A personal selection of photographs with their stories.
115. São José de Ribamar
JULY 2007: São José de Ribamar
The city of São José de Ribamar is only 30 kilometers from São Luís, capital of the state of Maranhão. São José (Saint Joseph in English) is known for the huge statue of St. Joseph and his Son, Jesus. According to the legend, some centuries ago, a ship (from Lisbon) approached the St. Joseph Bay (Baia de São José). The ship, however, came into a tempestuous storm and was about to shipwreck. The captain ordered his crew to pray for St. Joseph, and he promised himself to erect a chapel dedicated to St. Joseph, in case they might survive the storm. Almost instantly, the sea became calm again, and the ship arrived safely in the bay. When the captain returned to the location, he had brought a statue of St. Joseph, and placed it, facing the sea, in a small chapel. People from a nearby village tried – in vain – to transfer the statue to their chapel. For two times, the statue mysteriously returned to its original location as by a miracle. It was told that the statue was accompanied by angels and saints to the original location. When a new church was to be built, the statue was about to face the city, and no longer the sea. For several times, the construction collapsed, until the locals understood that the statue has to face the sea. Since then, the statue is facing Baia de São José.
© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2007, 2015