Category: Religious Architecture > Chapel
District: Braga > Braga > Braga > Tenões
The Chapel of the Raising, also known as the Chapel of the Elevation of the Cross or Exaltation of the Cross, is located in the parish of Tenões, in Braga. It is the eleventh chapel on the route of the Via Sacra of the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte, representing the moment when Christ's cross is raised after the crucifixion. It is located on the right side when ascending the main staircase, after a spiral staircase, at a point where the landscape opens over the valley and the dense vegetation creates an atmosphere of recollection and serenity.
The natural setting and architectural harmony integrate this chapel into the sanctuary complex, inviting the visitor to a contemplative pause in the journey of the Passion.
With an octagonal plan and built in granite, the chapel was erected in the 19th century following the neoclassical design of Carlos Amarante, the architect responsible for the main temple. Above the portal, an inscription in Latin engraved on the granite “ET EGO SI EXALTATUS FUERO A TERRA OMNIA TRAHAM AD ME IPSUM” (John 12:32) translates to “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me”. This phrase summarizes the symbolic meaning of the episode: the exaltation of Christ as the source of redemption and faith.
Inside, an inscription introduces the scene depicted: “At midday on Good Friday, Jesus was nailed to the cross and then raised, first by hand, then with ropes, until it stood vertically”. The text prepares the visitor for the moment of maximum spiritual intensity on the route.
The sculptural group, modeled by João Afonseca Lapa, portrays Christ suspended between heaven and earth, at the instant the cross is being raised. Twelve polychrome plaster figures give body to the narrative, preserving the popular and expressive style of the 18th century, even though the chapel belongs to the 19th century.
To the left, the Virgin Mary appears in tears, supported by Mary Salome, while Saint John raises his arms in a gesture of affliction. Mary Magdalene kneels in devotion and Mary, the wife of Clopas, watches, overcome by pain. Among the Roman soldiers, Longinus stands out, mounted on horseback, witnessing the raising of the cross. Nearby, the two thieves complete the scene: Gestas, already nailed, and Dimas, being dragged to his torment.
The Chapel of the Raising marks the moment the cross is elevated, symbolizing human suffering and Christ's spiritual victory. The interior space, with its subdued light and dense atmosphere, reinforces the contrast between pain and redemption. The combination of art, faith, and nature lends this chapel a dimension of profound introspection, in harmony with the spiritual journey of Bom Jesus do Monte.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 41.55426754665752,-8.37758996025238
Coordinates DMS: 41°33'15.4"N 08°22'39.3"W
