Major
Basilica de San Martin de Tours
Basilica de San Martin de Tours is considered to be the largest church in the Philippines and in Asia. The construction of the church was spearheaded by Father Diego Espinar in 1575. The town of Taal, Batangas is located in the Archdiocese of Lipa, Batangas. St. Martin de Tours is the patron saint of the said town, whose fiesta or feast day is celebrated every November 11.
In 1754, the church was destroyed along with its neighbouring town, Taal, in the largest eruption of the Taal Volcano, considered to be the smallest volcano in the Philippines. It was then that the town and the Church were transferred further away from the volcano to its present site, atop an elevating hill facing Balayan Bay.
The construction of the present church was begun in 1856 by Father Marcos Anton with the Spanish architect Luciano Oliver, who was commissioned to design and manage the construction of the new church.
Basilica de San Martin de Tours was relegated into a minor basilica on December 8, 1954. It is the third in the country to be given such honour. And by the Presidential Decree No. 375 on January 16, 1974, the church was declared a national shrine.
SPANISH TRANSLATION (Don’t judge haha! I used google translate to help me. Mahirap, okay?!)
Basílica de San Martín de Tours es considerada como la iglesia más grande en las Filipinas y en Asia. La construcción de la iglesia fue encabezado por el padre Diego Espinar en 1575. La ciudad de Taal, Batangas se encuentra en la Archidiócesis de Lipa, Batangas. San Martín de Tours es el santo patrono de la citada localidad, cuya fiesta o fiesta de día se celebra cada 11 de Noviembre.
En 1754, la iglesia fue destruida junto con su ciudad vecina, Taal, en la mayor erupción del volcán Taal, considerado el volcán más pequeño en las Filipinas. Fue entonces que el pueblo y la Iglesia fueron trasladados más lejos del volcán a su actual emplazamiento, en lo alto de una colina frente a la elevación de
Basilica de San Martin de Tours is considered to be the largest church in the Philippines and in Asia. The construction of the church was spearheaded by Father Diego Espinar in 1575. The town of Taal, Batangas is located in the Archdiocese of Lipa, Batangas. St. Martin de Tours is the patron saint of the said town, whose fiesta or feast day is celebrated every November 11.
In 1754, the church was destroyed along with its neighbouring town, Taal, in the largest eruption of the Taal Volcano, considered to be the smallest volcano in the Philippines. It was then that the town and the Church were transferred further away from the volcano to its present site, atop an elevating hill facing Balayan Bay.
The construction of the present church was begun in 1856 by Father Marcos Anton with the Spanish architect Luciano Oliver, who was commissioned to design and manage the construction of the new church.
Basilica de San Martin de Tours was relegated into a minor basilica on December 8, 1954. It is the third in the country to be given such honour. And by the Presidential Decree No. 375 on January 16, 1974, the church was declared a national shrine.
SPANISH TRANSLATION (Don’t judge haha! I used google translate to help me. Mahirap, okay?!)
Basílica de San Martín de Tours es considerada como la iglesia más grande en las Filipinas y en Asia. La construcción de la iglesia fue encabezado por el padre Diego Espinar en 1575. La ciudad de Taal, Batangas se encuentra en la Archidiócesis de Lipa, Batangas. San Martín de Tours es el santo patrono de la citada localidad, cuya fiesta o fiesta de día se celebra cada 11 de Noviembre.
En 1754, la iglesia fue destruida junto con su ciudad vecina, Taal, en la mayor erupción del volcán Taal, considerado el volcán más pequeño en las Filipinas. Fue entonces que el pueblo y la Iglesia fueron trasladados más lejos del volcán a su actual emplazamiento, en lo alto de una colina frente a la elevación de