Early this yr (simply few days after the Feast of Nuestra Señora de Candelaria), my mother and I have been in a position to go to Silang Church. It was the primary time we went out collectively ever because the pandemic began. The plan is to go to the church in Silang and a Korean Temple close by. We all the time embody Nuestra Señora de Candelaria Parish in Silang each time we have now a pilgrimage in Cavite (normally throughout Holy Week) and this church by no means didn’t amaze me, particularly while you see its lovely retablos up-close.
Our Girl of Candelaria Parish or generally often known as the Silang Church was first established on February 3, 1595 by the Franciscans. They initially constructed a small chapel and a college made of sunshine supplies and was first devoted beneath the patronage of San Diego de Alcala. The Franciscans took over the church till 1611 and was quickly transferred to the Jesuits. The Jesuits have been assigned to Silang in Could 1599 because of the request of an encomendero. When the church and college constructed by the Franciscans was destroyed by fireplace on August 30, 1603, they have been transferred in a brand new location and made even bigger. The stone church was constructed from 1637 to 1639 beneath Fr Juan de Salazar and was positioned beneath the patronage of Nuestra Señora de Candelaria in 1640.
Since then, the parish was administered by many alternative congregations. When the Jesuits have been expelled from the Spanish colonies, the parish was taken over by the secular clergy in 1788, the Augustinian Recollects in 1849, again to the secular clergy in 1868, Congregation of the Immaculate Coronary heart of Mary (CICM) in 1910, seculars in 1913, Columbans in 1936 and is now administered by the secular clergy since 1978.
In comparison with different Jesuits church buildings within the nation that have been constructed beneath the auspices of Fr Juan de Salazar just like the soon-to-be Worldwide Shine – Antipolo Cathedral and the San Ildefonso de Toledo Parish in Tanay, Rizal, Silang Church is a typical baroque church with none elaborate and luxurious ornamentation on its facade. The shortage of magnificence on Silang church was because of the dying of Fr. Salazar in 1645 who primarily administered the church development.
The façade of Silang Church
Home windows and pediment
The Statue of Our Girl of Candelaria within the facade of Silang Church
The cross on prime of the church’s pediment
The rose window devoted to Diego Masanga
The facade comes with a big concrete porch. There may be additionally a small area of interest on the middle that’s positioned in between two easy home windows that enshrines the picture of Our Girl of Candelaria. The pediment contains a rose window that’s devoted to Diego Masanga. Masanga found the miraculous picture of Our Girl of Candelaria within the late sixteenth century. Curiously, he was a priest of an indigenous faith however ultimately embraced Christianity.
The belfry
It has a 4 story belfry related to the primary church. The primary flooring is 4 sided whereas the remainder of the flooring are octagonal. The fourth story of the belfry was destroyed within the 1880 earthquake and was solely restored to its authentic peak in 1989, after 100 years. You can even spot thick buttresses surrounding the church.
The inside of Silang Church
The central nave and the primary altar
The inside of Silang Church is equally easy and is notably constructed with much less ornamentation. The edges of the church comes with a sequence of huge niches of glass home windows.
The country ceiling and glass chandelier
The ceiling options wooden tiles that remind me of Saint Mary Magdalene Church in Kawit, Cavite. It’s adorned with lovely glass chandeliers.
The three grand retablos of Silang Church
Regardless of the obvious simplicity of the church’s general design, the retablos of Silang Church will certainly put you in nice awe. The retablos of Silang falls beneath the baroque fashion and is constructed from 1643 to 1663 which makes them greater than 3-century outdated. The church as three fantastically and intricately ornate retablos.
Intricate particulars of the altar
One of many Angels holding defend
It options each ionic and Corinthian pillars and is fantastically embellished with floral particulars and cherubs. On prime of the altars are statues of angels holding shields. The presence of native kinds reminiscent of crops, fruits, volutes or round designs and millipedes made the retablo of Silang distinct and distinctive. The truth is, The church and the retablos of the Our Girl of Candelaria Parish was declared Nationwide Cultural Treasure by the Nationwide Museum of the Philippines on 3 February 2017.
One of many aspect altars is devoted to girls saints, saints within the New Testaments and martyrs whereas the opposite one was devoted to the Jesuit saints. So i made a decision to do my analysis to know each element of the altar’s iconography.
One of many aspect altars devoted to Ladies saints and martyrs
Positioned on the left aspect of the church is the altar devoted to girls saints and martyrs. The primary and second stage has three niches whereas the third stage has a single area of interest. All of the altars function wood-carved bas reliefs. The primary stage options the pictures of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, Saint Teresa of Avila, and Saint Agnes. The second stage options the pictures of Saint Bartholomew, Saint Anthony of Padua, and Saint Ursula. The third stage options the scene from the Calvary (Saint Mary Magdalene beneath the crucified Christ).
Saint Catherine of Alexadria (Santa Catalina de Alexandria)
Santa Catalina
Saint Teresa of Avila
Saint Teresa of Avila
Saint Agnes
Saint Agnes
Saint Bartholomew (San Bartolomeo)
San Bartolomeo
San Antonio de Padua
San Antonio de Padua
Saint Ursula
The Calvary
The altar on the proper is devoted to Jesuit Saints. The primary stage options the pictures of Saint Francis Xavier, the Sure Christ, and Saint Francis Borgia. The second stage is devoted to Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, San Ignacio Loyola, and Saint Stanislaus Kotska. The uppermost stage is devoted to a few Japanese Jesuit Martyrs Paul Miki, John Goto, and James Kisai.
Saint Francis Xavier
The picture of Sure Christ or Señor Jesus Sentenciado
Saint Francis Borgia
Saint Aloysius Gonzaga
San Ignacio Loyola
Japanese Jesuit Martyrs Paul Miki, John Goto, and James Kisai
The primary altar or retablo mayor
The altar mayor is the biggest and highest altar among the many three altars and identified relieves depicting the story of Jesus within the lifetime of Mary primarily based on the mysteries of the Holy Rosary. It has three ranges, seven alternating niches for saints and reduction and similar divisions just like the aspect altars.
The six relieves:
A Bas-relief depicting the “Panunuluyan” (Mary and Joseph in seek for lodging in Bethlehem
The Visitation of Saint Gabriel to Mary
The Coronation of Mary
The Presentation of Jesus on the Temple
The Three Kings
The picture of Santo Niño de Ternate
Saint Peter the Apostle
Saint Anne (Mary’s Mom)
Saint Paul
Saint John the Baptist
Saint Joseph
San Diego de Alcala
The primary altar additionally options the pictures of Saint Isidore the Farmer and Saint Joachim (Mary’s Father)
Our Girl of Candelaria of Silang
Positioned on the coronary heart of the primary altar is the picture of their patroness – Nuestra Señora de Candelaria.
Señor Nazareno
San Roque
Santo Entierro
You can even revisit a few of my outdated weblog posts about different church buildings in Cavite. Since most of my blogposts about Cavite Church buildings are dated 2014 to 2016, i’ll try to revisit them once more quickly with up to date particulars and pictures
Sources: Kasaysayan ng Bayan ng Silang / Sundays in Manila (Robert Boyer) / Ang Matandang Simbahan ng Silang (Phillip Medina)
