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On a volcanic island
where seismic activity is frequent, devotion to the Holy Ghost and to the Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres, <Our
Lord of Miracles>, is the people's only refuge. The devotion that Mother Teresa da Anunciada, <Annunciation>,
respectable nun from the Nossa Senhora da Esperança convent, <Our Lady of Hope>, so intensely felt
for Christ profoundly impressed the people's souls. Hence the worshipping of the Lord expanded and grew stronger
throughout the years by way of the procession and the Image.
Today it is the
major, grandest and most devout procession in all of Portugal.
In the heart of every Azorean throughout the world, there is an altar of eternal cult towards the Senhor Santo
Cristo, where their prayers permanently light mystic candles of imperishable devotion and feeling of want.
Thus the presence
of thousands of Azoreans from the United States, Canada and, naturally, from the other islands, every year to participate
in the great feast of the Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres, authentically expressing devotion and faith. Weeks
before the procession, the Esperança monastery and the 5 de Outubro Square are festively prepared and decorated.
Thousands of multi-colored lights, masts and flags, flowers of all types and colors bestow the area with a festive
air.
The feast goes on
for many days. There are many religious services and concerts. On the Saturday afternoon there are people who go
around the Square on bare knees, or else carrying wax-tapers as an act of thanking God for the mercy he has bestowed
upon them at an afflicted and suffering moment.
Then, on the Sunday,
thousands of people go in the procession. Opening it is a banner bearing a golden crown with thorns, then two long
lines of men wearing sleeveless garments over their clothes, many of which carrying thick, votive candles, others
going barefoot as an act of going through with their promise to the Lord. In between them are numerous bands. Next
come juvenile associations carrying bright banners, children dressed as angels, students attending the seminary,
the clergy from S. Miguel and some others who are invited, all coming before the respectable Image of the Senhor
Santo Cristo dos Milagres. It is carried on a wooden frame that is lined with velvet and gold, on a throne of beautiful
silk and cloth flowers made in the XVIII century.
Following the Image
are the Catholic Church's dignitaries, representatives of the religious orders of S. Miguel and thousands of women
carrying out their promises.
Closing the procession are the supreme civil and military authorities, social and sportive representations and
associations.
Almost at nightfall, the procession retires after five hours of going through the main streets of Ponta Delgada.
The treasure of
the Senhor Santo Cristo is mainly composed of the following jewels: the Aureole, the Crown, the Reliquary, the
Sceptre and the Ropes.
Fruit of the mysteries of faith, signs of gratitude because of the miracles
that help the mortals continue living, the Ex-Libris of the treasure, the AUREOLE, is the richest piece of the
collection of relics. Photographed and documented upon by international art specialists at a meeting in Valladolid,
Spain, it was recently considered the most valuable piece of its kind in all of the Iberian Peninsula.
The AUREOLE, made of platinum gold, weighs 4,850 grams and is
inlaid with 6,842 precious gems of all types: topazes, rubies, amethysts, sapphires, etc. In addition to its artistic
value, this jewel is full of theology related symbolic elements. The first being the Holy Trinity, represented
by a triangle in the center of the piece that bears three letters with the following meaning: "I am what I
am" and also "The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit". From this triangle the aureoles beam towards
the extremities of the piece. The second element is Christ's Redemption, represented by a lamb upon a cross and
by the Book of the Seven Seals of the Apocalypse. The third is the Eucharist, symbolized by a bird, the pelican,
by the chalice and by the ciborium. The last symbolic element of the AUREOLE is Christ's Passion portrayed, in
detail, by the Crown: going from the tunic to the rooster of the Passion and also the crown imbedded with thorns
made up entirely of emeralds.
If the AUREOLE is the most valueable piece of the treasure, the CROWN
is the most delicate. Made of gold, weighing 800 grams, it has 1,082 precious stones, all minutely wrought, where
even the thorns are composed of very small gems that become even smaller towards the ends.
The RELIQUARY is, on the other hand, the most enigmatical piece
of the treasure. It is the only piece that is permanently fixed on the Image's chest where it retains the Holy
Cross, which is believed to be a splinter of the real cross on which Jesus was crucified.
The SCEPTRE, the fourth piece of the treasure, is made up of 2,000
pearls that form a corncob, 993 precious stones laid throughout the stem and base made up of golden lace, where
the Cross of Christ is set.
Finally, the ROPES that are 5,20 meters long, are the fifth piece
of the main body of the treasure. They are composed of two rows of pearls and precious stones that are coiled around
a golden thread.
These jewels are of an inestimable value but have yet to be duly evaluated.
The Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres jewels, as well as the collection of cloaks worn by the Image, can be seen
at the Nossa Senhora da Esperança convent.
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