St. Joseph the Worker Chapel, Victorias

Saint Joseph the Worker Parish Church
Angry Christ Church
Church facade in 2013
Saint Joseph the Worker Parish Church is located in Visayas
Saint Joseph the Worker Parish Church
Saint Joseph the Worker Parish Church
Location in the Visayas
Saint Joseph the Worker Parish Church is located in Philippines
Saint Joseph the Worker Parish Church
Saint Joseph the Worker Parish Church
Location in the Philippines
10°52′44″N 123°03′59″E / 10.87899°N 123.06647°E / 10.87899; 123.06647
LocationVictorias Milling Company complex, Victorias, Negros Occidental
CountryPhilippines
DenominationRoman Catholic
History
DedicationSt. Joseph the Worker
Dedicated1950
Architecture
Functional statusactive
Heritage designationImportant Cultural Property
Designated2015
Architect(s)Antonín Raymond
Architectural typeChurch (building)
StyleModern
Years built1948-50
Administration
ArchdioceseJaro
DioceseBacolod

Saint Joseph the Worker Parish Church, commonly known as the Angry Christ Church, is a Roman Catholic church located inside the Victorias Milling Company residential complex in Victorias City, Negros Occidental, Philippines. It is considered as the first example of modern sacred architecture in the Philippines as well as part of its industrial heritage. The church is under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Bacolod and is dedicated to St. Joseph the Worker.

The church was designed by the Czech-American architect Antonín Raymond, himself already recognized as one of the founders of modern architecture in Japan. Raymond designed the church to be earthquake-proof since the Philippines is in an earthquake belt. The St. Joseph the Worker Church is made up of two sections, the nave and the tower. They are connected by movable beams holding the building up well even during earthquakes. Raymond also took into consideration the climate in the Philippine thus he designed the structure to allow maximum air circulation in the hot and humid climate.[1] The church was declared Important Cultural Property of the Philippines in December 2015.[2]

The church is also known for its modern altar painting of so-called "Angry Christ" painted in vivid colors by Alfonso Ossorio, Filipino-American abstract expressionist artist.

  1. ^ Reyes, Glady (January 20, 2018). "Angry Christ Church: An Icon of Modern Liturgical Art & Architecture in the Philippines". Experience Negros. Archived from the original on January 29, 2018. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  2. ^ Vila, Alixandra Caole (December 25, 2015). "National Museum bares 2015 list of cultural treasures, properties". The Philippine Star. Retrieved January 8, 2016.