Basilica of Saint Gregory the Great

The Basilica of Saint Gregory the Great

The Basilica of Saint Gregory the Great, more commonly known as Majayjay Church, holds a significant place in the religious and cultural history of the Philippines. Located in Majayjay, Laguna, it is recognized as a Minor Basilica and a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum, signifying its importance as one of the country's oldest Roman Catholic churches.

History and Construction

Majayjay was a focal point for early Catholic evangelization in Laguna, with Augustinians arriving in 1568 and Franciscans establishing a mission town in 1571. The first church, constructed from nipa and bamboo, was built in 1575 near the May-it river but was destroyed by fire in 1576. A new church of nipa and bamboo was built in 1578 under the patronage of Saint Gregory the Great.

Authorization for a stone church was granted in 1599, but construction commenced in 1616 and was completed in 1649, with contributions from Maestro de Campo Don Buenaventura de Mendoza. This structure was partially burned in 1660. A major rehabilitation effort between 1711 and 1730, involving 14,000 people on forced labor under Jose de Puertollano, resulted in a unique construction where the ruins were sandwiched between two layers of brick, creating walls of 3 meters thickness. This completed church, made of volcanic tuff with red tiles and prime lumber, was considered the largest in the Philippines upon its completion in 1730.

Over the centuries, the church underwent further repairs due to typhoons and wartime damage. The roof was replaced with galvanized iron in 1892, and repairs were made in 1912 following damage from the Spanish and American occupations. In 1954, it was included in the government's rehabilitation program, and in 2001, it was declared a National Cultural Treasure.

Designation as a Minor Basilica

On January 25, 2025, Pope Francis issued a decree officially designating Majayjay Church as a Minor Basilica, following a petition by Bishop Marcelino Antonio Maralit. This makes it the first Basilica within the Diocese of San Pablo.

Architectural Features and Convent

The church exhibits Romanesque architectural style, measuring 60 meters long, 17 meters wide, and 16.5 meters high. Its façade is characterized by three proportionally scaled levels, each culminating in a triangular pediment with a circular window. The interior features a large main retablo and four smaller ones, with azulejo tiling on the floor. The five-story square bell tower, topped with a conical roof, is connected to a cat-walk above the ceiling.

The adjacent convent is noted as one of the best-preserved and earliest surviving examples of its kind in the Philippines. It houses a museum with old parish documents and ecclesiastical silver. A portion of the convent has been converted into Liceo de Majayjay, a Catholic school.

Chapel of Nuestra Señora de la Porteria

The Ermita chapel, dedicated to Nuestra Señora de la Porteria (Our Lady of the Gate), was originally a tribunal during the Spanish period. The image of Our Lady of the Gate, brought by Spanish missionaries in 1759, was enshrined in this former court building in 1760.

Cultural Significance

Beyond its religious importance, Majayjay Church has also been featured in popular culture, serving as a setting for the films "Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos" (1976) and "Lupe: A Seaman's Wife" (2003).