Chapel of the Descent

Category: Religious Architecture > Chapel

District: Braga > Braga > Braga > Tenões

Location

The Chapel of the Descent is located in the parish of Tenões, in Braga, within the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte. It is the twelfth chapel in the Via Sacra route, situated on the left side of the Largo do Pelicano, after a short staircase leading to the upper platform. The building stands in a location of great scenic beauty, with a view over the gardens and the green hillside of the mount, in an atmosphere of recollection that marks the end of the path of Christ's Passion.

This chapel symbolizes the moment when Jesus' body is taken down from the cross and given to his Mother, evoking the instant of silence and pain that follows the crucifixion.

Architecture and Inscription

With an octagonal plan and built of granite, the chapel follows the neoclassical design characteristic of the sanctuary's nineteenth-century constructions. Above the portal, the Latin inscription “DEPONENTES EUM DE LIGNO” is engraved, taken from the Acts of the Apostles (13:29), which translates to “Taking him down from the tree”. The phrase simply summarizes the episode the interior represents: the descent of Christ from the cross, wrapped in a white sheet, in a gesture of respect and piety.

The sculptural group is the work of João Afonseca Lapa, the sculptor responsible for several chapels at Bom Jesus. The figures, with their realistic expressiveness and intense colors, reflect the balance between the drama of the scene and the spiritual serenity that follows suffering.

Interior Composition

Inside, the visitor finds one of the most moving representations of the Via Sacra. Three crosses dominate the scene, with a painted background representing the city of Jerusalem. In the center, the body of Jesus is carefully taken down from the cross by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, who hold the sheet fastened to Christ's left arm. Near the base of the cross, Saint John the Evangelist supports the Lord's body, while Mary Magdalene, Mary Clopas, and Salome kneel, immersed in sadness and devotion. In the foreground, Mary the Mother, standing with open arms, prepares to receive her Son's body in her lap.

Meaning and Atmosphere

The Chapel of the Descent concludes the sequence of Passion episodes represented in the sanctuary. The scene portrays the moment of transition between death and the deposition in the tomb, inviting the visitor to reflect on the silence and compassion that follow the sacrifice. The combination of the sobriety of the architecture, the intensity of the figures, and the natural setting creates an atmosphere of profound emotion and spirituality, in harmony with the contemplative spirit of Bom Jesus do Monte.

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