Penha Convent ( Portuguese: Convento da Penha) is a

convent A convent is an enclosed community of monks, nuns, friars or religious sisters. Alternatively, ''convent'' means the building used by the community. The term is particularly used in the Catholic Church, Lutheran churches, and the Anglican ...

Vila Velha Vila Velha (; ) is a Brazilian municipality situated on the coast of the state of Espírito Santo, in the Southeast Region of Brazil. It is part of the Greater Vitória Metropolitan Area and covers an area of , of which is within the urban a ...

Brazil Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...

, on the top of a high mountain overlooking the cities of Vitória and

. Founded in approximately 1558 by Pedro Palácios, today it is home to

Espírito Santo Espírito Santo (; ) is a state in southeastern Brazil. Its capital is Vitória, and its largest city is Serra. With an extensive coastline, the state hosts some of the country's main ports, and its beaches are significant tourist attracti ...

Patron Saint A patron saint, patroness saint, patron hallow or heavenly protector is a saint who in Catholicism, Anglicanism, Eastern Orthodoxy or Oriental Orthodoxy is regarded as the heavenly advocate of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, fa ...

, Our Mother of Penha. Many believers make

pilgrimages A pilgrimage is a journey to a holy place, which can lead to a personal transformation, after which the pilgrim returns to their daily life. A pilgrim (from the Latin ''peregrinus'') is a traveler (literally one who has come from afar) who is o ...

to this site which is surrounded by a green haven of forest. Due to its location between two large urban areas, it is also a very much sought-after leisure spot on weekends and holidays. It is considered one of the main tourist attractions of the Brazilian Southeast state of

. Every year, there is an important celebration to the Saint, called Festa da Penha, where believers dedicate their miles praying and thanking the Saint. Some have traveled from all over Brazil in order to get there. The men usually start their walk from the Capital Vitoria and finish at the Convent in Vila Velha. The women also pay their respects and walk from the closest Church (Santuario) up to the Convent. Inside the Convent there are millions of thank you notes from people that claim to have been cured by Nossa Senhora da Penha. They have left many of their notes along with their old handicapped chairs and much more. The view from the Convent is one of the most beautiful views. Being able to see the Island of Vitoria and the City of Vila Velha and one of the most beautiful beaches along the coast of Brazil called Praia da Costa. Where at the end of the beach, you can also see the house of the Governor.

Annual state meeting of the Terço dos Homens movement

Every year, in May, the

Terço dos Homens Terço dos Homens ('Men's Rosary') is a Brazilian lay Catholic movement of Marian prayer by men only. It consists in groups of local men who engage in group praying of the mysteries of the Rosary weekly at their parishes or community centers ...

movement gathers at the Convent. Thousands of men pray the Rosary and attend Mass.

References

External links

Flickr: Photos of Penha ConventMorrodomoreno.com: Photograph of Penha ConventMarlon Stein.com: Penha Convent Photos

Christian monasteries in Brazil Buildings and structures in Espírito Santo Tourist attractions in Espírito Santo Portuguese colonial architecture in Brazil National heritage sites of Espírito Santo Catholic Church in Brazil {{Brazil-religious-struct-stub

Annual state meeting of the Terço dos Homens movement

See also

References

External links