Church of Our Lady of Miracles

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Açores > Corvo > Vila do Corvo > Centro Histórico

Location

The Church of Nossa Senhora dos Milagres is located in Vila do Corvo, the only locality on this Azorean island. Situated in its historic center, on Rua da Matriz, the church stands out within the urban fabric. The building is isolated in a churchyard that surrounds it, delimited by a stonework wall, giving it a central and serene presence in the village landscape.

A History of Resilience

The history of the Church of Nossa Senhora dos Milagres is marked by a remarkable capacity for overcoming adversity. The first place of worship on the island, a small hermitage dedicated to Nossa Senhora do Rosário, was built around 1570, near the sea. In 1632, an incursion by Barbary pirates resulted in its destruction. It was after this tragic event that the image of Our Lady, miraculously saved, came to be known and venerated as Nossa Senhora dos Milagres (Our Lady of Miracles).

With Corvo's elevation to a parish in 1674, the construction of the current parish church, dedicated to the new invocation, proceeded. The building underwent a significant rebuilding in 1795, a date that can be observed inside. Later, in 1932, the church suffered a violent fire that consumed many of its valuable artifacts, but once again, the image of the patron saint was rescued from the flames. This event led to an immediate restoration, and today the church is recognized as protected heritage, a testament to the persistence of the Corvo community throughout the centuries.

Legends and Devotion

Devotion to Nossa Senhora dos Milagres is intrinsically linked to a local legend that has endured through time. Tradition tells that the small Flemish image, dating from the 16th century, was found on the island's coast, inside a wooden crate, by men searching for materials brought by the sea. The discovery revealed an image of Our Lady and an enigmatic inscription requesting the construction of a hermitage at the spot where it emerged.

Although the image was, at one point, taken to Lisbon, popular legend narrates that its cloak mysteriously awoke wet, as if Our Lady had traveled by sea. This inexplicable phenomenon led to its definitive and triumphant return to Corvo, consolidating belief in its miracles and its current name. Annually, on August 15th, the island celebrates its patron saint with a festival that gathers the population and attracts visitors, including many from the neighboring island of Flores, in a vibrant testimony of faith and community.

Architectural Elements

The Church of Nossa Senhora dos Milagres exhibits a religious architecture that reflects simplicity and functionality, characteristics of insular constructions. The exterior features plastered and whitewashed stone masonry, with the plinth, quoins, cornice, and window frames highlighted in a gray tone. The main facade, of clean design, is dominated by an axial portal flanked by two windows and culminates in a triangular pediment topped by a stone cross. To the right of the main body, a rectangular bell tower stands out, with arched openings for the bells and topped by a faceted spire with pinnacles, which contributes to the church's silhouette.

Inside, the church consists of a single nave, with a wooden ceiling that evokes the shape of a kneading trough. The chancel, which appears slightly lower, is covered by a false barrel vault in stucco, ornamented with phytomorphic motifs that lend a delicate touch to the space. The nave includes a pulpit with a carved railing and a baldachin, and, at its end, flanking the triumphal arch, are two collateral altars. The main altarpiece, in polychrome and gilded carving, is one of the focal points of the interior, housing a tribune with a throne in its center and images on corbels on the sides. The image of the patron saint, Nossa Senhora dos Milagres, a 16th-century Flemish piece, is particularly notable for its adornments, such as the gold crown and rosary, and its rich embroidered silk mantles, which make it an element of great artistic and devotional value.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt