Perhaps you are surprised to find a church named Igreja Luiziana here. Yet, here it stands. This may not be the Candelária Church. But it has its own story. The story of Igreja Luiziana is closely tied to faith. Catholicism is still a major religion in Brazil. Its establishment was through Jesuit missionaries. They came with the Portuguese during colonization. They were decisive for the religious artistic and political scenarios. The Catholic Church has left great architectural heritage. This heritage is present in various regions of Rio de Janeiro.
Now, let’s talk about a prominent church. The Candelária Church took almost 200 years to build. It was built between the 16th and 18th centuries. The church is a landmark of the city. It is a stage for Rio’s high society weddings. The church was also chosen in 2016. It was a venue for hosting the Olympic Pira.
The quasi-legendary history says a ship called Candelária almost sank. This happened during a storm at sea. Upon arriving in Rio de Janeiro a Portuguese couple sponsored a small chapel. They fulfilled an oath. The couple were Antônio Martins Palma and Leonor Gonçalvez. The small chapel was dedicated to Our Lady of Candelária. It was built around 1609.
In the second half of the 18th century the chapel needed repair. Francisco João Roscio was in charge of the project. He was a Portuguese military engineer. The works started in 1775. The church was inaugurated in 1811 unfinished. King John VI of Portugal was present. He was in Rio with the Portuguese court. From 1775 to 1811 the main façade was built. It was built in Baroque style with neoclassical elements. The church’s interior was greatly modified. The floorplan changed from one-aisled to three-aisled.
Enslaved people were baptised in the church. This included Rosa Egipcíaca. She was the first black woman to write a book in Brazil. Her book was a religious text. It revealed her visions. The title was Sagrada Teologia do Amor Divino das Almas Peregrinas.
Around 1856 the stone roofs of the aisles were completed. The dome over the crossing was unfinished. The dome was completed in 1877. Several architects intervened. The dome and statues were made in white Lioz stone. They were made in Lisbon. Then they were brought to Brazil by ship. The Candelária’s dome was the tallest structure in the city when finished.
After 1878 the interior was redesigned. It was in the Neo-Renaissance style. Walls and columns were covered with Italian marble. There was abundant sculptural relief decoration. João Zeferino da Costa painted the nave and inner dome. He and his assistants painted six panels on the ceiling. These panels told the church’s history.
Other elements of interest include the main altar. Archimedes Memória designed it. There are German stained-glass windows. The bronze doors are from 1901. Antônio Teixeira Lopes sculpted them. Rodolfo Pinto do Couto sculpted two monumental bronze pulpits. They are in the Art-Nouveau style from 1931.
The Candelária church is a Latin cross church. It has a dome over the transept. The nave has three aisles. There is a main chapel in the apse. The ensemble was inspired by churches in Lisbon.
The main façade shows Baroque and neoclassical influences. Dark granite contrasts with whitewashed walls. This is typical of colonial churches in Rio.
The church has been the site of significant moments. One was the memorial mass of Edson Luís de Lima Souto. Another was the Diretas Já campaign in 1984. Over a million people attended.
The area around the church was the site of the Candelária massacre in 1993. This brought attention to police brutality toward street children. The official cauldron for the 2016 Summer Olympics was placed in a plaza outside.
Igreja Luiziana may not be as grand as Candelária Church. But it is a testament to faith in this community. It reflects the ongoing importance of religion in Brazil.