Holy Redeemer

In 1963 the Community of Trinitarian Fathers of Algorta, an Order founded by Saint John of Matha in 1198, acquired the land of the “Piñaga Bekoa” farmhouse in Getxo with the idea of ​​building a Parish Church to serve the new population of Aldapa, as well as various premises for the Trinitarian seminary.

The works were entrusted to the architects Javier Arístegui and Pedro Ispizua, whose task was to build a temple with characteristics similar to the buildings in the area. The enclosure was to consist of a crypt and the church itself. The layout of the central nave would be fan-shaped, without columns and the benches in ascending progression for a perfect view of the presbytery from any point in the temple. On June 24, 1971, the feast of Saint John the Baptist, the works began. In January 1973, the enclosure was covered and had the corresponding openings for the placement of doors and windows.

On January 22 of the same year, the budgets were presented for the execution of the 23 artistic stained glass windows designed by the priest José María Muñoz and which, finally, were made by Ángel Cañada of “Vidrieras de Arte”.

For the decoration of the presbytery wall, a competition of ideas was held which was won by the distinguished sculptor Segundo Escolar, who acquired two imposing old Asturian pine planks in Oviedo. The large-sized panel of the presbytery front was the scene of the Redemption with the dead Christ. He has his arms open and bows his head. It is an image superimposed on the Risen Christ. The sculptural ensemble impresses every visitor who enters the temple.

The refractory ceramic plates, located on the Guinea wood choir stalls, which occupy the presbytery are by the same author. The lamps hanging from the ceiling were forged by the Uribarri workshops in Algorta.

In June 1973 the Trinitarian Community was formed with three religious, with Fr. Emiliano Guezuraga as superior. In an assembly it was decided to give the temple and the community the name of the “Most Holy Redeemer”. On July 21st the solemn Eucharist of the blessing of the sacred enclosure was celebrated. In the absence of the Lord Bishop, the Episcopal Vicar Don Juan María Arrinda Zabala presided over the Eucharistic Celebration, accompanied by the Father General, Fr. Ignacio Vizcarguenaga, of the Order of the Trinitarian Fathers of the “Immaculate Province” in Chapter in the house of the Trinity in Algorta and numerous priests from the town. The “Biotz Alai” choir from Algorta accompanied the act with their voices. On the first Sunday of Lent in 1974, the temple of the Most Holy Redeemer of Algorta was erected as a Parish.

In July 1983, the architect Pedro Ispizua designed the altar where the relics of Domingo Iturrate rest, who in October of that same year was beatified in Rome. This chapel, where the relics of the Blessed rest, is visited by countless pilgrims and the Eucharist is celebrated daily there. A few years ago the enclosure was embellished with the splendid painting of Domingo Iturrate, the work of the painter Felipe Herreros.

In the arcades of the temple of the Most Holy Redeemer there are two beautiful stained glass windows. To the right, we see the scene corresponding to the celebration of the first Mass for Saint John of Matha and the approval of the Trinitarian Order in the year 1198 by Pope Innocent III. On the left, another stained glass window shows us the purpose of the Order – to give glory to the Holy Trinity and the liberation of the captives – with the motto: “Glory to You, Trinity, and to the captives and poor, freedom.”

In the upper part of the main façade there are thirteen stained glass windows where different scenes from the history of salvation belonging to the Old Testament are represented.

It begins with the earthly paradise and the sin of Adam. Then, the expulsion from Paradise. Blue hands protect them – a promise of a Redeemer – figuratively throughout all the images. Next are the scenes of Jacob’s Ladder, Moses in the Court, the desert road, Sinai, the prophets and the announcement of a Virgin.

In the first panel on the left, we discover the New Testament scenes; The Annunciation to the Virgin Mary, the Nativity of Our Lord, the Adoration of the Shepherds, the Flight into Egypt, Nazareth, John the Baptist and the Baptism of Jesus.

The second panel, on the left side of the temple, shows episodes from the public life of Jesus. It begins with the call of the apostles, the wedding at Cana and the Beatitudes, the Lord’s Prayer, the miracle of the loaves and fishes, and ends with the healing of the demoniac child. The Kingdom of God is among us.

In the third panel, we discover the mysteries of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of the Lord, with the Last Supper, the Prayer in the Garden of Olives, Crucifixion and Death; Resurrection and the Ascension to Heaven.

The last scene of such beautiful stained glass corresponds to the allegory of the Virgin crushing the head of the serpent. The new Eve, worthy of Jesus Christ, the new Adam, and triumphant like Him, will make the original creation “in justice and holiness” return to us, as if the first fault had not been committed.

In the centre of the altar is the impressive relief image of Jesus Christ dead, nailed to the cross with his head tilted. Behind her, the Risen Christ. CHRIST THE REDEEMER sacrificed himself for each one of us and with his death on the cross, he has saved and redeemed us freely to share Eternal Life with Him.

To show that Redemption has come for each one of us, in the right stained glass window, next to the baptismal font, we can distinguish the signs of the catacombs: the candle, the bread and the fish. There begins the life of the Christian, in BAPTISM.

The stained glass window of the chapel of Blessed Domingo ends with the phrase “UNTIL HE COMES BACK”; in reference to the Parousia, the Glorious Coming of the Lord at the final moment.

In the presbytery there is the altar and the ambos for the proclamation of the Word of God. The followers of Jesus celebrate the sacraments here: baptisms, confirmations, weddings and funerals, and on Sundays, the Eucharist, the mystery of Redemption that is actualized for each one of us.

In the temple two models of following Jesus are revealed: that of the Virgin of the Good Remedy with her “May it happen to me as you have said” and “I will do the ordinary extraordinarily well, without others noticing”, the motto of our beloved Blessed Domingo Iturrate.