Century XVIII
Hailing from the Middle Ages, the current church has a neoclassical architectural style, with three naves and a tower attached to the façade, on the northern flank.
The frontage is divided into three sections separated by two vertical frames of smooth stonework, topped by flame-like motifs. The main body features a sober doorway with a window on top, and the tympanum has a niche with the image of the patron saint, Santa Marina, topped by a cross. The three-tier bell tower (1848) is equipped with a clock on the second tier, topped by an onion dome, surrounded by a balustrade, flame-like motifs and gargoyles.
The high altar and ceiling of the main chapel stand out, on the ceiling of the nave, the work by contemporary painter, António Mendanha, depicts images of Saint Marina and her sisters. The corridor of the nave, the stained-glass windows and the gilded carvings of the altars are also noteworthy.
Forjães
Winter, Thursday, 16h30-17h30
Summer, Thursday, 17h30-18h30
Festivities: July 17, 14h30-23h30. July 18, 08h00-23h30.
Saint Marina
Santa Marina is the Patron saint of Forjães and Rio Tinto. Santa Marina (Marina or Margaret) is a saint celebrated in the liturgical calendar on July 20th (the 17th in the Orthodox church), but it is also celebrated in the group of so-called Auxiliary Saints, consisting of 14 saints, famous for the effectiveness of their invocation, on August 18th. The feast of Saint Marina is celebrated in Forjães on July 18th.
St. Marina is one of the most enigmatic saints of early Christianity, as there are several legendary versions and narratives about this saint. Legends have been lost and recomposed over time in Christian tradition, amongst churches from different territories. The main legendary narrative refers to Saint Margaret or Marina of Antioch, a martyr under the hands of the Roman Olybrius; another version tells us about the young Marina, who served as a boy in a monastery where her father lived, upon his consent. She lived there in such holiness that her example served the other monks, always hiding her true sexual identity. Exposed at the end of her life, the religious life she led and her fame of holiness stood out.
However, in the peninsular northwest imagery, the figure of a virgin martyr beheaded in Águas Santas, near Ourense, Galicia, stands out. In the archdiocese of Braga, the legendary narratives revolving around St. Marina mention that she was born into a family of nine sisters, daughters of Calcia, wife of the Roman Lucius Catilius Serves. All of them martyrs for defending the Christian faith and the moral values of Christ. Nine is the foundation number for the tradition of joining nine young men in novenas of praise for saints of popular devotion. Many are the legends associated with the nine sisters.
Legend of Saint Marina
Legend has it that Marina of Antiqua (Spain) left her parents’ home to become a servant. In this condition, she was not allowed to attend the local festivities, time of the year when she was tasked with tending the crop fields so that the birds would not eat the seeds and the irrigation of the fields. In one of the festivities, Marina wanted to attend a local festival and ordered the birds to remain under a cover and so that they did not spoil the harvest while she attended the festival. This is the reason she is considered the protector of the crop fields. Her image bears a corn cob and a bunch of grapes, representing the agricultural crops.
