Binondo Church description and photos - Philippines: Manila (Topic)

Binondo Church description and photos - Philippines: Manila. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The title in English is Binondo Church.

Photo & Description

The Binondo Church, also known as the Little Basilica of St. Lorenzo Ruiz, is located in Manila's Chinatown on the western end of Ongpin Street. The church was founded by Dominican monks in 1596 to convert Chinese immigrants to Christianity. The original church building was destroyed by the British in 1762 during their brief occupation of Manila. The current granite church was built on the same site in 1852. Its main attraction is the octagonal bell tower, which evokes thoughts of the Chinese origin of the parishioners. This, incidentally, is the only part of the building that has come down to us since the 16th century.

The Binondo Church was severely damaged during World War II, but fortunately the western facade and the famous bell tower remained intact. The restoration of the church took place in three stages and was completed only in 1984. A three-story parish center and a monastery were added to the building. The gilded marble altar partitions depict the facade of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.

The church bears the name of the altar boy Lorenzo Ruiz, who was born to a Chinese father and a Filipina mother. He studied in this church, then went on a mission to Japan, where he was executed for refusing to renounce his faith. Lorenzo Ruiz became the first Filipino saint to be canonized by the Catholic Church in 1987. A huge statue of the holy great martyr stands in front of the basilica building. Despite numerous damage from earthquakes, typhoons and military action, the Binondo church still retains its baroque style.

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Topic: Binondo Church description and photos - Philippines: Manila.