Church of Saints Cosme and Damião

Church of Saints Cosme and Damião
Igreja Matriz de São Cosme e São Damião
Location of the Church of Saints Cosme and Damião in Brazil
Basic information
Geographic coordinates 7°50′03″S 34°54′23″W / 7.8340745°S 34.9063078°W / -7.8340745; -34.9063078
Affiliation Catholic
Rite Roman Rite
Municipality Igarassu
State Pernambuco
Country Brazil
Year consecrated 1535
Status Active
Heritage designation 1945
Ownership Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Olinda e Recife
Architectural style Baroque, Mannerist
Designated 1945
Reference no. 359

The Church of Saints Cosme and Damião (Portuguese: Igreja dos Santos Cosme e Damião), officially called the Igreja Matriz de São Cosme e São Damião, is a Catholic church located in the city of Igarassu, Pernambuco. The church dates to 1535, early in the settlement of Pernambuco, and survived the Dutch invasion of the 17th century. It is the oldest functioning church in Brazil, according to the Brazilian National Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage. The church is part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Olinda and Recife and sits adjacent to the Church and Convent of Saint Antony, now a museum.[1][2][3]

History

Construction of the Church of Saints Cosme and Damião began in 1535, when Duarte Coelho, grantee of the Captaincy of Pernambuco, landed in Igarassu to take control of the territory, donated to him by the Portuguese crown. It survived the Dutch invasion of Brazil in the following century. The structure is prominently featured in a painting by the Dutch artist Frans Post. The church was completed in the 17th century. It retains its structure consisting of a simple chapel, triangular pediment, and a central door. Paintings depicting the Dutch invasion and daily life in the Igarassu were installed in the 18th century. Baroque features of the church were removed in 1950 to restore the church to the Mannerist style, probably those of its original construction.[3][2]

A miracle that supposedly happened in Igarassu in 1685 is attributed to the saints Cosme e Damião, an outbreak of yellow fever occurred in the cities of Recife, Olinda, Itamaracá and Goiana, but it did not spread to Igarassu.[3]

The Church of Saints Cosme and Damião suffered vandalism and theft in 2014. Thieves cut the electricity to the church on March 4, 2014 and entered via a hole cut from the rear wall of the church into its central altar. Cupboards and drawers in the church were destroyed. Two silver objects were stolen from the church: a naveta, a type of incense burner, and a spoon used for Communion. The items were not recovered.[4]

Protected status

The Church of Saints Cosme and Damião was listed as a historic structure by the National Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage in 1951. It is listed in the Book of Historical Works process no. 359. The church is located within the Historic Center of Igarassu, which became a protected urban center by IPHAN in 1972.[3]

Festival of Saints Cosme and Damião

The Festival of Saints Cosme and Damião is held annually in September. It is both one of the oldest and most important religious festivals in Penambuco.[3]

Access

Mass is held weekly at the church and it may be visited.

References

  1. ↑ "Igarassu: the oldest church in Brazil". Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  2. 1 2 Machado, Roseline Oliveira (2012). "Igarassu". Lisbon, Portugal: Heritage of Portuguese Influence/Património de Influência Portuguesa. Retrieved 2017-02-19.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Igarassu (PE)". IPHAN (in Portuguese). Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  4. ↑ "Ladrões roubam relíquias da igreja mais antiga em PE". UOL Notícias (in Portuguese). UOL. 2017-03-07. Retrieved 2017-09-18.


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