National University of Singapore}}

| dome quantity = 1

| dome height outer =

| dome height inner =

| dome dia outer =

| dome dia inner =

| tower quantity = 2

| tower height =

| materials = Reinforced concrete

| bells =

| bells hung =

| bell weight =

| parish = St. John the Baptist

| deanery = Jose de Trozo{{cite web|url=https://www.rcam.org/our-parishes/vicariate-of-jose-de-trozo/|title=Vicariate of Jose de Trozo|website=Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila|access-date=March 14, 2023}}

| archdeaconry =

| episcopalarea =

| archdiocese = Manila

| metropolis = Manila

| diocese =

| province = Manila

| rector = Ramon Jade Licuanan

| vicar = {{ubl|Jonathan Noel Mojica|Robert Arellano, {{post-nominals|list=LRMS}}|Kim Joshua Bibon|Franklin Villanueva}}

| asstpriest = {{ubl|Paul Gungon IV|Paul Medina, {{post-nominals|list=OCarm}}|Jupiter Diloy, {{post-nominals|list=MMSJ}}|Egay Doroteo, {{post-nominals|list=MMSJ}}}}

| deacon =

| logo =

| logosize = 170

| logolink =

| logoalt =

| embedded =

}}

The Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno ({{langx|fil|Basilika Menor at Pambansang Dambana ni Hesus Nazareno{{cite news|url=https://quiapochurch.com.ph/about-quiapo/history/|title=Brief History of Quiapo Church and image of the Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno|website=Quiapo Church|accessdate=December 21, 2024}}}}), commonly known as Quiapo Church{{efn|{{langx|fil|Simbahan ng Quiapo}}; {{langx|es|Iglesia Parroquial de Quiapo}}}} and canonically as Saint John the Baptist Parish,{{efn|{{langx|fil|Parokya ng San Juan Bautista}}; {{langx|es|Parroquia de San Juan el Bautista}}}} is a prominent Catholic basilica and national shrine in the district of Quiapo in the city of Manila, Philippines. It is the home of the Jesus Nazareno, a dark statue of Jesus Christ said to be miraculous. The basilica is under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Manila under the Vicariate of José de Trozo and its current rector is Rev. Fr. Ramon Jade L. Licuanan.

History

=Early churches=

The earliest church, built by missionaries of the Order of Friars Minor, was made of bamboo for the frame and nipa leaves as thatching.{{Cite book|title = Landmarks of Manila: 1571-1930|last = de la Torre|first = Visitacion|publisher = Filipinas Foundation, Inc.|year = 1981|location = Makati|pages = 69–71}}{{Cite book|title = Philippine Architecture During the Pre-Spanish and Spanish Periods|last = Alarcon|first = Norma|publisher = Santo Tomas University Press|year = 1991|isbn = 971-506-040-4|location = Manila}} In 1574, Limahong and his soldiers destroyed and burned the church. Formerly a visita (chapel-of-ease) of Santa Ana, the Franciscan friar Antonio de Nombella founded the church in 1588 through the petition of Saint Pedro Bautista, then the superior of the Franciscans in the Philippines. The church was dedicated to Sweetest Name of Jesus, with St. John the Baptist as its patron saint.{{cite web|last=Sescon Jr|first=Rufino|title=Jesus Nazareno: A Pastoral-Homiletic Primer|access-date=9 January 2025|website=Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno|url=https://quiapochurch.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/JESUS-NAZARENO-PRIMER.pdf}} It burned down in 1603 and the parish was temporarily turned over to the Jesuits until secular clergy objected. Governor-General Santiago de Vera initiated the full construction of the church in 1686. On April 8, 1639, the administration of the church was returned to the seculars who had always taking care of the church's welfare.

During the Seven Years' War, the British attempted to destroy the church in 1762 as they invaded Manila. In 1791, the church caught fire, but the image of the Black Nazarene was spared. An earthquake in 1863 destroyed the church and in its place a temporary church was built. Rev. Fr. Eusebio de León later reconstructed the ruined church in 1864 or 1879, completing the structure in 1899 with the assistance of Rev. Fr. Manuel Roxas. Roxas had raised the unprecedented amount of {{Philippine peso|40,000.00|link=yes|1899}} from donations and lay contributions. In 1929, the church caught fire again, in which the church's wooden ceiling and sacristy were destroyed.

= Present church =

File:Church of Quiapo PHC historical marker.jpg historical marker installed in 1939]]

In 1933, Rev. Fr. Magdaleno Castillo began the reconstruction of the church from the plan prepared by National Artist of the Philippines architect Juan Nakpil – son of composer Julio Nakpil.{{Cite news|title=DID YOU KNOW: Reconstruction of Quiapo Church in 1930s |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=January 9, 2018 |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/958499/did-you-know-reconstruction-of-quiapo-church-in-1930s |access-date=March 30, 2023 |first=Marielle |last=Medina}} He added the church's dome and a second belfry to balance out the façade. The reconstructed church, made of reinforced concrete, was completed in 1935. During World War II, parts of Quiapo were destroyed except for the church.{{Cite news|title=The Evolution of Quiapo Church |url=https://renacimientomanila.org/2022/01/the-evolution-of-quiapo-church/ |first=Carlos III |last=Cucueco |work=Renacimiento Manila |date=January 10, 2022 |access-date=February 13, 2023 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230213130756/https://renacimientomanila.org/2022/01/the-evolution-of-quiapo-church/ |archive-date=February 13, 2023}} During that time, the church became the temporary home of the image of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage from Antipolo. On January 18, 1964, Archbishop Rufino Santos reconsecrated the renovated church's new altar that was made through the efforts of Rev. Fr. Pedro Bantigue, the then-parish priest.

Monsignor Jose C. Abriol commissioned architect José María Zaragoza and engineer Eduardo Santiago to expand the church in order to accommodate more worshippers. This was done from 1984 to 1986, with several changes made to the building such as removing any inner columns. Despite the project being controversial, it did not affect the popularity of the church. Cardinal Jaime Sin, then-Archbishop of Manila, reconsecrated the church on September 28, 1987. On December 11 of the same year, Pope John Paul II issued papal bull {{lang|la|Qui Loco Petri}}, elevating the church’s rank to that of a minor basilica.{{Cite web|title=Qui Loco Petri |url=https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/la/apost_letters/1987/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_19871211_qui-loco-petri.pdf |lang=la |date=December 11, 1987 |access-date=March 30, 2023}} This was solemnly declared on February 1, 1988, by then-Papal Nuncio to the Philippines, Archbishop Bruno Torpigliani, who also blessed the side altar of Saint Lorenzo Ruíz on that day.

In 2006, the church celebrated 400 years since the Black Nazarene’s arrival. As part of the celebrations, a jubilee wall was placed at the entrance gate so devotees can post their own testimonials of faith and devotion to the Black Nazarene. The Traslación from Quirino Grandstand back to the basilica was also introduced, re-enacting the image's initial transfer from its destroyed shrine in Intramuros.{{Cite news|title=Annual Nazarene feast highlights beginnings of 400-year-old image |first=Edu |last=Punay |date=January 8, 2007 |url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2007/01/08/378858/annual-nazarene-feast-highlights-beginnings-400-year-old-image |work=The Philippine Star |access-date=February 20, 2023}}

On May 10, 2023, Cardinal José Advíncula, Archbishop of Manila, made the basilica an archdiocesan shrine. The declaration was announced by the archdiocesan vicar general, Reginald Malicdem, on May 31.{{Cite news|title=Quiapo Church elevated as ‘Archdiocesan Shrine of the Black Nazarene’ |url=https://cbcpnews.net/cbcpnews/quiapo-church-elevated-as-archdiocesan-shrine-of-the-black-nazarene/ |website=CBCP News |date=May 31, 2023 |access-date=May 31, 2023}} On July 9, at the 126th Plenary Assembly of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines in Kalibo, Aklan, the episcopacy conferred the title and rank of national shrine on the basilica, bypassing the usual ten-year waiting period.{{efn|The Catholic Bishop's Conference of the Philippines employs a ten-year policy to make diocesan shrines known at the national level before a national designation can be considered. In the case of Quiapo, the policy was waived because according to its secretary-general, Monsignor Bernardo Pantin, the church is "already well known so it was exempted from the requirement".{{Cite news|title=CBCP elevates Quiapo Church to national shrine |url=https://cbcpnews.net/cbcpnews/cbcp-elevates-quiapo-church-to-national-shrine/ |website=CBCP News |date=July 9, 2023 |access-date=July 9, 2023}}}} On December 14, the basilica received the official decree making it a national shrine.{{Cite news|title=Solemn declaration of Quiapo Church as national shrine slated Jan. 29 |url=https://cbcpnews.net/cbcpnews/solemn-declaration-of-quiapo-church-as-national-shrine-slated-jan-29/ |website=CBCP News |date=December 14, 2023 |access-date=January 29, 2024}}

On January 29, 2024, at the end of the CBCP's 127th Plenary Assembly in Manila, a Pontifical Mass was presided by Cardinal Advíncula to mark this solemn declaration of the country's 29th national shrine. At least seventy bishops attended the liturgy, as well as Mayor of Manila, Honey Lacuna,{{Cite news|title='Most welcome development': Mayor Honey on declaration of Quiapo Church as national shrine |first=Diann Ivy C. |last=Calucin |date=January 30, 2024 |url=https://mb.com.ph/2024/1/30/most-welcome-development-mayor-honey-on-declaration-of-quiapo-church-as-national-shrine |work=Manila Bulletin |access-date=January 30, 2024}} and the Papal Nuncio to the Philippines, Archbishop Charles John Brown. During the Mass, CBCP President and Bishop of Kalookan, Pablo Virgilio David, expressed hope for the shrine's eventual elevation to an international shrine, a title already conferred by the Holy See on Antipolo Cathedral.{{Cite news|title=CBCP head hopes Quiapo Church will turn into int’l shrine |first=Rhowen |last=Del Rosario |date=January 30, 2024 |url=https://mb.com.ph/2024/1/29/cbcp-head-hopes-quiapo-church-will-turn-into-int-l-shrine |work=Manila Bulletin |access-date=January 30, 2024}}

On October 3, 2024, Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula issued a decree officially renaming the church as the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno and abandoned the usage of "Black Nazarene" to distance the Black Nazarene image from its popular depiction of having a dark complexion to "further focus the people on the holy name of our Lord than a color or attribute".{{cite news |last1=Godoy |first1=Luke |title=Philippines’ Quiapo Church drops word ‘black’ in official parish name |url=https://www.rvasia.org/asian-news/philippines-quiapo-church-drops-word-black-official-parish-name |access-date=8 January 2025 |work=Radio Veritas Asia |date=2 December 2024 |language=en}}

Architecture

{{wide image|Quiapo Church sanctuary widescreen 2023-06-02.jpg|600px|align-cap=center|The sanctuary of the basilica, with the high altar in the middle and the side altars of the Blessed Sacrament (left) and Saint John the Baptist (right)}}

Built in the Baroque style, Quiapo Church's façade is distinctive with twisted columns on both levels. The Corinthian columns of the second level has a third of its shaft twisted near the base, while the upper portion has a smooth surface. The topmost portion of the four-storey belfries are rimmed with balustrades and decorated with huge scrolls. The tympanum of the pediment has a pair of chalice-shaped finials, and towards the end of the raking cornice, urn-like vases mark the end of the pediment. A quatrefoil window in the center of the pediment was sealed up in the late 1980s and replaced with a relief of the crossed keys and tiara of the pope – a symbol of its status as a minor basilica.

During its expansion, changes to the building were made, such as the removal of the ornate exposed trusses, the removal of the interior columns to create an expansive columnless structure, and the realignment of the perimeter walls. Even though Zaragoza did not tamper the facade and altar area, this received criticisms like comparing the new interior with a basketball court. Only the façade, the dome, the transept, and the apse retained the classic design.

Devotion to the Black Nazarene

File:Quiapo Church high altar 2023-06-16.jpg of the church, with the Black Nazarene enshrined above it]]

File:Translación of the Black Nazarene (2024).jpg

The {{lang|es|Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno}}, commonly known as the Black Nazarene (due to being dark figure of Christ carved by a Mexican artist from black wood), reputedly miraculous, was brought to the country in a Spanish galleon in the 17th century.

Quiapo Church holds a novena every Friday, Quiapo Day, in honor of the venerated image, and is attended by thousands of devotees. A note is sounded before the novena begins as the devotees to the Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno troop in and emit their strings of petitions. One can encounter the traditional folk Catholicism of Filipinos when they all climb the narrow flight of stairs to kiss the Señor's foot or wipe it with their handkerchiefs they use every time they visit.

The Feast of the Black Nazarene on January 9 celebrates the traslación (solemn translation) of the statue to the church from the Church of Saint Nicholas Tolentino. Traffic is re-routed round the devotees who participate in this district's fiesta. There are men who are devoted to carry the Black Nazarene statue around a specific route. They have a {{lang|fil|panata}}, a vow to serve the Lord in this sacrifice. These people believed that an afternoon's participation in the procession can repent their sins and shady deals in a year.

In 2024, 6.5 million devotees participated in the Traslación.{{Cite news |title=Black Nazarene back at Quiapo Church; Traslacion took 15 hours |first=Joviland |last=Rita |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/893596/black-nazarene-back-at-quiapo-church-traslacion-took-15-hours/story/ |work=GMA Integrated News |date=January 9, 2024 |access-date=January 29, 2024}} Due to popular devotion, the Archdiocese of Manila has proposed to the Holy See to declare January 9 as the "national feast of the Black Nazarene".{{Cite news|title=Manila archdiocese asks Vatican to designate Jan. 9 as nat'l feast of the Black Nazarene |url=https://cbcpnews.net/cbcpnews/manila-archdiocese-asks-vatican-to-designate-jan-9-as-natl-feast-of-the-black-nazarene/ |first=Roy |last=Legarde |work=CBCP News |date=January 9, 2024 |access-date=January 29, 2024}}

Rectors

The following are the prelates who had led the Quiapo Church.{{cite web |title=Parish Priests |url=https://quiapochurch.com.ph/about-quiapo/parish-priests/ |website=Quiapo Church |access-date=8 January 2025}}

Antonio de Nombella (1586)
Pablo Ruiz de Talavera (1603)
Gregorio Catena de Mesa (1619)
Geronimo Rodriguez de Liyan (1634)
Jesuit priests (1636–1639)
Juan de Rueda (1670)
Jeronimo Fernandez Caravallo (1683)
Juan de Bahamonde (1717)
Pablo Romero (1717–1720)
Francisco Pujol (1720–1728)
Bartolome Saguinsin (1728–1772)
Gaspar Jimenez (1772–1793)
Luis Mariano (1793–1800)
Lazaro de la Rosa (1800–1823)
Arcadio Aquino (1824)
Juan de los Santos (1825)
Agustin Mendoza (1856–1857)
Jose Maria Guevarra (1857–1871)
Eusebio de Leon (1871–1885)
Pablo Cruz (1885–1888)
Manuel Roxas (1885–1890)
Manuel Marco (1893–1896)
Gilberto Martin (1896–1897)
Lorenzo Maximo Gregorio (1897–1899)
Calixto Villafranca (1901–1924)
Magdaleno Castillo (1924–1937)
Vicente Fernandez (1937–1954)
Franciso Avendano (1954–1955)
Vicente Reyes* (1955–1961)
Pedro Bantigue* (1961–1967)
Bienvenido Lopez* (1967–1974)
Antonio Pascual (1974)
Hernando Antiporda* (1974–1975)
Jose Abriol (1976–1991)
Bienvenido Mercado (1991–1999)
Teodoro Buhain* (1999–2004)
Josefino Ramirez (2004–2007)
Jose Clemente Ignacio (2007–2015)
Hernando Coronel (2015–2022)
Rufino Sescon Jr.* (2022–2025){{cite news |last1=Navarro |first1=Dan |title=Quiapo gets new parish priest |url=https://tribune.net.ph/2022/11/21/quiapo-gets-new-parish-priest |access-date=8 January 2025 |work=Daily Tribune |date=22 November 2022 |language=en}}
Ramon Jade Licuanan (2025–present){{cite news|url=https://cbcpnews.net/cbcpnews/long-time-manila-youth-ministry-head-is-new-quiapo-church-rector/|title=Long-time Manila youth ministry head is new Quiapo Church rector|date=January 29, 2025|accessdate=January 29, 2025|first=Roy|last=Lagarde|website=CBCP News|location=Manila, Philippines}}

Controversy

The vicinity of the church is a popular area for peddlers of unsafe abortifacients, local gastric irritants and untested herbal folk (potions) remedies. The merchandise are clandestinely sold from stalls surrounding the Basilica and the Plaza Miranda fronting it. Abortion is illegal in the Philippines, and individuals who cannot afford the surgical procedure resort to these vendors.{{Cite news |work=New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/15/world/asia/15iht-phils.html |title=Philippines abortion crisis|first=Carlos H. |last=Conde |date=May 16, 2005}}

The media often covers stories of dead fetuses being abandoned outside of the church's Blessed Sacrament chapel, a practice condemned by the Archdiocese of Manila.{{cite web|url=http://blackchristiannews.com/news/2010/09/philippine-churches-dismayed-by-aborted-babies-dumped-on-church-grounds.html |title=Philippine Churches Dismayed by Aborted Babies Dumped on Church Grounds - BCNN1 |access-date=February 1, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523035841/http://blackchristiannews.com/news/2010/09/philippine-churches-dismayed-by-aborted-babies-dumped-on-church-grounds.html |archive-date=May 23, 2013 }} Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales has issued several canonical excommunications for women who perform intentional abortion in relation to such practices near the shrine, as ruled by the Catholic Church.{{cite news|url=http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/metro-manila/09/15/10/dead-babies-discovered-near-churches|title=Fetuses found near churches|work=ABS-CBN News}}

Gallery

File:Quiapo Church facade 2023-06-09.jpg|Close-up of the main façade

File:Nazareno Traslacion 2020 - Quiapo Church, post (Quiapo, Manila; 01-09-2020).JPG|Main façade at night

File:Quiapo Church, Quezon Boulevard (Manila; 01-01-2025).jpg|Side view of the facade

File:Quiapo Church interior 2023-06-09.jpg|Church interior in 2023. Devotees in the central aisle are seen walking on their knees towards the sanctuary, offering prayers.

File:Quiapo Church right side lateral walls 2023-06-02.jpg|Lateral walls

File:0208jfQuiapo Central Church Plaza Manila Bridge Riverfvf 02.jpg|Historical plaques inside the church presenting the papal decree declaring the church as a basilica

Notes

References

External links

{{Commons category-inline}}
{{Official website|http://quiapochurch.com.ph}}
{{Facebook|quiapochurch}}
{{cite news |first=NRJ |last=Ramos |title= Houses of the Holy |url=http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=goodLife01_april13_2006 |work=Manila Standard Today |date=April 13, 2006 |access-date=May 30, 2007 }}
[http://www.stuartxchange.com/Quiapo.html History of Quiapo]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20110927052657/http://atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/EH08Ae01.html Veneration of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20120305104506/http://www.quiapochurch.dragweb.net/history.php Quiapo Surviving 400 Years]
{{Cite news|title=The gaze of the Nazarene |first=Eleanor R. |last=Dionisio |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=January 9, 2016 |url=http://opinion.inquirer.net/91869/the-gaze-of-the-nazarene}}
[https://quiapochurch.com.ph/2020/12/14/understanding-the-devotion-to-the-black-nazarene// Devotion to the Black Nazarene: A Pastoral Understanding by Msgr. Jose Clemente F. Ignacio]