Igreja dos Anjos
The Church of Our Lady of the Angels (Portuguese: Igreja de Nossa Senhora dos Anjos), more commonly known simply as Igreja dos Anjos, is a Roman Catholic parish church located in Lisbon, Portugal.
Church of Our Lady of the Angels | |
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Igreja de Nossa Senhora dos Anjos | |
Main façade of Anjos Church, seen from Avenida Almirante Reis | |
Religion | |
Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
Rite | Latin Rite |
Patron | Our Lady of the Angels |
Status | Parish church |
Location | |
Location | Avenida Almirante Reis, 1170-286 Lisboa |
Location on a map of Lisbon | |
Administration | Patriarchate of Lisbon |
Geographic coordinates | 38°43′28.21″N 9°8′4.27″W |
Architecture | |
Architect(s) | José Luis Monteiro |
Style | Baroque, Neoclassical |
Date established | c. 1563 (original church) |
Groundbreaking | 18 February 1889 (current church) |
Completed | 1911 (current church) |
Demolished | 1908 (original church) |
Portuguese National Monument | |
Official name: Igreja Paroquial de Nossa Senhora dos Anjos | |
Designated | Property of Public Interest (Imóvel de Interesse Público) 6 March 1996 |
Reference no. | PT031106060191 |
History
The parish of Anjos was created by Cardinal Henry of Portugal, splitting the territory from that of the large Santa Justa parish. The seat of the newly-created parish was a small chapel (ermida) under the invocation of Our Lady of Angels — this small chapel was later enlarged in the 17th century, during the reign of King Philip III of Portugal.[1]
From 1579 up to the 1820s, when it ceased due to the lack of means, the church had collegiate status; the college of canons consisted of 11 chaplains who maintained the daily office of worship.[1]
The original church was demolished in 1908 in order to make way for a major thoroughfare, Avenida D. Amélia (named after Queen Amélie of Orléans; renamed Avenida Almirante Reis shortly after the 5 October 1910 revolution, honouring one of the Republican revolutionaries). The church was rebuilt on the western side of the avenue, by architect José Luis Monteiro: Monteiro respected the proportions of the original church, but gave it a more pronounced Neoclassical façade. The 17th- and 18th-century Baroque interiors of the original church were fully preserved and transferred to the new one, and can still be observed today; some of the paintings are even older, both a panel by Mannerist painter Diogo Teixeira depicting Saint Irene healing the wounds of Saint Sebastian, and a rare painting of Saint Anthony of Lisbon (in the sacristy) date back to the 16th century.[2]
References
- Pereira, Luís Gonzaga (1840). Descripção dos monumentos sacros de Lisboa, ou collecção de todos os conventos, mosteiros, e parrochiaes no recinto da cidade de Lisboa [Description of the sacred monuments of Lisbon, or, a collection of all convents, monasteries, and parish churches within the city of Lisbon] (in Portuguese). Lisbon: Biblioteca Nacional de Portugal.
- "Igreja Paroquial de Nossa Senhora dos Anjos, também denominada "Igreja dos Anjos"" (in Portuguese). Lisbon, Portugal: Direcção-Geral do Património Cultural. Retrieved 25 July 2018.