Jaro Cathedral

as pictured in the 1920s or 1940s , as well as the canonical coronation of the Our Lady of Candles image Jaro Cathedral was first established as a (chapel-of-ease) of Oton on March 3, 1575, and later became a of Arevalo in 1584. It later became a parish in April 1587 under the advocation of Our Lady of the Nativity. After a century, plans for building a stone church were put in place by Fr. Juan Aguado. The first stone church was constructed from 1742 to 1744. The church was damaged by two earthquakes in 1787 and in the 19th century. The Marian image of Our Lady of Candles also has the distinction of being canonically crowned personally by Pope John Paul II during his visit to Iloilo City on February 21, 1981, making it as the only Marian figure to be given such stature in the Philippines. The National Historical Institute of the Philippines declared the Jaro Cathedral a historical landmark in 1976. In January 2012, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines approved the cathedral as the National Shrine of Our Lady of Candles, the second Marian-dedicated church or cathedral (1st National Shrine in Western Visayas) to receive such status in Visayas and Mindanao. It was declared as such on February 2 of the same year. ==Architecture==

in 2022 The shrine is constructed in the Romanesque Revival style, deviating from semi-circular arches. A distinctive feature is that the bell tower, Jaro Belfry, is located across a busy street from the church, on Jaro Plaza, resembling Ilocos churches. Typically, belfries are built next to their churches. In this case, the tower was adjacent to an earlier church, but an earthquake destroyed the church and left the tower. Another distinctive feature is the stairs attached to the front façade of the cathedral, over the main entrance, leading up to a shrine featuring a statue of Our Lady of Candles. The church also possesses relics of St. Josemaría Escrivá. Another feature of the church is its all-male ensemble of saints placed on the main pillars, with the exception of the Virgin Mary's icon. The arrangement is in response to Molo Church's all-female theme. On the cathedral grounds are several archdiocesan and parish offices, and a perpetual adoration chapel. About a block away is the archdiocesan seminary, St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary, and across the plaza is the archbishop's palace. ==Notable events==

• Our Lady of Candles canonical crowning - During the apostolic visit of Pope John Paul II in the Philippines in February 1981, he crowned the image of the Our Lady of Candles, the first and only Marian image to receive such honor without a papal legate in the Philippines and Asia. Such event elevated the status of Candelaria as the patroness of Western Visayas and Jaro Cathedral as center of Candelaria devotion in the Philippine islands. • Baptisms of notable people - national hero, journalist, and co-founder of the Propaganda Movement, Graciano Lopez Jaena, who was born in Jaro was baptized on December 20, 1856, in Jaro Cathedral. Ilonggo senator Grace Poe, a foundling herself, was found and baptized in Jaro Cathedral. ==Gallery==

File:Jaro Cathedral Facade.jpg|Northeast façade File:Dome_of_Jaro_Cathedral.jpg|Dome File:Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria de Jaro 2022-07-05.jpg|Encased image of the Our Lady of Candles, patron of Western Visayas File:Jaro Cathedral Heritage Marker.jpg|Church NHI historical marker installed in 1976 File:Jaro Cathedral Side Facade.jpg|Northern flank File:Jaro_Cathedral_-_Chapel_of_Lights.jpg|Chapel of Lights () File:Jaro Cathedral Altar.jpg|Main high altar File:Jaro Cathedral dome 2022-07-06.jpg|Dome interior File:Jaro Cathedral right side nave 2022-07-06.jpg|Seats at the right side nave File:Jaro Cathedral right-side interior 2022-07-06.jpg|One of the cathedral's side altars ==See also==