Statue of Dom Frei Bartolomeu Dos Mártires - Braga

The statue of D. Frei Bartolomeu dos Mártires, inaugurated on January 27, 2017 , was erected as a tribute to D. Frei Bartolomeu dos Mártires, Bishop of Viana and Archbishop of Braga , and is located in Largo de São Paulo.

Bartolomeu Fernandes was born in Mártires, Lisbon on 3 May 1514 and died in Viana do Castelo on 16 July 1590. In 1528 he entered the Dominican Order under the name of Brother Bartolomeu dos Mártires, completed his studies and was ordained a priest, devoting his entire life to the priesthood and teaching . In 1559 he was appointed Archbishop of Braga, a position he held until 1582. He is remembered as a model of benevolence and dedication. He was declared venerated by Pope Gregory XVI on 23 March 1845 and beatified by Pope John Paul II on 4 November 2001. The process of canonization began in 2016 and he was canonized by Pope Francis on 10 November 2019 .

The bronze statue, designed by sculptor Hélder Carvalho, depicts Brother Bartolomeu dos Mártires, dressed in ecclesiastical vestments, holding a Bible and a crosier in one hand, the other hand raised in greeting. The statue rests on a solid granite pedestal, designed by architect Gerardo Esteves, which consists of a large square base, with a central staircase with eight steps, the last of which bears a plaque with an inscription that reads "DOM FREI BARTOLOMEU DOS MÁRTIRES 1514-1590 ARCEBISPO DE BRAGA 1559-1581" (DOM FREI BARTOLOMEU DOS MÁRTIRES 1514-1590 ARCEBISPO DE BRAGA 1559-1581). On either side of the pedestal are two bronze plaques with inscriptions paying tribute to his life and work.

Willem Vandenameele