Orion Church

Orion Church
Orion Church
	San Miguel Arcangel Parish Church
	Facade of the Saint Michael Parish Church in Orion, Bataan
	Orion Church Republic of the Philippines
	14°37′18″N 120°34′35″E
Location	Bataan
Country	Philippines
Denomination	Roman Catholic
History
Status	Parish church
Founded	1667
Founder(s)	Father Jose Campomares, OP
Dedication	Saint Michael the Arcangel
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Architectural type	Church building
Style	Baroque
Completed	After 1852
Specifications
Materials	Brick, Sand, Stone, Gravel, Cement, Steel, Concrete
Administration
Archdiocese	Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Fernando
Diocese	Roman Catholic Diocese of Balanga
Clergy
Archbishop	Florentino Lavarias
Bishop(s)	Ruperto Santos
Priest(s)	Fr. Percival V. Medina

The San Miguel Arcangel Parish Church, commonly referred to as Orion Church, is a 19th-century, Baroque church located at Brgy. San Vicente, Orion, Bataan, Philippines. The parish church, dedicated to Saint Michael, the Archangel, is under the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Balanga. A marker bearing the brief history of the structure has been installed in its façade by the National Historical Committee, precursor of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.

Parish and Architectural History

Orion was established by the Dominican Priests on April 30, 1667. The present-day 19th-century church was built by Father Jose Campomanes, OP after an earthquake in 1852 which destroyed the previous structure.[1]

Architecture and Ornamentation

Exterior

The church façade is of barn-style Baroque, a style that has been described as typically found in most Spanish-era churches in the Philippines. It features side pillars capped by urn-like finials, pilasters that divide the façade into five segments and cornices that divide the expanse of the wall into two levels. The pediment is semi-arched and ends into two small volutes before tapering down to the sides. It is adorned by a framed saint's niche flanked by two hexagonal windows. A concrete porte cochere has been added later into the structure. To the left of the church rises the four-level, slender belfry. The two uppermost levels are octagonal and are pierced with rectangular, circular and semicircular arched campanile windows.[1]

Interior

18th century altarpiece featuring the seven archangels and a tableau of the Holy Family

The main altarpiece or retablo, which was done in the early 18th century, is done in Rococo style.[2]

References

Galende, OSA, Pedro (2007). Philippine Church Facades (1st ed.). Manila, Philippines: San Agustin Museum. p. 115. ISBN 9789710724338.
Noche, Manuel Maximo (2010). Retablo: The Living Shrines of Faith. Makati City, Philippines: Filipino Heritage Festival, Inc. p. 27. ISBN 978-971-94877-0-8.

External links

Media related to St. Michael the Archangel Parish Church of Orion at Wikimedia Commons
Official Website of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Balanga

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[Facades-1] Galende, OSA, Pedro (2007). Philippine Church Facades (1st ed.). Manila, Philippines: San Agustin Museum. p. 115. ISBN 9789710724338.

[Retablo-2] Noche, Manuel Maximo (2010). Retablo: The Living Shrines of Faith. Makati City, Philippines: Filipino Heritage Festival, Inc. p. 27. ISBN 978-971-94877-0-8.