“Lost your keys again, eh, Padre?” teased old Dona Maria, her eyes twinkling as she approached the Igreja Santo Antonio do Pari. “Maybe Santo Antonio can help you find those, too!” Padre Paulo chuckled, shaking his head. “It seems my memory is worse than my eyesight these days, Dona Maria.” The Igreja Santo Antonio do Pari, a grand dame of the Pari neighborhood, stood proudly before them, its imposing towers reaching towards the sky. Founded in 1914 by Dom Duarte Leopoldo e Silva, the church started as a humble chapel. It blossomed into its current magnificent form thanks to a generous land donation from Arthur Vautier in 1922. Construction began that same year, and by June 13, 1924, the new Igreja Matriz was inaugurated. Its dimensions were impressive: 60 meters long, 28 meters wide, and 15 meters high. Over the years, the Igreja Santo Antonio do Pari became even more ornate. Fifteen marble altars were installed between 1925 and 1929. A marble pulpit followed in 1930. The bells were consecrated in 1928. The Stations of the Cross panels were unveiled in 1927. The church’s twin towers, each 52 meters tall and 8 meters wide, became landmarks in the Pari skyline. Tragedy struck on June 13, 2006, when a fire ravaged the right side of the church, destroying a tower and the clock mechanism. The community rallied, and by December 2007, the Igreja Santo Antonio do Pari had been restored, even receiving a new altar. Further restorations continued until 2009, including a new roof and a fresh coat of paint for the exterior. In 2014, the church’s centennial year, a new altar was dedicated to Our Lady of Copacabana and Our Lady of Urkupiña, patron saints of Bolivia. Dona Maria patted Padre Paulo’s arm. “Come on, Padre,” she said. “Let’s go pray for your memory—and those lost keys!” As they entered the Igreja Santo Antonio do Pari, the scent of incense and the flickering candlelight welcomed them, a testament to the enduring spirit of this beloved community landmark.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to