St. Rohingya Church

The Church of St. Roch in Lisbon, built in the second half of the sixteenth century, is one of the oldest Jesuit churches in the world. The construction was carried out on the site of the chapel of St. Roch, hence the name of the temple, designed by Afonso Alvares and his nephew Bartolomeu. With a deliberately modest facade, the church pleases the eye with rich interior decoration.

The church itself is about a kilometer northwest of Praza do Komercio. Earlier on this site stood the chapel of St. Roch – the protector from the plague. Nearby there was a large cemetery where the victims of this terrible disease were buried. The Jesuits (Society of Jesus), who built the church in 1555-1619, lived here for another 200 years until they were expelled from Portugal. During the Lisbon earthquake, the church was not seriously damaged and was handed over to the Community of Mercy. The Church of St. Roch is now owned by a religious charity.

The modest appearance of the church contrasts with the luxurious interior decoration. Flat pilasters divide the facade into three parts, the windows and doors are decorated with sandrics. The building is crowned by a triangular pediment, in which a circular carved window stands out. The one-nave church has eight side chapels. The interior of the church is made in the style of mannerism. Unique mosaic panels depict the Trinity, scenes of Baptism, and the Annunciation. The chandelier sparkles with splendor against the background of the vault, skillfully decorated with jasper and bronze, and is an outstanding creation of Italian jewelry art.