Architecture

Dome

 

    One of the main features of the church's interior is the massive dome at the crossing of the nave and the transepts. The dome is supported by four main piers of the church, each dedicated to the four evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The evangelists are painted in each pendentive in a seating position with their respective gospel attributes.

 

Right above the pendentives is the drum or the base of the dome with the Latin inscription of an old Catholic prayer written in the fourth century "Tota pulchra es Maria. Et macula originalis non est in te", (You are all beautiful Mary, and the original stain of sin is not in you). Parts of the drum also are the images and titles of Mary which are patroness of the different parishes in the Diocese of Malolos.

 

    The dome is patterned after that of St. Peter's Basilica. Consisting of twelve equally divided panels, each panel is occupied by the twelve apostles, with St. John and the Blessed Virgin Mary at the central panel. Above each apostle are cherubs and angels carrying the symbols of their martyrdom. A seraph, a six-winged heavenly being hovers on top of each panel, topped with a Marian symbol from the Litany of Loreto. Each panel radiates from the drum and is terminated on the cupola with the Holy Spirit and Latin inscription "Mater et Regina Ecclesia" (Mother and Queen of the Church). Twenty-four cherubs and hundred stars complete the dome.