The Manila Cathedral
Posted By philippine evolution staff on February 18, 2012
philippine-evolution.com
THE MANILA CATHEDRAL
Photo from: holydieexplorer.com
Also called Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception and Manila Metropolitan Cathedral, Manila Cathedral has a façade graced by Roman travertine stone statues of saints Francis Xavier, Polycarp, Anthony Abbot, Jacob the Great (Manila’s patron saint), and Rose of Lima (patron saint of the Philippines), rendered by Italian artists Livia Papini and Alcide Tico. The bronze carvings on the façade represent important periods in the church’s history as well as prayers to the Virgin Mary. The cast-bronze main door was exquisitely carved by Italian sculptors Francesco Nagni and Alessandro Monteleone.
Photo from: asiafinest.com
The church’s altar, a work of German artist Toni Fiedler, is a tribute to the Immaculate Conception. The central dome, one of Manila’s most prized architectural gems, was designed by Florentine architect Fray Juan de Uguccioni in 1750. The dome is a reference point of the Philippines’ astronomical longitudes.
Photo from: bangortobobbio.blogspot.com
The church’s interiors is a concoction of retablos (statues of saints), marble columns, wrought iron gates, bronze and metal sculptures, 134 stained glass windows by Filipino artist Galo Ocampo and carved stones by Filipino designer Jose Pablo. The cathedral also used to have its own 5,600-pipe organ, the biggest in Asia, but this is still under restoration.
Details of the Shrine
Photo from: thetripleex.com
The main façade is replica of the original façade of the previous cathedral, along with statues of famous saints sculpted in Roman travertine stone. In the previous cathedral, they were originally made of molave wood. The statues of St. Rose of Lima was sculpted by Angelo Fattinanzi while Saint Jacob, Saint Andrew, St. Anthony the Abbott was done by sculptress Livia Papini; St. Francis Xavier St. Polycarp by Alcide Tico.
Photo from: yousaytoo.com
The front facade (tympanum) of the cathedral has a notable Latin inscription which reads: Tibi cordi tuo immaculato concredimus nos ac consecramus. (English: We consecrate to your immaculate heart and entrust to you (Mary) for safekeeping.)
Since Blessed Pope John Paul II’s Apostolic Visit to the basilica in 1981, a grand logo of the Papal Keys and Papal Tiara have been prominently featured on the top-front facade of the cathedral. The red galero hat of Cardinal Rufino Santos is also hoisted on the ceiling of the dome of the cathedral. In addition, a Roman copy of Saint Peter’s seated statue from St. Peter’s Basilica is enshrined inside, along with a life-sized statue of the Immaculate Conception. Prior to 1985, the statue of the Immaculate Conception in the main altar was painted in gold. An antiphon inscription on the baldachin above the statue of the Immaculate Conception reads: Tota Pulchra es Maria et Macula Originalis Non est in Te (English: Mary is All-Beautiful and the Original Sin is Not in You).
Photo from: dennisvillegas.blogspot.com
Text source: manilagateway.com
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