Chapel of the Lord of the Seafarers

Category: Religious Architecture > Chapel

District: Braga > Esposende > Esposende > Esposende, Marinhas e Gandra

Location and Historical Context

- The Chapel of Senhor dos Mareantes is located in Esposende, in the municipality of Esposende.

- Its construction dates from the 16th/17th centuries and it is currently part of the Igreja da Misericórdia (Mercy Church) of Esposende.

- It was declared a property of public interest by Decree Law No. 735/74.

The Altar

- The altar is modern and has the shape of a sepulchre.

- The presence of a carved image of Christ Crucified stands out, against a sculpted background representing Jerusalem.

- Beside the Cross are the images of "Mater Dolorosa" and St. John the Evangelist.

- In the niches, two on each side, are represented the four great priests of the Old Law: King David, Aaron (brother of Moses), Moses and Melchizedek.

Side Panels

- On the south side wall, there are oil paintings on wood representing the Crowning with Thorns, the "Ecce Homo" presented by Pilate, and one of the falls on the way to Calvary.

- There is also a polychrome wooden altarpiece in bas-relief, depicting the encounter of Christ with Zacchaeus.

- On the opposite wall, north side, there are three oil paintings representing the Flagellation, the Imprisonment, and the Agony in the Garden.

- On this wall, there is another altarpiece similar to the previous one, which represents the encounter of Jesus with the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well.

Additional Details

- The wainscoting of the walls is covered with raised blue and white tiles, with vegetal motifs from the late last century.

- The floor is covered with a mosaic from the same period.

- The ceiling has a vaulted structure with polychrome carved wooden coffers.

- The coffers represent the twelve Messianic Prophets arranged in three series and groups of four.

- The first series is composed of Hosea, Joel, Amos, and Micah.

- The central series includes Isaiah, Nahum, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel.

- The third series presents Daniel, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.

Sources: https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capela_do_Senhor_dos_Mareantes

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