Pilgrim Blog 30 - Church of Our Lady of the Incarnation

On Wednesday afternoon, 2 Aug, after we visited the Church of St Roch we came to the Church of Our Lady of the Incarnation (Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Encarnação). This church resides in the ‘little Italy’ area of Lisbon a.k.a. the Chiado district.

This church was built in the very early 18th century, and then destroyed by the 1755 earthquake. To rebuild it took a process of over a hundred years. That’s why you can see a lot of baroque and neo-classical elements in it.
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Confusingly it is across the road from the Church of Our Lady of Loreto of the Italians, and they have similarities in interior shape and in interior appearance.

Interior of Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Encarnação (Church of Our Lady of the Incarnation) ~ Vincent Cavanagh ©2023

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We listened for a short while to a music recital in this church. It was only after we came in that we realised a concert was going on. If you look past the left-hand shoulder of the pilgrim with the red t-shirt, you will see the choir.

Tabernacle and Altar of Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Encarnação ~ Vincent Cavanagh ©2023

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A closer view of the amazing tabernacle. Below it is an ornate statue of the Virgin Mary, and a little lower you can see the six candles with the Cross in the middle that signifies an altar. It looks like you could put a monstrance in the upper part of that tabernacle structure. In this photo the choir is more obvious.

Ceiling/Roof detail, Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Encarnação ~ Vincent Cavanagh ©2023

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On the ceiling is an ornate painting of the Incarnation, with the Archangel Gabriel before Mary – who is in a kneeling position -and with the overshadowing rays of the Holy Spirit depicted coming forth from a white dove above Mary.
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From here our small group of explorers walked down to the river’s edge. On the other bank of the river can be seen the large statue of Christ the Redeemer with His arms outstretched. The statue is on top of a massive plinth structure. Then we found some dinner, and returned to the hotel after dark.


Vincent Cavanagh   #bbwyd
#wydlisbon   #wyd2023   #lisboa2023
2 Aug 2023, 8.31pm Portugal | 3 Aug 2023, 5.31am Sydney

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