Kambal na Krus Chapel

The Chapel of Kambál na Krus ("Twin Crosses"; Filipino: Kapilya ng Kambál na Krus) is a visita along Raxabago St, Tondo, Manila, Philippines. The Chapel is under the jurisdiction of St. Joseph de Gagalangin Parish, and covers six barangays. Its Feast Day is celebrated every third Sunday of March.

Kambal na Krus Chapel
Altar showing the Twin Crosses on either side of the crucifix.
Religion
AffiliationRoman Catholic
Governing bodyArchdiocese of Manila
Location
LocationRaxabago Street, Tondo, City of Manila,
Philippines
Website
www.facebook.com/pages/Kambal-Na-Krus-Chapel/

History

On March 23, 1922, a young labourer named Crispino Lacandaso was chopping wood from a felled, hundred year-old sampalok (Tamarindus indica) tree on an empty lot at 1885 Juan Luna Street, Gagalangin, Manila,

Lacandaso initially had difficulty cutting the trunk, but upon finally cleaving in twain, he saw a dark cross on a base, imprinted on both halves of the wood. The pieces of wood were subsequently encased in glass, and devotees from other parts of the city flocked to the site, and a small chapel was later built to enshrine the wood.

Renovations

The 2009 renovation completely altered the Chapel, adding a second altar and two more floors to the structure. On the second floor is the new choir loft, while a rooftop area and bellcote are on the third. The altar was also overhauled, and the Chapel received a new set of liturgical vessels.

In 2013, the façade of the first storey was redesigned to appear as though it was built in the 19th Century. The two crosses outside changed into a wooden cross, while the wall was changed into adobe.

Devotion

During the fiesta, many people go to the Chapel to venerate the crosses, showing gratitude for the past year's blessings. On Maundy Thursday, many people from provinces and other cities in Metro Manila select the Chapel as a station as they perform the traditional Visita Iglesia pilgrimage.

Feast Day

The Chapel's Discovery Day is on 23 March, but the actual celebration is held on the third Sunday of March. A triduum of Masses precedes the day of the fiesta. On the feast day itself, two Masses are celebrated: one in the morning and one in the afternoon, followed by a procession. The fiesta commemorates the alleged miraculous properties of the chapel's twin crosses.[1]

  • Chapel façade, showing Raxabago Street
  • Closeup of the façade
  • Entrance doors
  • View from the narthex
  • Interior, showing the nave and altar
  • The slightly larger half of the centuries-old tamarind wood
  • The other half, with a white manto behind the rostrillo (sunburst halo).
  • Coordinates: 14°37'13"N 120°58'16"E.

References
  1. Beringuela, Adela C., ed. (1991). The Manila Studies Program Inaugural Lectures: Papers Presented During the First Annual MSP Conference, June 23-25, 1989 Volume 1, Issues 1-4 of MSP journal. Manila Studies Program, College of Arts & Sciences, University of the Philippines. p. 339. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
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