The beautiful Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro, the Catedral Metropolitana
de Sao Sebastiao, has been moved a number of times to various locals
through history since the first Rio de Janeiro Cathedral was inaugurated
in 1676 by Pope Inocêncio XI.
The first 58 years of its history, the Catedral Metropolitana de
Sao Sebastiao was appointed to a small church which the governor
Salvador de Sá ordered built of adobes e telha-vã
in the Morro do Castello (mountain of Castello) and which was demolished
in 1922 with the dismount of the neighbourhood in connection with
an international exhibition.
Before 1676 the bishop and afterwards the arc bishop of Sao Sebastiao,
the first Portuguese settlement in Rio de Janeiro (Read more about
Rio de Janeiro history here), never had their own Cathedral. They
had to be satisfied with installing themselves in various small
local churches which they borrowed for limited periods. The reason
for moving to the Morro do Castello was a series of attacks from
the French forcing the Portuguese to higher grounds for an easier
defence.
In 1734 the Cathedral was transferred from Morro de Castello to
the church of Santa Cruz dos militares where it stayed only for
three years. Thereafter it was changed to a series of churches:
the church of Nossa Senhora do Rósario and São Benedito.
The next big change came in 1808 with the arrival of the Portuguese
regent Dom Joao VI. The Nossa Senhora do Carmo was built at Praca
XV and elevated by the regent himself to the new Cathedral of Rio
de Janeiro.
There were many plans and design drafts to build a new and permanent
cathedral in several places of Rio; Largo de Sao Francisco and on
Flamengo park. But it wasn’t until the 20.January, 1964 that
land was dedicated to what was to become the Catedral Metropolitana
de Sao Sebastiao as we know it today.
The fascinating exterior design of the Catedral Metropolitana de
Sao Sebastiao was done by architect Edgar de Oliveira as a truncated
106 m wide diameter cone with 75 meter height. His inspiration is
allegeable from the Maia pyramids in the Peninsula of Yucatan, Mexico.
Contrary to the pyramids which are square, the cone form was supposed
to give a proximity to God, reminding a bit of the hats used by
bishops during ceremonies.
The capacity of the Rio de Janeiro Cathedral is 20 000 people with
a 18 meter high front door decorated with 48 low relief bronze plaques
focusing on the theme of faith. The inside of the Catedral Metropolitana
de Sao Sebastiao is lit by the sun breaking through large stained
glass windows in vivid colours varying throughout the day with different
intensity.
Each of the immense four windows goes up the walls to the roof,
forming a cross if you look straight up. The windows differ in shape
and colour creating a mystical atmosphere and the cone structure
gives an excellent acoustic providing visitors with goosebumps when
the catholic priests sing their heavenly music!
In the basement of the Catedral Metropolitana de Sao Sebastiao you’ll
find the Sacred Art Museum illustrating among other things; the
fonts used to baptize the princes of the royal family, the statue
of Nossa Senhora do Rosario, the throne of Dom Pedro II and the
golden Rose awarded to Princess Isabel by Pope Leo XIII to celebrate
her signing of the Abolition Act.
The Catedral Metropolitana de Sao Sebastiao is open to the public
everyday from 7 am. – 19 pm. Mass can be attended 11 am. from
Mondays to Fridays and from 10 am. on Saturdays and Sundays.
Telefone:
(21) 2240-2669 or (21) 2240-2869
How to get there:
Getting to the Catedral Metropolitana de Sao Sebastiao is easy.
Either grab a taxi and go to the following address (See map here!):
Av. República do Chile nº 245 - Centro - Rio de Janeiro
- Brasil
Or go by Metro (See metro map here) to Carioca station and follow
Avenida Republica de Chile left until you see the big cone structure.
The building of Petrobras is next to the Catedral Metropolitana
de Sao Sebastiao.
From
the Catedral Metropolitana de Sao Sebastiao back to Rio-de-Janeiro.info
