Also known as the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene and Saint John the Baptist Parish, Quipo Church is a powerful place of worship for Manila’s Catholic-strong populace. The city itself boasts a saturation of catholic churches due to the country’s former colonisation by the Portuguese. Exploring this intriguing facet of local culture will enhance your visit to the city, and if you’re looking for quality Makati accommodation that is centrally located, check into one of the finest serviced apartments Manila has to offer its international visitors, such as the Somerset Millennium Makati. Quiapo Church is a sacred religious shrine located in the heart of Manila, and its famous claim to fame resides in its statue of the Black Nazarene, a beautiful dark statue of Christ that was said to have acquired its sable façade due to a fire that transpired on the ship that brought it here from Mexico. The local populace believes that the statue is imbued with miraculous powers of healing and salvation, and it is frequently touched and kissed in veneration by all devotees who visit the church. The statue was declared a sacramental effigy in 1650 by Pope Innocent X, and Pope Pius VII granted an Apostolic Blessing to the statue, which grants plenary indulgence to anyone who prays with due piety and veneration before it. Besides the sacred statue, the church itself is imbued with a serene air that is perfect for deeper contemplation of one’s relationship with God. The sacramental altar presents a stunning visual spectacle when one walks into the church, flanked by an exquisite stained-glass window on either side. Despite suffering various reconstructions due to fires and earthquakes, Quiapo Church now stands as a splendid testament to the Catholic faith, but it is a peaceful and impressive religious landmark that is well worth visiting by members of any faith.
Angela Fernando is an impassioned travel writer who composes pieces under the pen name Sumaira Narayan. She loves writing about new and exciting places around the world and intends to visit them all someday.
