The Simplicity of 17th Century Igreija da Ordem Terceira do Carmo

Although it is perhaps not one of the better known churches in the city, the Igreija da Ordem Terceira do Carmo is another Sao Paulo church that dates several centuries back into the time when Jesuit priests held a spiritual obligation toward the people who lived in the growing city of Sao Paulo. At the end of the 17th century, this church was considered to be the city’s “mother church”, and it played a central role in the development of Sao Paulo’s spiritual heritage.

The Igreija da Ordem Terceira do Carmo is often overlooked as nothing special, since its simple façade and unobtrusive location inside of the city deceive the visitor into thinking that there could be nothing worth viewing beyond the plain wooden doors – however, this church has one of the most interesting interiors of all the churches in the entire city! In fact, the main hall has an incredibly detailed painting that was created in 1798 by a Jesuit priest named Jesuino do Monte Carmelo.

Believe it or not, the works of Jesuino do Monte Carmelo are so treasured in Sao Paulo that all locations that bear one of his paintings have been declared protected areas by the Brazilian Heritage Institute! This means that although visitors may not always see the importance of this church, the Igreija da Ordem Terceira do Carmo is recognized for its key position in the artistic and spiritual history of Sao Paulo.

The church itself found its beginnings in 1632, when it was built under the Third Order of the Carmo for a group of laypeople. The majority of these people were descendants of the original settlers in the area, the bandeirantes, and they wished to have their own place of worship besides the small Jesuit church in the area. Today, some portions of the original walls still remain, as well as a wooden altar from the 18th century, engravings and portraits of the life of Christ which were painted throughout the 19th century, and a number of spiritual relics that the church has accumulated throughout its history.

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