Basilica of St John the Baptist

Minor Basilica and Parish of Saint John the Baptist

The Minor Basilica and Parish of Saint John the Baptist, more commonly referred to as Taytay Church, is a significant religious edifice located in Taytay, Rizal, Philippines. It currently falls under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Antipolo. The history of this church is deeply intertwined with the early evangelization efforts in the Philippines.

History and Development

The origins of Taytay Church trace back to 1579 when Franciscan missionaries first arrived to establish a parish. They initially built a chapel constructed of light materials near the shores of Laguna de Bay, named "Visita de Santa Ana de Sapa," and dedicated it to its patron saint, John the Baptist. Jesuit missionaries assumed administration in 1591, with Rev. Pedro Chirino serving as parish priest. Under Chirino's tenure, the parish was relocated from the flood-prone lakeside to a higher elevation on a hill known as San Juan del Monte, where it has remained.

A new church constructed of stone was erected in 1599 and completed in 1601, marking it as the first stone church built by the Jesuits outside of Manila. A larger church followed in 1630, built by Fr. Juan de Salazar. This structure unfortunately suffered damage from a typhoon in 1632 and was set ablaze in 1639 during a revolt by the Chinese against Spanish authorities.

Connection to Blessed Diego de San Vitores and St. Pedro Calungsod

The church also holds historical importance due to its association with Blessed Diego de San Vitores and Saint Pedro Calungsod. San Vitores, a Jesuit missionary, was assigned to Taytay from 1662 to 1668. During this period, he appointed a young boy named Pedro Calungsod as an altar boy, who later became San Vitores' assistant. They both eventually left Taytay to serve as missionaries in the Marianas Islands, where they met their martyrdom in 1672. San Vitores was beatified in 1985, and Calungsod was beatified in 2000 and canonized in 2012.

Later History and Basilica Status

Further modifications were made to the church in 1768 and 1864. Both the church and its adjacent convent were reduced to ruins during the Philippine–American War. Following the war, the church underwent reconstruction, resulting in the present concrete structure that does not retain the architectural elements of the original Jesuit Church.

On January 11, 2024, Pope Francis granted Taytay Church the title of minor basilica. The solemn declaration of this elevated status took place on July 9, 2024, recognizing its historical and religious significance.