Haven of peace. That is what comes to mind as we stand before the Cemit\u00e9rio do Redentor. This cemetery is a serene final resting place in S\u00e3o Paulo.
Let’s step inside the Cemit\u00e9rio do Redentor. It offers a quiet contrast to the city’s hustle. The Cemit\u00e9rio do Redentor was founded in 1922. ACEMPRO created it. ACEMPRO is the Associa\u00e7\u0103o dos Cemit\u00e9rios Protestantes. It translates to Association of Protestant Cemeteries.
The Cemit\u00e9rio do Redentor addressed a critical need. The Cemit\u00e9rio dos Protestantes was overcrowded. Space was needed for burials. Initially, the Cemit\u00e9rio do Redentor served a specific community. It was for Protestant practitioners. Most were foreign descendants of Germans. They faced difficulty burying loved ones. The few cemeteries at the time were Catholic. Catholicism was Brazil’s official religion.
Today, the Cemit\u00e9rio do Redentor welcomes all faiths. It is now an ecumenical necropolis. This means it accepts all religions and creeds. The Cemit\u00e9rio do Redentor is one of the smallest in S\u00e3o Paulo. Its grounds cover about the size of a football field. It sits at the corner of Av. Dr. Arnaldo and Rua Cardeal Arcoverde.
Due to its small size, the Cemit\u00e9rio do Redentor quickly reached capacity. Now, it only serves families with existing plots. These families maintain perpetual gravesites. The Cemit\u00e9rio do Redentor does not offer temporary burials.
ACEMPRO manages the Cemit\u00e9rio do Redentor. This association has a long history. It has been around for over 170 years. ACEMPRO also built four other cemeteries. These were for non-Catholic immigrants.
The association is divided into five units. They include the Cemit\u00e9rio dos Protestantes. Also, there is the Cemit\u00e9rio de Col\u00f4nia. Additionally, the Cemit\u00e9rio da Paz is part of it. Finally, the Cemit\u00e9rio e Cremat\u00f3rio Horto da Paz.
In the 1800s, the Catholic Church held great power in S\u00e3o Paulo. Many clergy and devout Catholics lived there. Catholicism was the official religion according to the 1824 Constitution. Since the city’s founding, burials occurred in church crypts. They also took place around churches. However, the population grew. Many non-Catholic foreigners needed burial space. A dignified burial place was lacking for immigrants of other faiths.
D. Pedro I addressed this segregation in 1828. He decreed that cemetery tombs should be built in the open air. Yet, this measure took decades to implement. In 1841, exclusion of non-Catholics was evident. Julios Frank, a young German law professor, died. He was denied burial because he was Lutheran. Students protested. He was buried in the internal courtyards of the arcades.
Henrich Henrichsen petitioned the city council. This led to the creation of the Cemit\u00e9rio dos Protestantes in 1844. It was initially divided. One area was for Catholic foreigners. The other was for non-Catholic foreigners. It was known by various names. These included “Cemit\u00e9rio dos Estrangeiros”. Also, “Cemit\u00e9rio dos alem\u00e3es”. Others knew it as “Cemit\u00e9rio dos Protestantes” or “Cemit\u00e9rio da Luz”.
As we conclude our visit, remember the Cemit\u00e9rio do Redentor’s role. It offered solace and dignity in death.