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Legazpi Cathedral

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Legazpi Cathedral
Saint Gregory the Great Cathedral Parish
Parokyang Katedral ni San Gregorio Magno (Filipino)
Parroquia Catedral de San Gregorio Magno (Spanish)
The cathedral in April 2024
The cathedral in April 2024
13°08′18″N 123°43′59″E / 13.138449°N 123.73315°E
Location Legazpi, Albay
Country Philippines
Denomination Roman Catholic
History
Status Cathedral
Founded 1587
Dedication Saint Gregory the Great
Architecture
Functional status Active
Architectural type Church building
Style Baroque
Groundbreaking 1834
Completed 1616, 1635, 1839, 1945
Demolished 1754, 1900
Administration
Province Province of Albay
Archdiocese Archdiocese of Caceres
Diocese Legazpi
Clergy
Bishop Joel Zamudio Baylon
Rector Rev. Fr. Lyndon F. Balubar

Saint Gregory the Great Cathedral Parish, commonly known as Legazpi Cathedral and locally as Albay Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic cathedral dedicated to Saint Gregory the Great in the Old Albay District of the city of Legazpi, Albay, in the Bicol region of the Philippines. It is the seat of the Diocese of Legazpi.[1] In 2018, a historical marker of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines was unveiled at the cathedral.[2]

History

The city of Legazpi today was initially a barangay called Sawangan, which at present corresponds to the location of the Legazpi Port. The mission in the area, the Mission de San Gregorio Magno de Sawangan, was founded by the Franciscans in 1587 as a visita of Cagsaua. Its first church of nipa and lumber was constructed which was placed under the patronage of Saint Gregory the Great, the pope of the Catholic Church from 590 to 604 CE. In 1616, it became a full pledged parish and was called Albay. It was reconstructed with wood planks in 1635 which was razed by fire in 1754. The first stone church was built under Fr. Pedro Romero in 1834 which was charred again during the Philippine-American War in 1900. In 1945, parts of the church were damaged during World War II, and was subsequently repaired under Fr. Nicanor Belleza. In 1951, it became the seat and cathedral of the Legazpi Diocese upon its foundation from the territories of the Diocese of Nueva Caceres.[3]

References

  1. Back to citation "Cathedral of St. Gregory the Great Legazpi City, ALBAY, BICOL, Philippines". GCatholic. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  2. Back to citation "Albay Tourism". Provincial Tourism, Culture and Arts Office - Albay. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  3. Back to citation "Cathedral of St. Gregory the Great Legazpi City, ALBAY, BICOL, Philippines". GCatholic. Retrieved March 23, 2021; "NHCP Legazpi Albay Cathedral Marker". Wikimedia Commons. Retrieved March 23, 2021; "History of Legazpi City". City Government of Legazpi. Retrieved March 23, 2021.