# Lipa Cathedral
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> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lipa_Cathedral
> Source revision: 1354894301
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{{Short description|Roman Catholic cathedral in Batangas, Philippines}}
{{Use Philippine English|date=April 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox church
| name = San Sebastian Cathedral
| full_name = Metropolitan Cathedral of San Sebastian
| native_name = {{unbulleted list|{{nativename|fil|Kalakhang Katedral ni San Sebastian}}|{{native name|es|Catedral Metropolitana de San Sebastián}}}}
| other_name = Lipa Cathedral
| image = Lipa Cathedral 2024-03-27.jpg
| caption = The cathedral in March 2024
| pushpin_map = Luzon mainland#Philippines
| map_caption = Location in [Luzon](/source/Luzon)##Location in the Philippines
| coordinates = {{coord|13.940951|N|121.163254|E|dim:30_region:PH-00_type:landmark|display=inline,title|format=dms}}
| location = [Lipa](/source/Lipa%2C_Batangas), [Batangas](/source/Batangas)
| country = [Philippines](/source/Philippines)
| denomination = [Roman Catholic](/source/Roman_Catholic)
| website =
| former_name = Convento de San Sebastian de Comintang
| founded = {{start date and age|1605|4|30}}
| founder = [Augustinians](/source/Augustinians)
| dedication = [Saint Sebastian](/source/Saint_Sebastian)
| dedicated =
| consecrated =
| events =
| status = [Cathedral](/source/Cathedral)
| functional_status = Active
| heritage_designation =
| designated =
| architect =
| architectural_type = [Cathedral](/source/Architecture_of_cathedrals_and_great_churches)
| style = [Neo-Renaissance](/source/Neo-Renaissance)
| years_built = {{ubl|{{abbr|c.|circa}} 1605 ({{abbr|dst.|destroyed}} 1754)|1779–1790, 1865, 1894 ({{abbr|dst.|destroyed}} 1944)|{{abbr|c.|circa}} 1950s}}
| groundbreaking =
| completed = {{start date and age|1957|12|14}}
| construction_cost =
| closed =
| demolished =
| capacity =
| length =
| width =
| height =
| materials =
| deanery = Saint Sebastian[{{Cite web|title=San Sebastian Cathedral, Lipa City, Batangas, Philippines |url=http://gcatholic.org/churches/asia/1754.htm |website=GCatholic.org |access-date=April 27, 2023}}]
| metropolis = [Lipa](/source/Roman_Catholic_Archdiocese_of_Lipa)
| archdiocese = [Lipa](/source/Roman_Catholic_Archdiocese_of_Lipa)
| province = [Lipa](/source/Roman_Catholic_Archdiocese_of_Lipa)
| diocese =
| district =
| archbishop = [Gilbert Armea Garcera](/source/Gilbert_Armea_Garcera)
| bishop =
| rector = Ruben Dimaculangan
| priest =
}}
The '''Metropolitan Cathedral of San Sebastian''', commonly known as '''Lipa Cathedral''', is a [Neo-Renaissance](/source/Neo-Renaissance) [cathedral](/source/cathedral) in [Lipa, Batangas](/source/Lipa%2C_Batangas), [Philippines](/source/Philippines). The cathedral serves as the seat of the [Archdiocese of Lipa](/source/Archdiocese_of_Lipa). The cathedral was chosen as the seat of the then Diocese of the Lipa in 1910. Detached from the [Archdiocese of Manila](/source/Archdiocese_of_Manila) and canonically erected by [Pope Pius X](/source/Pope_Pius_X), it comprised what are today the provinces of [Batangas](/source/Batangas), [Quezon](/source/Quezon), [Aurora](/source/Aurora_(province)), [Laguna](/source/Laguna_(province)), [Marinduque](/source/Marinduque), [Occidental Mindoro](/source/Occidental_Mindoro), [Oriental Mindoro](/source/Oriental_Mindoro), and part of the [Camarines](/source/Camarines) area.[{{Cite web |title=History |url=http://www.romanarchlipa.org/main/about/#History |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141215024836/http://www.romanarchlipa.org/main/about/#History |archive-date=December 15, 2014 |access-date=December 13, 2014 |website=Archdiocese of Lipa}}]
==History==
[[File:Cathedral of Lipa historical marker.jpg|thumb|left|Church [PHC](/source/National_Historical_Commission_of_the_Philippines) historical marker installed in 1939]]
===Earlier churches===
Lipa was originally located close to the Laguna de Bombon, present-day [Taal Lake](/source/Taal_Lake). The [Augustinian](/source/Augustinians) Chapter accepted Lipa under the name of "Convento de San Sebastian de Comintang" on April 30, 1605,[{{Cite book |last=Galende |first=Pedro |title=Angels in Stone: Architecture of the Augustinian Churches in the Philippines |date=1987 |publisher=G. A. Formoso |edition=1st |location=Manila |pages=92–97}}] with Gabriel Rodriguez as the first prior. In 1608, it was made a [vicariate](/source/vicariate) directly under the father province. In 1610, it was given the right to vote in the provincial chapters.
In 1754, Lipa was submerged after the eruption of [Taal Volcano](/source/Taal_Volcano). To avoid a similar occurrence, the town was transferred to its present site. A new church was begun by Ignacio Pallares in 1779 and by Manuel Galiana in 1787, and was completed in 1790. In 1865, Maueal Diez Gonzalez completed the spacious transept.
===Present church===
Benito Baras completed the construction of the church in 1894[{{Cite web|title=LIPA CATHEDRAL: The Metropolitan Cathedral of San Sebastian |url=https://www.thepoortraveler.net/2012/03/lipa-cathedral-san-sebastian-lipa-city-batangas/ |website=The Poor Traveler |access-date=April 6, 2023}}] and later built a bridge linking Lipa to [Tanauan](/source/Tanauan%2C_Batangas). On September 17, 1902, shortly after the [Philippine Revolution](/source/Philippine_Revolution) of 1898, [Pope Leo XIII](/source/Pope_Leo_XIII) issued the [apostolic constitution](/source/apostolic_constitution) ''Quae Mari Sinico'' mandating the reorganization of the church in the Philippines. His successor, Pius X, by papal declaration "Novas Erigere Ecclesias", erected five new ecclesiastical jurisdictions in the Philippines: the Dioceses of [Lipa](/source/Roman_Catholic_Archdiocese_of_Lipa), [Calbayog](/source/Diocese_of_Calbayog), [Tuguegarao](/source/Diocese_of_Tuguegarao), [Zamboanga](/source/Archdiocese_of_Zamboanga), and the [Apostolic Prefecture of Palawan](/source/Apostolic_Prefecture_of_Palawan).[{{Cite web|title=Cathedral of San Sebastian de Lipa |url=https://herencialipena.com/attractions/san-sebastian-cathedral/ |website=Herencia Lipeña |access-date=April 6, 2023}}]
In 1944, the cathedral was heavily damaged during the [Japanese occupation of the Philippines](/source/Japanese_occupation_of_the_Philippines) as part of the [Second World War](/source/Second_World_War). It was later rebuilt by Alejandro Olalla and Vergara, adding two side aisles, and completed on December 14, 1957.[{{Cite web |title=Lipa City |url=http://www.biyahero.net/index.php?option=com_sobi2&sobi2Task=sobi2Details&catid=29&sobi2Id=1294&Itemid=56 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141213154025/http://www.biyahero.net/index.php?option=com_sobi2&sobi2Task=sobi2Details&catid=29&sobi2Id=1294&Itemid=56 |archive-date=December 13, 2014 |access-date=December 13, 2014 |website=Biyahero: Philippines Travel Portal}}]
==Architecture and design==
The cathedral was built in the [Neo-Renaissance](/source/Neo-Renaissance) style in a [Latin cross](/source/Latin_cross) ([cruciform](/source/cruciform)) layout. The Main Hall is surrounded by a series of [arch](/source/arch)es forming a linear pattern. It also features a large [dome](/source/dome).