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Sanctuary of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos

Coordinates: 20°30′30″S 43°51′39″W / 20.5082°S 43.8608°W / -20.5082; -43.8608
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Plan of the sanctuary

Santuário do Bom Jesus de Matosinhos is a basilica built in the latter part of 18th century in Congonhas, Minais Gerais, Brazil.[1] It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.[2]

Its church was designed with a Rococo interior of an Italian inspiration. It has an outdoor stairway with statues of Old Testament prophets. It also has seven chapels which illustrate the Stations of the Cross, with polychrome sculptures made by Aleijadinho. They are considered masterpieces of an original, moving, and expressive form of Baroque art.[1]

Reputation

Santuário do Bom Jesus de Matosinhos is dedicated to Bom Jesus de Matosinhos, an invocation of Jesus related to a polychrome wood sculpture. This sculpture is displayed in Matosinhos, Portugal. People believe that it was created by Nicodemus who knew Jesus in his lifetime. The sculpture was said to be a perfect likeness of Jesus and it is the first depiction of Jesus that arrived in Portugal.[3]

The sanctuary was commissioned by Feliciano Mendes. This was due to his promise to Bom Jesus de Matosinhos after he recovered from a grave illness in 1757. When Mendes died in 1765, religious services started to be offered by the sanctuary.[3]

The sculpture of Bom Jesus at Congonhas do Campo is seen as a powerful vehicle of intercession. It was believed that prayers uttered in front of the sculpture have a good chance of being answered, and it became a famous pilgrimage site with to which people travelled to ask Jesus for help and assistance.[3]

Protection and management requirements

Since the sanctuary was designated an historical site in 1939, the National Institute of Historical and Artistic Heritage (Instituto do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional – IPHAN) has worked to protect and conserve it. They aim to preserve the cultural property's significance and the values attributed to the sanctuary.[1]

On January 29, 1981, the Room of Miracles was considered a federal heritage site by IPHAN. This is an offering room where devotees donate objects to say thanks for the blessings that they received through Bom Jesus's intercession.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. "Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Congonhas". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 2021-04-03.
  2. ^ "Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Congonhas, World Heritage Site (Brazil) | LAC Geo". lacgeo.com. Retrieved 2021-04-03.
  3. ^ a b c "Sanctuary of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos of Congonhas do Campo, 1757-1872". Khan Academy. Retrieved April 3, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

 This article incorporates text by UNESCO available under the CC BY 3.0 license.

20°30′30″S 43°51′39″W / 20.5082°S 43.8608°W / -20.5082; -43.8608

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