Discover the century-old chapel in Manaus that only opens for the Saint Anthony celebrations Among the buildings and busy streets of the South Zone of Manaus, a small chapel keeps a tradition that has stood the test of time for more than 100 years. Located in the Cachoeirinha neighborhood, the Chapel of Santo Antônio do Pobre Diabo opens its doors to the public only during the festivities dedicated to the saint, held between the 1st and 13th of June. The highlight of the program takes place this Saturday (13th), Saint Anthony's Day, when faithful participate in the traditional blessing and distribution of bread, in addition to the procession that runs through the streets of the neighborhood. Built at the end of the 19th century, the chapel is considered one of the oldest religious heritage sites in the capital of Amazonas. Over the decades, the temple has preserved not only its historic structure, but also a tradition maintained by generations of the same family and the local community. 📲 Join the g1 AM channel on WhatsApp Leading the organization of the festivities is Fernando Ricardo Coelho, administrator of the chapel. He says that his family's connection with space spans generations. "In reality, the church is the result of a promise. After it was built, this responsibility passed to my family. First it went to my grandmother, then to my mother and uncle, and today I am in charge of this work", he reported. Having been involved in organizing the party for over 30 years, he highlights that maintaining the tradition requires dedication and collective work. "It's a very good feeling, but it's also hard work. It involves organizing the church, the procession and all the necessary structure to receive the faithful. Fortunately, we have people who help, because no one can do anything alone," he said. Community participation is one of the points that excites the organizers most. Consultant Kleber Soares de Aguiar, 45 years old, has followed the festivities since childhood and says that the faith of devotees is what keeps the tradition alive. "For us it is an honor to participate and help maintain this tradition. We see the faithful arriving every year, participating in the celebrations and demonstrating their devotion. This is very gratifying", he said. On the eve of Saint Anthony's Day, the traditional fair brought together residents of Cachoeirinha and other neighborhoods in Manaus. "We had a very large participation from the community. It was a spectacle, with cultural presentations, games and many families together", highlighted Kleber. Consultant Kleber Soares de Aguiar, 45 years old, has been following the festivities since childhood Patrick Marques/g1 AM The story of the ‘Poor Devil’s Chapel’ In addition to religious tradition, the chapel is known by a curious nickname: “Chapel of the Poor Devil”. The origin of the name goes back to the Portuguese merchant Antônio José da Costa, one of those responsible for building the temple. According to historical records published in the Official State Gazette, in 1927, he kept an image of Saint Anthony in his commercial establishment and repeated daily a phrase that ended up becoming famous: “My Saint Anthony, protect this poor devil.” The expression came to identify one of the Portuguese businesses, called “O Pobre Diabo”, and, over time, it also ended up being associated with the chapel dedicated to the saint. Capela Santo Antônio do Pobre Diabo only opens for celebrations in June. Patrick Marques/g1 AM More than a century of faith The history of the temple began when Antônio José da Costa and his wife, Dona Cordolina Rosa de Viterbo, decided to build a chapel in honor of Santo Antônio on land acquired in the old Cachoeirinha. In 1897, Dona Cordolina officially donated the space to the Diocese of Manaus, with the condition that she would remain responsible for its care while she was alive. The official blessing of the chapel took place on June 13, 1901, carried out by the then bishop Dom José Lourenço da Costa Aguiar. Over the decades, the site underwent restoration and, in 1965, it was listed as a historical monument in Amazonas. Currently, the chapel is under the care of the Parish of Santa Rita de Cássia and continues to attract devotees, residents and visitors interested in getting to know one of the oldest symbols of the Catholic faith in Manaus. This Friday, the centuries-old tradition gains another chapter with the Santo Antônio procession, which is expected to bring together dozens of faithful through the streets of Cachoeirinha, keeping alive a celebration that has spanned generations for more than a century. Chapel has celebrations in honor of Saint Anthony Patrick Marques/g1 AM