It is located in Cova da Iria, within the Sanctuary of Fátima, parish and city of Fátima, central Portugal
The pedestal where the original sculpture of Our Lady of Fátima stands marks the exact place where the small holm oak tree stood on which it is believed that the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to the three shepherd children (Lúcia, Francisco and Jacinta) on May 13, June and July, September and October 1917.
The little chapel was built in 1919 in response to the request of Our Lady of the Rosary: I want you to build a chapel here in my honor.
The chapel was born from the volunteerism of Maria dos Santos Carreira, a local woman who, since June 13, 1917, went to Cova da Iria, and with the help of her husband, built a wall around the holm oak tree and erected a wooden arch.
It was built in the exact location of the apparitions that took place in Fátima in 1917. From April 28 to June 15, 1919, the task was carried out by the bricklayer Joaquim Barbeiro from the town of Santa Catarina da Serra.
On October 13, 1921, the celebration of Mass began to be officially permitted, for the first time, next to the Chapel.
Maria dos Santos Carreira would become the popularly known as Maria da Capelinha and Cova da Iria gained a temple whose smallness was inverse to the importance it had for pilgrims
In 1982, a vast porch was built by the architect José Carlos Loureiro, having been inaugurated during the visit of Pope John Paul II on May 12 of that year.
In 1988, declared Marian Year, the chapel's porch was covered with pine wood, from Russia, northern Siberia, and this wood was chosen for its durability and lightness.
The original chapel, although subject to slight repairs over the years, nevertheless maintains the features of the popular hermitage.
The little chapel was built in 1919 in response to the request of Our Lady of the Rosary: I want you to build a chapel here in my honor.
The chapel was born from the volunteerism of Maria dos Santos Carreira, a local woman who, since June 13, 1917, went to Cova da Iria, and with the help of her husband, built a wall around the holm oak tree and erected a wooden arch.
It was built in the exact location of the apparitions that took place in Fátima in 1917. From April 28 to June 15, 1919, the task was carried out by the bricklayer Joaquim Barbeiro from the town of Santa Catarina da Serra.
On October 13, 1921, the celebration of Mass began to be officially permitted, for the first time, next to the Chapel.
Maria dos Santos Carreira would become the popularly known as Maria da Capelinha and Cova da Iria gained a temple whose smallness was inverse to the importance it had for pilgrims
In 1982, a vast porch was built by the architect José Carlos Loureiro, having been inaugurated during the visit of Pope John Paul II on May 12 of that year.
In 1988, declared Marian Year, the chapel's porch was covered with pine wood, from Russia, northern Siberia, and this wood was chosen for its durability and lightness.
The original chapel, although subject to slight repairs over the years, nevertheless maintains the features of the popular hermitage.
The image of Our Lady of Fátima in the Chapel of Apparitions
The image of Our Lady of Fátima was offered by Gilberto Fernandes dos Santos in 1920 and commissioned to Casa Fânzeres de Braga according to Sister Lúcia's instructions.
The sculpture work was created by José Ferreira Thedim in wood, cedar from Brazil, measuring 1 meter and 37 centimeters and weighing 19 kilos.
On May 13, 1920, the image of Our Lady of Fátima is blessed in the Parish Church of Fátima by Rev. António de Oliveira Reis, archpriest of Torres Novas.
The statue was enthroned in the Little Chapel on June 13 of the same year, and solemnly crowned on May 13, 1946 by the pontifical legate Cardinal Bento Aloisi Masella.
The golden crown was offered by a group of Portuguese women on October 13, 1942, in thanksgiving for Portugal not entering the Second World War-
The crown of Our Lady of Fátima was made free of charge by 12 artisans from the Leitão & Irmão house in Lisbon over three months and weighs 1200 grams and contains 313 pearls and 2679 precious stones.
Inlaid in the crown is the bullet offered by John Paul II in the attack he suffered in Rome on May 13, 1981, as a sign of gratitude to the Virgin for saving his life.
Over the years, 12 "pilgrim" replicas of the image were created in order to satisfy the many requests, which arose in the country and abroad, to receive it.
In June 2013, and for the first time, the image left the chapel so that its state of conservation could be analyzed.
The exams were carried out at the Polytechnic Institute of Tomar and revealed that he was in good condition, considering his almost centenarian age.
The departure of the image of Fátima required special security measures including guards and security agents.
The sculpture work was created by José Ferreira Thedim in wood, cedar from Brazil, measuring 1 meter and 37 centimeters and weighing 19 kilos.
On May 13, 1920, the image of Our Lady of Fátima is blessed in the Parish Church of Fátima by Rev. António de Oliveira Reis, archpriest of Torres Novas.
The statue was enthroned in the Little Chapel on June 13 of the same year, and solemnly crowned on May 13, 1946 by the pontifical legate Cardinal Bento Aloisi Masella.
The golden crown was offered by a group of Portuguese women on October 13, 1942, in thanksgiving for Portugal not entering the Second World War-
The crown of Our Lady of Fátima was made free of charge by 12 artisans from the Leitão & Irmão house in Lisbon over three months and weighs 1200 grams and contains 313 pearls and 2679 precious stones.
Inlaid in the crown is the bullet offered by John Paul II in the attack he suffered in Rome on May 13, 1981, as a sign of gratitude to the Virgin for saving his life.
Over the years, 12 "pilgrim" replicas of the image were created in order to satisfy the many requests, which arose in the country and abroad, to receive it.
In June 2013, and for the first time, the image left the chapel so that its state of conservation could be analyzed.
The exams were carried out at the Polytechnic Institute of Tomar and revealed that he was in good condition, considering his almost centenarian age.
The departure of the image of Fátima required special security measures including guards and security agents.
