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The Church of Our Lady of Mercy (Igreja Nossa Senhora das Mercês) is a Catholic church located in the city of Belém, Pará, Brazil. It was built by the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy, or Mercedarians, in 1640. The church is dedicated to Our Lady of Mercy and belongs to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Belém do Pará. The church was listed as a historic structure by the National Historic and Artistic Heritage Institute in 1940.

Timeline

 * 1616 - Founding of Belém
 * 1639 - Mercedarian Order arrives in Belém
 * 1640 - Mercedarians build "primitive" convent of rammed earth "primitive"
 * 1648 - Mercedarians replace rammed earth structure under Friar Lino José Freire
 * 1677 - Attempted kidnapping of Captain General Pedro Cesar de Menezes at church entrance and Mercedarian support of rebels
 * 1753 or 1755 - Start of construction of current structure
 * 1763 - inauguration (consecration?) finally
 * 1791 - Mercedarian Convent closed and property confiscated by the Portuguese Crown
 * 1796 - Customs House (Alfândega) installed in the convent; later used for military purposes

delete -- Arrival of Mercedarian Order
The Mercedarian Order arrived in Belém in 1639. Pedro Teixeira passed through Belém on his return from Quito, and left a group friars in the colonial city. They included Frei Pedro de la Rua Cirne and Fre João Mercês, both trusted friars of Pedro Teixeira.

First structure
The Mercedarians built a "primitive" "primitive" convent with a chapel in 1640. Rammed earth (taipa de pilão) were used for the walls with a thatched (palha) roof.

Festival São Raimundo Novato
The Church of Our Lady of Mercy was the scene of a local revolt in 1677. Residents of Belém attempted to kidnap Captain General Pedro Cesar de Menezes at the church entrance; at least two Mercedarians, Juiz do Povo and João dos Santos, were involved. The governor retreated to the Presépio Fort, both under the protection of the Portuguese colonial military and with access to escape via the Guamá River and Guajará Bay. Portuguese soldiers invaded the church, while Mercedarian friars helped enemies of Captain General Menezes escape the city. "primitive"

Final structure
Construction of a second, more permanent building began under Friar Lino José Freire in 1640. It was made of stone masonry and was completed in two phases in 1763. The church is one of few in Brazilian churches with a convex facade and undulating pediment. The convent added a cloister to the east of the church. The Mercedarians were expelled from Brazil in 1794, and the Portuguese crown confiscated the building and its contents.

The convent was converted to a customs house in 1796. It was subsequently used for military purposes during the Cabanagem revolt in 1835. It subsequently used as a military barracks and headquarters for the War Arsenal (Arsenal de Guerra), the Provincial Receivership (Recebedoria Provincial), the Post Office, the Artillery Corps (Corpo de Artilharia) and the Hunters Battalion (Batalhão de Caçadores).

The building was damaged by numerous alterations after the expulsion of the Mercedarians in 1794. The church served as a warehouse, and many of its contents were robbed or damaged. Dom Santino Maria da Silva Coutinho was appointed Archbishop of Belém do Pará in 1906 began a restoration project for the church. The church reopened by 1913. A fire destroyed almost the entire convent in 1978, while the church was little affected.

Structure
The pediment is undulating and in the style of a "". It has a large oculus at center, which served as both an ornamental device and provided light and air to the interior of the church.

Protected status
The Church of Our Lady of Mercy was listed as a historic structure by the National Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage in 1940. It was included in the Book of Historical Works as Inscription no. 144. The directive is dated January 1, 1941.

Access
The church is open to the public and may be visited.

Footnote
Pedro César de Meneses

Pedro César de Meneses (? - 1666) was a Portuguese politician and military Governor and Captain-General of Angola 18 October 1639 until 1641, the time of the invasion of the then Portuguese colony by the Dutch and from 1641 - October 1645 in opposition to the already said invaders.[1]