01/05/2023
The Naga Cathedral, officially known as the Metropolitan Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, is a Catholic cathedral located in Naga City, Camarines Sur, Philippines. It is the seat of the Archdiocese of Caceres, which covers the provinces of Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, and Catanduanes.
The cathedral was first constructed in 1578 as a small chapel made of bamboo and nipa palm. It was later rebuilt in stone in 1595, but was destroyed by fire in 1583 and 1599. The cathedral was rebuilt once again in 1616, and underwent several renovations and expansions throughout the years.
The current cathedral, which was designed in the Spanish Renaissance style, was completed in 1843. It features a Baroque-style façade, a nave with a barrel vault ceiling, and a main altar made of Italian marble. The cathedral also has a pipe organ that was built in Barcelona, Spain and installed in 1856.
The Naga Cathedral is considered as one of the oldest and most historically significant churches in the Bicol Region. It has been declared as a National Cultural Treasure by the Philippine government in 2014. The cathedral is also a popular pilgrimage site, especially during the Feast of Our Lady of Peñafrancia, which is celebrated every September.
