A personal selection of photographs with their stories.
455: Angel Gabriel and the church
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© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2013, 2017
A personal selection of photographs with their stories.
455: Angel Gabriel and the church
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© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2013, 2017
A selection of photographs taken in Brazil in 2014.
Part 96:
São José de Ribamar (MA) – Hand of young Jesus in the one of St. Joseph
© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2014, 2017
A selection of photographs taken in Brazil in 2014.
Part 95:
São José de Ribamar (MA) – One of the statues about the life of St. Joseph
© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2014, 2017
A personal selection of photographs with their stories.
JULY 2007: Cat and flag
We were in São José de Ribamar, at about thirty km east from São Luís, capital of the state of Maranhão. São José de Ribamar is known for its giant statue of St. Joseph and his son, Jesus. It was raining slightly on our day of visit. Instead of enjoying the beach, we entered a beach barrack for a snack and some drinks. Most of my fellow travelers took some beers, while others preferred to drink caipirinha and even pure cachaça, a sugar-cane based gin. Meanwhile, some cats were wandering around. They initially ignored us, but became interested when one of us was paying attention to them and threw them some little pieces of our snacks. The young cats quickly lost their shyness and approached our table. They allowed us to touch and stroke them. One of the fellow travelers could no longer resist lifting one of them and taking it on her lap. Since she was wearing a shirt with a print of the Brazilian flag, I could not resist taking a picture of the cat and part of the flag.
© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2007, 2015
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
The city of São José de Ribamar is located 32 km east of São Luís, capital of the state of Maranhão. It all started with a legend: a ship from Portugal was in immediate danger at the coast of what is now São José de Ribamar. The desperate crew prayed hard to Saint Joseph, patron saint of travelers. They made a promise to construct a chapel at the site if they would survive the tempest. Almost immediately, the sea became calm again. The crew fulfilled their promise and constructed a chapel on the island of São Luís. They brought a statue of St. Joseph from Lisbon, and placed in the little church, face seaward. The residents of the settlement were thinking that the statue should belong to a hermit, and brought it to him. The next day, the statue was gone, and was found again in the little chapel. The residents returned the statue to the hermit again, and left some people behind to keep an eye on the statue. St. Joseph moved himself, his staff becoming a light beacon, back to the little chapel, accompanied by the saints and angels. Since 1757, three churches had been constructed at the site, facing landward. It still remains a mystery that these churches quickly became ruins. The actual church was constructed, facing seaward, in 1915. And survived. In front of this church, now landmark of the city, are eight statues that show moments of life of St. Joseph. Next to the church is a ‘Casa dos Milagres’, the ‘House of Wonders’, where believers pray and leave notes in the hope to have the prayers fulfilled. Close to the church, a 17.5-meter high statue of St. Joseph and his Son (Jesus) overlooks the city and the beach.
The original picture was taken in July 2007.
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