Graça (Lisboa)

Heraldry of the World Civic heraldry of Portugal - Brasões dos municípios portugueses

GRAÇA

Municipality : Lisboa
District : Lisboa

Official blazon

Escudo de azul, a cátedra de São Gens, de prata, entre duas oliveiras de ouro e acompanhada em ponta de um pelicano em piedade do mesmo. Coroa mural de prata de três torres. Listel branco com a legenda a negro, em maiúsculas : “ GRAÇA - LISBOA “.

Origin/meaning

The arms were officially granted on August 30, 1997.

São Gens is a legendary bishop-martyr who, according to tradition, has been one of the first bishops of Lisbon, even during the Roman domination. He was killed on what is now known as Mount São Gens in the parish of Graça,

Legend has it that when St. Gens was born, his mother died giving birth. This legend is the origin of a curious tradition, which still is fulfilled, according to which a pregnant woman who wants to make sure that she will have a successful birth should sit in the "Chair of St. Gens." This chair is stored in the marble chapel of Nossa Senhora do Monte on Mount São Gens. The arms thus show the chair in the centre.

Th eolive trees refer to the former olive groves in the parish and the pelican feeding its young, is a general symbol of Christ and used here as a symbol for the martyrdom of São Gens.

Literature : image send by Sergio Horta, background by Marie-Thérèse Faidherbe