Lisbon, Portugal – Church of our Lady Mary of Sorrows

After the big Earthquake in 1755, was build the Church Nossa Senhora das Dores (Our Lady of Sorrows) at one of the first from 1772 until 1783. The statue of the painful Lady Mary, this is standing now over the High altar. Before, the statue was in a church this was destroyed in a Church at the big earthquake in 1755, the statue was found without any issues.

The Church Nossa Senhora das Dores was built with the agreement from the Minister of the crown and the Queen Maria I.. Pope Pius VI. had give the privilege to built a High altar. Also the church was built by Layman’s, they are not supported by a holy order, the Diocese or the Parish. In 1832 buy the Brotherhood of the Lady of the Pain Bell’s for the church Tower.

Between the Years 1936 and 1965 the Church was used very less and was closed for many Years until the Church was acquired at 23. August 1965 to the catholic community of German language. Between 1965 and 1971 the Church and the Parish house was renovated Step by Step and they had buy an electric Organ.

As historically valuable object of the Church, the German speaking catholic community Parish has be able to preserve same items, some of which has been professionally restored in the last Years. Very valuable are beside the High altar is the door of the Tabernacle on the side altar. The door of the Tabernacle was created by Machado de Castro, the most grateful master of Art at the end of the 18th century in Portugal, who also created the statue of King Josef I. on the place of the commerce. Also there are the High altar candlestick’s, the statue of the holy Paul, the Light’s this are hang in front of the altars and of course the statue of the Lady Mary of Sorrows, for this the Church was built. Added as a gift from the German Embassy, tiles from the 18th century with christian story. From Prelate Wurzer became the German language catholic community a Pluvaile, reworked from a ceremonial dress donated by Empress Maria Theresa of Austria to the Cistercian nuns – a gift from this monastic community to Prelate Wurzer for his ordination in 1917.

Text and Fotos by Rainer Georgius