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The Metropolitan Cathedral of Florianópolis, dedicated to Nossa Senhora do Desterro, is the church in which the chair of the Archdiocese of Florianópolis is located, since its creation on March 19, 1908. The building is listed by the Institute of National Historical and Artistic Heritage. .



The definitive settlement of Florianópolis began in 1673. In 1679 Francisco Dias Velho applied for the legal title of the land, providing for the construction of a church dedicated to Nossa Senhora do Desterro. It was small and built of stone and lime. Inside her, the founder of Desterro (today Florianópolis) was murdered. The Parish of Our Lady of Desterro was created by Alvará Regio on March 5, 1712. In this church, the first marriage was celebrated on January 7, 1714 and the first baptized on July 15, 1715.



An Overseas Council Provision of July 17, 1748, sent to Governor Brigadier José da Silva Paes, gave permission for the construction of a building to serve as the Parish Mother Church. The new temple, designed by Brigadier Silva Paes himself, was started in 1753 and completed in 1773. Later works changed its original style. In 1922, during the centenary celebrations of the Independence of Brazil, there was a major renovation of the Cathedral, when its side walls were enlarged, the towers changed and a neoclassical porch on its shutters. In 1897 a clock was installed in the tower from Germany. In 1902 (May 30), the sculptural ensemble representing the Escape to Egypt, a beautiful masterpiece of art, hand carved in one piece by the Tyrolean artificer Ferdinand Demetz, was blessed. On July 19, 1908, when the Diocese of Florianópolis was created, the Mother of Our Lady of Desterro was elevated to the status of Episcopal Cathedral (Cathedral).



On November 25, 1922, the feast of St. Catherine, five bells from Germany were commissioned by Dom Joaquim Domingues de Oliveira. In all there are seven bells. The two oldest (from 1872 and 1896) were gifts from Emperor Dom Pedro II. When installed (10/25/1922), they formed the largest set of bells in Latin America, weighing 5,838 kilos. The stained glass windows were made in São Paulo and opened in 1949. The SPEITH Pipe Organ, manufactured in Rietberg, was opened in 1924.



Historical Summary



    1673: Definitive settlement of the capital.

    1679: Bandeirante Francisco Dias Velho ordered the construction of the church.

    1712: Royal Permit creates the Parish of Our Lady of Desterro.

    1726: The dust of Santa Catarina Island was elevated to the category of municipality.

    1727: Fr. Francisco Justo Santiago appointed as commissioned vicar, appointed by the Bishop of Rio de Janeiro.

    1748: Governor Brigadeiro José da Silva Paes had the building built for the headquarters of the Parish Church.

    1753: Laying of the cornerstone by the then governor D. José de Melo Manoel.

    1773: Probable date of completion of construction.

    1823: The Village of Nossa Senhora do Desterro was elevated to the category of City.

    1894: The name Desterro was changed to Florianópolis, in reference to Marshal Floriano Peixoto, under the mandate of Governor Hercílio Luz.

    1897: Installation of the clock (German) in the tower of the Mother Church.

    1903: The paintings of the Via Sacra opened.

    1908: Creation of the Diocese. The Mother Church of Our Lady of Desterro was elevated to the Cathedral condition.

    1922: Major renovation, expansion and construction of the towers. The renovation left the building similar to what it is today.





The main renovations were:



    1922: Expansion, with the construction of the two towers and the transept;

    1975: Inner part returns to original colors;

    1995: Internal Restoration;

    2005-2009: Several internal and external reforms are initiated when problems in the structure are identified;



Among the collection of sacred art is the Sculpture Escape to Egypt, carved in life-size wood by Tyrolean artist Ferdinand Demetz (who sculpted the Holy Family supper). He has been in the Cathedral since 1902, when he was blessed.



May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all, Amen.



The Santa Cecilia Choir, founded around 1950, fulfills its function in the most solemn liturgical celebrations in the Cathedral, and is one of the oldest in the state of Santa Catarina, still active. If there were other coral groups, they left no records.



The choir's regents were Fr. Augustine Staehelin from 1953 to 1973 and Fr. Ney Brasil Pereira, from 1973. After almost 60 years of its foundation, there are still members of the initial group participating in the choir.

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