Parish Church of Soutelo / Church of Santa Engrácia

Category: Religious Architecture > Church

District: Bragança > Mogadouro > Soutelo

Location:

The Parish Church of Soutelo, also known as the Church of Santa Engrácia, is located in the heart of the village of Soutelo, which belongs to the municipality of Mogadouro. Finding this building is simple, as it occupies a central place in the village, marking the meeting point and the nucleus of local community life.

Setting for Local Traditions:

This religious temple plays a very significant role in the identity and traditions of Soutelo. It is in the Parish Church that one of the most important events for the community takes place annually: the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus, popularly known as the Bi-Tó-Ró festival.

This celebration takes place on the third Sunday of January and is notable for its "branch of rosquilhas," a symbolic element that links the festival to ancient practices of worship and celebration around bread. According to local history, the origin of the festival dates back to a collective promise made by the village in search of a cure for a disease that was then rampant, underscoring the strong bond between faith and the unity of the community, which has the church as its center.

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