Saint Joseph the Worker Parish Church | |
---|---|
Angry Christ Church | |
Location in the Visayas | |
10°52′44″N 123°03′59″E / 10.87899°N 123.06647°E | |
Location | Victorias Milling Company complex, Victorias, Negros Occidental |
Country | Philippines |
Denomination | Roman Catholic |
History | |
Dedication | St. Joseph the Worker |
Dedicated | 1950 |
Architecture | |
Functional status | active |
Heritage designation | Important Cultural Property |
Designated | 2015 |
Architect(s) | Antonín Raymond |
Architectural type | Church (building) |
Style | Modern |
Years built | 1948-50 |
Administration | |
Archdiocese | Jaro |
Diocese | Bacolod |
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.