Império do Divino Espírito Santo

The impérios [Small Temples] are buildings aimed for the exhibition of elements of the Holy Spirit’s cult, namely the crown, the banner and the staffs.

In the vicinity of the temple building we can find the Império (small temple) – the old and new one, which earlier belonged to the old cheese factory. The  Império (small temple) is open on Sundays of the Bodo (Charity) and offers sweets, roast beef and the traditional soup of the holy spirit to all who visit the Império(small temple). In the house of the holy spirit, all the paraphernalia necessary for the celebrations, like the dishes, tables and chairs, are kept. This house of the holy spirit also serves for the Mancebos Novos e Velhos to distribute the traditional bolos de véspera, wine, cheese and lupines throughout the population. The young and old Mancebos are an historic popular manifestation on the Azores, integrated in the celebrations of the feasts of the Holy Spirit, where the soups of the holy spirit are distributed in the pebble (at the seaside) in the Fajã do Ouvidor. This tradition takes place on the Thursday of the Holy Spirit with the old mancebos, and again on Thursday of the Trinity, with the young mancebos.