“This short story is set against the backdrop of the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, intertwined with the mystery of a tympanum engraved in bas-relief on the portal of the chapel of São Cristóvão do Rio Mau in Vila do Conde,” described the author, Duarte de Lima Mayer.
The tale ‘A Rainha Santa e o Mistério de São Cristóvão do Rio Mau’ will be publicly presented at the Church of Santa Isabel in Lisbon next Thursday, the eve of the day dedicated to the Rainha Santa.
“São Cristóvão blesses travelers, especially those who have to cross dangerous rivers, so it wasn’t hard for me to imagine Santa Isabel encountering a trout there, challenging the river’s currents, and seeing themselves as a reflection of each other, and redemption happens precisely from that good river, which is the Mondego, gently from the city of poplars to the estuary,” the author explained.
The presentation session of the story—authored by Duarte de Lima Mayer and illustrated by Mara Silva—will feature participation from Father Mário Azevedo, a university professor, Sofia Távora, a lawyer, and a musical performance by Hugo Paiva, cellist of the Gulbenkian Orchestra.
For the city of Coimbra, where the celebrations of the 700th anniversary of the pilgrimage and the 400th anniversary of the canonization of the Rainha Santa are centered, a presentation is also being prepared in partnership with the Confraria da Rainha Santa Isabel, with the date to be announced shortly.
The publication date of this story coincides with the celebration of the same event, alongside another, that of the canonization 400 years ago of the queen considered the patroness of the poor, a messenger of peace, and an example of female leadership.
Isabel of Aragon, better known as Rainha Santa, was born in 1271 in the powerful Aragonese Court, arriving in Portugal at just 12 years old to marry King Dom Dinis.
In a time marked by extreme poverty, diseases, wars, and a lack of comfort, Isabel of Aragon chose to live her mission as queen with unparalleled dedication to the poorest, the sick, and the destitute.
Her life was marked by the founding of hospitals, direct aid to the needy, and the famous legend of the miracle of the roses, a symbol of her charitable spirit.
She also excelled as a mediator of conflicts, a promoter of peace among kings, princes, and warring brothers, using her influence to prevent wars and bloodshed.
She died in Estremoz in 1336, was canonized in 1625 by Pope Urban VIII, and is venerated as the patroness of the poor and a messenger of peace.
