On the 5th week after Easter, the largest religious festival in the Azores Autonomous Region and the second largest in Portugal, the Festas do Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres.
These festivities have been taking place since the year 1700. At that time, the island of São Miguel was going through a seismic crisis. So, feeling the need to organize a procession to stop the earthquakes, the population took the image of Senhor Santo Cristo from convent to convent throughout the city.
Coincidence or not, the earthquakes stopped. So, the population took this as a miraculous event accomplished by the image of Senhor Santo Cristo, and started to recreate the procession every year, with an almost identical format, scenery and route.
Currently, the Senhor Santo Cristo Festivities bring together thousands of people, including the inhabitants of São Miguel, visitors from other islands, from mainland Portugal, from Azorean emigrant communities (mostly from the United States and Canada), among others. Thus, in these days, the Campo de São Francisco becomes a place where a mix of religious and profane celebrations take place.
This year, 2023, the festivities will be held between May 12th and 19th, with preparations being made from May 9th to 11th.
Here is the program:
May 12th | Friday
8 a.m. – Mass at Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres Sanctuary;
9 a.m. – Mass at Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres Sanctuary;
11 a.m. – Mass for the Sick at São José Church. After the Mass there will be a visit to the Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres Sanctuary;
6 p.m. – Presentation of the book Teresa de Cristo at Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres Sanctuary, at Ponta Delgada Public Library Auditorium;
9 p.m. – Inauguration of the decorative lighting of the facade of the Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres Sanctuary, with the performance of the Senhor Santo Cristo Hymn by the Sacred Heart Musical Society Band, followed by the parade of the Charanga of the Voluntary Firemen of Ponta Delgada
9:30 p.m. – Opening of the Bazaar / Festival.
May 13 | Saturday
8 a.m. – Mass for the Pilgrim Brothers;
9 a.m. – Mass at the Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres Sanctuary;
4:20 p.m. – The Provider knocks on the Regral Gate, with Te Deum;
4:30 p.m. – Moving Procession, leaving the Image, passing in front of the Guard of Honor provided by a company of the Army and Band of the Azores Military Zone (4:45pm), with salute by a Navy corvette and overflying by an Air Force aircraft. (The route of the Moving Image will be done in the same direction as in previous years: streets N-S, E-W, S-N and W-E of the Campo de São Francisco);
6 p.m. – Sermon by the Bishop of the Diocese of Angra, Armando Esteves Domingues;
7 p.m. – Moving of the Image from the churchyard to the Church of São José;
7:30 p.m. – Mass at St. Joseph Church;
8 p.m. – Opening of the Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres Bazaar;
9 p.m./10.15 p.m. – Arraial and concert of the União Operária e Cultural Nossa Senhora dos Remédios Band from Flores Island;
10:30 p.m. – Fireworks show from the Doca Wall;
10:45 p.m. / midnight – Concert by Banda Sociedade Filarmónica Progresso do Norte.
May 14th | Sunday
midnight – Mass in San José. After Mass, follows the beginning of the Vigil in honor of Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres;
6 a.m. – Dawn with salute of mortars, Pilgrims’ Mass;
9:15 a.m. – Solemn Eucharistic Concelebration, in the Sanctuary, with the presence of the Image of Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres;
3:30 p.m. – Departure of the Guide of the Procession that will follow the usual route;
4:30 p.m. – Departure of the Image of Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres;
9:45 p.m. – Return of the Image of Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres (Porta Regral);
10 p.m. – Opening of the Bazaar of Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres;
10 p.m. / 11.30 p.m. – Arraial and concert of the Lira do Norte Band.
May 15th | Monday
11 a.m. – Eucharistic Concelebration applied for the intentions of the Bureau of the Brotherhood and its collaborators;
2:30 p.m. – Bidding of offerings and small domestic animals next to the Monument to the Emigrant;
3 p.m. – Opening of the Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres Bazaar;
9 p.m. – Performance by Rão Kyao “Sopro de Vida” at São José Church (9 p.m. – 10 p.m.)
10 p.m. – Concert by Banda de Lira de Nossa Senhora da Oliveira.
May 16 | Tuesday
9 p.m. – Opening of the Bazaar, Arraial;
9 p.m. / 10:30 p.m. – Violas da Terra Trio Origins.
May 17th | Wednesday
9 p.m. – Opening of the Bazaar, Arraial;
9:30 p.m. / 10 p.m. – Duo Música Nostra.
May 18 | Thursday
2 p.m. / 5:45 p.m. – Cantigas ao Desafio (improvisational songs);
5 p.m. – Opening of the Bazaar of Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres;
6 p.m. – Closing of the Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres religious festivities – Solemn Concelebration in honour of Mother Teresa da Anunciada;
9:30 p.m. / midnight – Arraial and closing concert by the Band of the Military Zone of the Azores.
