Cathedral

Top photo: Anderson Bianchi

Built in the Neo-Gothic style, it is the seat of the Parish of Our Lady of the Rosary. Construction of the cathedral began in 1909, it was inaugurated in 1924, but only completed in 1967. On the facade are two images in natural granite, representing Saint Peter and Saint Paul, and, above them, are the figures of the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel, with four evangelists beside them.

The image depicts the interior of a large church with distinctly Neo-Gothic architecture, evidenced by the verticality of its elements and pointed arches. The eye is guided along the central axis of the nave, flanked by long rows of dark wood pews, which reinforce the symmetry and the sense of depth of the space.

The building

The Cathedral has three naves, two side altars of marble, and two chapels, one on each side of the main altar: the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, with frescoes by Benedito Calixto, and the Chapel of Our Lady of Fatima. The large dome completes the ensemble, where there are also seven stained-glass windows depicting passages from the life of Our Lady. The cathedral tower houses a carillon of seven bells.

Photo: Raimundo Rosa

A imagem mostra um espaço de devoção dentro de uma igreja, organizado como um pequeno altar lateral. No centro, em uma nicho com arco ogival, há o retrato de Santa Bakhita, iluminado por um foco de luz superior que destaca sua expressão serena e confere solenidade ao ambiente.

Saint Josephine Bakhita

The first African saint, Josephine Bakhita (1869-1947), was canonized in 2000 thanks to the cure of Eva Tobias da Costa, a resident of Santos, who suffered from diabetes. The miracle, recognized by the Vatican, occurred in 1980, 24 hours after she passed a small image of the former slave over the wounds on her legs, which healed within a few hours.

Also located in Santos is the first church in Brazil dedicated to Saint Bakhita – it was erected on Rua República Portuguesa s/nº, in the Vila Mathias neighborhood.

Photo: Raimundo Rosa