Mosteiro de Pombeiro
Encyclopedia
The Monastery of Pombeiro (Mosteiro de Pombeiro) is a monastery in the civil parish of Pombeiro de Ribavizela, in the municipality of Felgueiras (district in Porto
), in the northern region of Portugal
.
(in 853). Its founding would not occur until 13 July 1059 by Dom
Gomes Aciegas, and completed 1102; the remains of this original construction are two small chapels (below the main altar), the mail entrance door and the four fortified arches. It is still unclear on the precise period that monastery and church was founded. Ferdinand of Castile granted the proprietoriship of the convent to his nephew D.
Gomes de Cela Nova (progenitor of the Sousa family). From the Sousas, the monastery passed to the Melos and Sampaios (later under the protection of the Barbosa clan until the 11th century), represented by the Baron of Pombeiro de Ribavizela. At the time the abbot of Pombeiro functioned as the head almoner
for the Kingdom, when the King travelled north of the Douro and ombudsman of the Count of Pombeiro.
In 1112, under Queen Teresa, the monastery was off-limits to most of its citizens, including the church. Afonso Henriques provided privileges and patronage in 1155 to the monastery and its prelate Gonçalo de Sousa. The abbot (Gonçalo de Sousa) would initiate remodelling and renovations in 1199. The monastery continued to be favoured by the monarchy, and throughout the 12th century a number of reliquaries were deposited in the altars of the Church.
In 1234, the monastery traded lands with the Monastery of São Miguel de Refojos de Basto, in Cabeceiras de Basto
. During this time, new renovations were made to the eastern portico and rose-window, with assistance from the patronage of the Sousa family, who also selected the porch for their burial tombs: on 10 March 1242, Vasco Mendes de Sousa (son of Conde Mendo de Sousa and Maria Rodrigues) was buried in this tomb.
By 1272, a second generation of public works were completed in the Church façade, under the direction of D.
Rodrigo.
In the second-half of the 16th century, the abbot
António de Mello order the execution of improvements to the church.
By 1578, the monastery's porch continued to exist, but now badly damaged, and as friar João de S. Tomás later noted: "there were, by order, coats-or-arms erected to identify tje anciente nobility there buried, that there would serve as judge". On the 6 March 1586, the monastery's rich patrimony was taken by King Philip II of Spain
and transferred to the Monastery of the Jeronimos
. But, this did not limit the growth of the church and monastery, as major projects continued between the 16th and 18th century, with Jerónimo Luís being the principal contractor in 1600 constructing the two exterior towers.
One of the wings of the cloister were completed in 1702 (from descriptions made by Craesbeeck in 1725). It was followed in 1719 by the construction of the new choir in the principal wall, the displacement of the rose window from the portico to the bell towers. Continued remodelling in 1722 caused the destruction of the Romanesque main chapel in 1722.
The main organ was expanded in 1743, as a prelude to the execution of an new organ on 30 April 1767 by Francisco António Solha, which included gilding and the import of various mechanisms (at the total cost of 900$000 réis
, not including 135$000 réis pipes. In successive years, the organ would be renovated: first in 1786, then 1801, before the pipes were stolen in the 20th century. Between 1770-1773, the retable
was completed by friar José de Santo António Ferreira Vilaça, who also designed, the flourishments along the choir, the rosewood pew
s and the four chapels. Friar José later completed two lateral retables between 1774-1777, while two other retables were completed after him (1777-1780) by José Vilaça. Ironically, by 1785, the church and monastery was practically painted.
After the 19th century, the church and monastery were progressively falling into ruin, after the Benedictine monks were explused in 1834, and a significant part of the altar and construction stone were removed to support other projects within the region.
Since 1910, the monastery has been considered a National Monument. In January 1997, the Ministery of Culture purchases the building and one of the parcels around the monastery (the consisted of a house and three lots).
Throughout the Estado Novo
regime the monastery was recovered in tiles, first beginning in 1958, then in 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1969, which also included renovations to: the copula
, the lateral naves, the vaulted ceilings, and cloisters, in addition to the renovation of the bell-towers and sacristy (which was in fear of collapse). Similar public works were undertaken under the democratic government after the Carnation Revolution
. These repairs included projects to protect and renovate the damage caused by water drainage (1987), recuperation of the principal façades of the church and monastery, the high-choir, bell-towers and restoration of the first-floor oratory of the monastic residences, in addition to archaeological projects in 1997-1999.
Porto
Porto , also known as Oporto in English, is the second largest city in Portugal and one of the major urban areas in the Iberian Peninsula. Its administrative limits include a population of 237,559 inhabitants distributed within 15 civil parishes...
), in the northern region of Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
.
History
The first reference to a monastery or religious institution came from a papel brief to Pope Leo IVPope Leo IV
Pope Saint Leo IV was pope from 10 April 847 to 17 July 855.A Roman by birth, he was unanimously chosen to succeed Sergius II. When he was elected, on 10 April 847, he was cardinal of Santi Quattro Coronati, and had been subdeacon of Gregory IV and archpriest under his predecessor...
(in 853). Its founding would not occur until 13 July 1059 by Dom
Dom (title)
Dom is a title of respect prefixed to the given name. It derives from Latin Dominus.It is used in English for certain Benedictine and Carthusian monks, and for members of certain communities of Canons Regular. Examples include Benedictine monks of the English Benedictine Congregation...
Gomes Aciegas, and completed 1102; the remains of this original construction are two small chapels (below the main altar), the mail entrance door and the four fortified arches. It is still unclear on the precise period that monastery and church was founded. Ferdinand of Castile granted the proprietoriship of the convent to his nephew D.
Dom (title)
Dom is a title of respect prefixed to the given name. It derives from Latin Dominus.It is used in English for certain Benedictine and Carthusian monks, and for members of certain communities of Canons Regular. Examples include Benedictine monks of the English Benedictine Congregation...
Gomes de Cela Nova (progenitor of the Sousa family). From the Sousas, the monastery passed to the Melos and Sampaios (later under the protection of the Barbosa clan until the 11th century), represented by the Baron of Pombeiro de Ribavizela. At the time the abbot of Pombeiro functioned as the head almoner
Almoner
An almoner is a chaplain or church officer who originally was in charge of distributing cash to the deserving poor.Historically, almoners were Christian religious functionaries whose duty was to distribute alms to the poor. Monasteries were required to spend one tenth of their income in charity to...
for the Kingdom, when the King travelled north of the Douro and ombudsman of the Count of Pombeiro.
In 1112, under Queen Teresa, the monastery was off-limits to most of its citizens, including the church. Afonso Henriques provided privileges and patronage in 1155 to the monastery and its prelate Gonçalo de Sousa. The abbot (Gonçalo de Sousa) would initiate remodelling and renovations in 1199. The monastery continued to be favoured by the monarchy, and throughout the 12th century a number of reliquaries were deposited in the altars of the Church.
In 1234, the monastery traded lands with the Monastery of São Miguel de Refojos de Basto, in Cabeceiras de Basto
Cabeceiras de Basto
Cabeceiras de Basto is a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 241.8 km² and a total population of 17,775 inhabitants.The municipality is composed of 17 parishes, and is located in the district of Braga District bordering the municipality of Montalegre to the north, Boticas to the...
. During this time, new renovations were made to the eastern portico and rose-window, with assistance from the patronage of the Sousa family, who also selected the porch for their burial tombs: on 10 March 1242, Vasco Mendes de Sousa (son of Conde Mendo de Sousa and Maria Rodrigues) was buried in this tomb.
By 1272, a second generation of public works were completed in the Church façade, under the direction of D.
Dom (title)
Dom is a title of respect prefixed to the given name. It derives from Latin Dominus.It is used in English for certain Benedictine and Carthusian monks, and for members of certain communities of Canons Regular. Examples include Benedictine monks of the English Benedictine Congregation...
Rodrigo.
In the second-half of the 16th century, the abbot
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
António de Mello order the execution of improvements to the church.
By 1578, the monastery's porch continued to exist, but now badly damaged, and as friar João de S. Tomás later noted: "there were, by order, coats-or-arms erected to identify tje anciente nobility there buried, that there would serve as judge". On the 6 March 1586, the monastery's rich patrimony was taken by King Philip II of Spain
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
and transferred to the Monastery of the Jeronimos
Jerónimos Monastery
The Hieronymites Monastery is located near the shore of the parish of Belém, in the municipality of Lisbon, Portugal...
. But, this did not limit the growth of the church and monastery, as major projects continued between the 16th and 18th century, with Jerónimo Luís being the principal contractor in 1600 constructing the two exterior towers.
One of the wings of the cloister were completed in 1702 (from descriptions made by Craesbeeck in 1725). It was followed in 1719 by the construction of the new choir in the principal wall, the displacement of the rose window from the portico to the bell towers. Continued remodelling in 1722 caused the destruction of the Romanesque main chapel in 1722.
The main organ was expanded in 1743, as a prelude to the execution of an new organ on 30 April 1767 by Francisco António Solha, which included gilding and the import of various mechanisms (at the total cost of 900$000 réis
Portuguese real
The real was the unit of currency of Portugal from around 1430 until 1911. It replaced the dinheiro at the rate of 1 real = 840 dinheiros and was itself replaced by the escudo at a rate of 1 escudo = 1000 réis...
, not including 135$000 réis pipes. In successive years, the organ would be renovated: first in 1786, then 1801, before the pipes were stolen in the 20th century. Between 1770-1773, the retable
Retable
A retable is a framed altarpiece, raised slightly above the back of the altar or communion table, on which are placed the cross, ceremonial candlesticks and other ornaments....
was completed by friar José de Santo António Ferreira Vilaça, who also designed, the flourishments along the choir, the rosewood pew
Pew
A pew is a long bench seat or enclosed box used for seating members of a congregation or choir in a church, or sometimes in a courtroom.-Overview:Churches were not commonly furnished with permanent pews before the Protestant Reformation...
s and the four chapels. Friar José later completed two lateral retables between 1774-1777, while two other retables were completed after him (1777-1780) by José Vilaça. Ironically, by 1785, the church and monastery was practically painted.
After the 19th century, the church and monastery were progressively falling into ruin, after the Benedictine monks were explused in 1834, and a significant part of the altar and construction stone were removed to support other projects within the region.
Since 1910, the monastery has been considered a National Monument. In January 1997, the Ministery of Culture purchases the building and one of the parcels around the monastery (the consisted of a house and three lots).
Throughout the Estado Novo
Estado Novo
There have been two regimes known as Estado Novo :*Estado Novo , the period from 1937 to 1945, under the leadership of Getúlio Vargas...
regime the monastery was recovered in tiles, first beginning in 1958, then in 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1969, which also included renovations to: the copula
Copula
In linguistics, a copula is a word used to link the subject of a sentence with a predicate . The word copula derives from the Latin noun for a link or tie that connects two different things.A copula is often a verb or a verb-like word, though this is not universally the case...
, the lateral naves, the vaulted ceilings, and cloisters, in addition to the renovation of the bell-towers and sacristy (which was in fear of collapse). Similar public works were undertaken under the democratic government after the Carnation Revolution
Carnation Revolution
The Carnation Revolution , also referred to as the 25 de Abril , was a military coup started on 25 April 1974, in Lisbon, Portugal, coupled with an unanticipated and extensive campaign of civil resistance...
. These repairs included projects to protect and renovate the damage caused by water drainage (1987), recuperation of the principal façades of the church and monastery, the high-choir, bell-towers and restoration of the first-floor oratory of the monastic residences, in addition to archaeological projects in 1997-1999.