Santa Ana Parish Church, commonly known as Molo Church, is a Spanish neo-Gothic Catholic Church church located in the district of Molo in Iloilo City, in the Philippines. It is under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Jaro. The church is recognized as "the women's church" or "the feminist church" because it only features images of female saints inside, including Saint Anne, the patron saint of Molo. The National Historical Institute declared it a national landmark in 1992.
History
Molo Church was constructed in 1831 under Fray Pablo Montaño.
Originally made of
tabique pampango with a chalk roof. Plans for a concrete structure were drawn up in 1866, approved by Bishop Mariano Cuartero in 1869, and completed in 1888 by Fray Agapito Buenaflor under Don Jose Manuel Locsin's supervision. In honor of Saint Anne, the church is known as a feminist church because of its two rows of sixteen female saints on both sides of the altar.
Molo Church was visited by Dr. Jose Rizal on August 4, 1886, because of its biblical paintings, which can no longer be seen in the church.
It served as an evacuation center for civilians during World War II. The church was damaged and one tower was destroyed on March 18, 1945, during the liberation of the Philippines from Japan. The church was later repaired by Rev. Manuel Alba with the help of the congregation.
The church was declared a national landmark by the National Historical Institute in 1992 through the representation of Sir Knight Rex S. Salvilla. It is the only Gothic church in the country outside of Metro Manila.
Architecture
The façade of the church is made of rough stone that highlights the Gothic-Renaissance Revival elements seen in the structure, with its two towers that have numerous
and pointed arches. The church has three
with sixteen statues of female saints inside. These saints are
Saint Marcella,
Saint Apollonia,
Saint Genovefa, Saint Isabelle, Saint Felicity, Saint Agnes,
Saint Monica,
Mary Magdalene, Saint Juliana,
Saint Lucy, Saint Rose, Saint Teresa, Saint Clare,
Saint Cecilia, Saint Margaret, and
Martha.
The church has four wooden and a single high altar. It also features two decorated wooden .
Gallery
File:Allan Jay Quesada - Molo Church 002.jpg|View of the church from the Molo Plaza
File:Convent of Molo.jpg|Convent of Molo beside the church
File:Molo Church dome interior 2022-07-06.jpg|Dome interior
File:The Ten Commandments in Hiligaynon at Molo Church, Iloilo.jpg|The Ten Commandments in Hiligaynon language
File:Side view of Molo Church, Iloilo City, the Philippines.jpg|Side view of the church
File:MOLO CHURCH 005.jpg|A sculpture of St. Elizabeth of Hungary, one of the sixteen female saints inside the church
File:Molo church (2).jpg|Northwest façade
File:Molo Church interior 2022-07-06.jpg|Interior facing northwest
File:MOLO CHURCH 011.jpg|Another historical marker
File:Molo Church altar reredos 2022-07-06.jpg|High altar and reredos
See also
External links
