The Senhor dos Passos church is a religious building located in the parish of Matriz, Ribeira Grande, in Largo Conselheiro Hintze Ribeiro. This presents distinct characteristics of its architecture, especially regarding its facade, which make it very valued and provides it with the classification of national monument.
History
Although it is not known for sure, it is speculated that, according to a deed of donation made by Nuno Vaz, in 1522 the Casa do Espírito Santo was built, next to which later would be installed the Hospital of Santa Casa da Misericórdia da Ribeira Grande. The function of this iconic church varied over the years, having been the headquarters of the Misericórdia of Ribeira Grande, and even serving as a hospital. It only received its current name when it was authorized to move the images of Senhor dos Passos and Nossa Senhora da Soledade from the Franciscanos church to the current Senhor dos Passos church.
Currently this church is open to visitors every day of the week.
Architectural Features
The Senhor dos Passos church adheres to a Baroque architectural style, and its facade is characterized by the complexity of its carved elements, its symmetry along the vertical axis, its use of concave forms, its abundance of sculptures, and its decorative arts. It has a huge, highly visible and quite distinctive shell, and above this is another smaller shell that sits under the cross that resides at the top of the temple. The church has pilasters that close its sides, and at the top of each of these are characteristic Corinthian capitals.
Unfortunately, due to the unstable weather conditions on the island and the extremely fragile material of which the church’s facade is made, it needs frequent restoration. The dark colored stone used in the church’s exterior architecture is almost entirely trachyte, this being a very fragile rock easily degraded and eroded by rain and wind.
Its interior has two not symmetrical and not equal vaults, being similar in appearance and structure to the interior of the Igreja da Misericórdia da Praia da Vitória, on the island of Terceira. However, the value of this church lies undoubtedly in the expression of its facade.
The current name of the church refers to an invocation of Jesus Christ, as well as a procession in his name. It recalls the route Jesus is said to have taken from the moment he was condemned to the moment of his crucifixion.
This procession aims to recreate this route, going through and stopping at chapels that bear the name of the Lord of the Steps. There are five chapels in Ribeira Grande and each one depicts one of the fourteen main moments of the path taken by Christ.
The procession of Senhor dos Passos takes place on the third Sunday of Lent. This procession leaves the Senhor dos Passos church, traveling through the streets of the city and stopping at each of these chapels. In each of these chapels, religious songs are sung and read that refer to the image of the Lord of the Steps, which is carried on a litter throughout the procession.
These chapels are located in order at the beginning of Rua do Espírito Santo, at Largo das Freiras, in front of the Parish Church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição, at the old Hermitage of São Pedro Gonçalves and at Largo do Rosário, each one being distinctive due to the characteristic shell above its gates, similar to the small shell on the façade of the Church of Senhor dos Passos, except for the fifth chapel.
