In Portugal, June smells of grilled sardines and sweet marjoram, and it has a name: Saint Anthony. In Spain, we call him Saint Anthony of Padua, but we know very well that, for the Portuguese, he is and always will be Saint Anthony of Lisbon. And they are right: he was born there, near the Cathedral. His medals are among the most requested at Khartes, so we wanted to tell his story in Portuguese.
Fernando, the boy from Lisbon
Saint Anthony was not named Anthony. He was born in Lisbon around 1195, into a family of the minor nobility, and was baptized as Fernando de Bulhões, in the place where the Church of Saint Anthony stands today, next to the Cathedral. He studied in Lisbon and Coimbra, where he was ordained a priest, and there he met the first Franciscan friars. Fascinated by their simplicity, he joined the Order and chose a new name: Anthony.
From Lisbon to Padua
He wanted to leave as a missionary for Morocco, but he fell ill and, on the return journey, the ship ended up in Italy. There he met Saint Francis of Assisi and became one of the most famous preachers of his time: crowds filled the squares to hear him, and the poor of Padua called him father. He died very young, on June 13, 1231, in Arcella, at the gates of Padua. He was canonized less than a year later, in 1232, by Pope Gregory IX, one of the fastest canonizations in the history of the Church. In 1946, Pius XII proclaimed him a Doctor of the Church, with the title of "Evangelical Doctor".
Lisbon or Padua?
Both. He was born and raised in Lisbon, lived and died in Padua. Pope Leo XIII settled the matter with affection, calling him "the saint of the whole world". But in Lisbon no one has any doubts: he is the patron saint of the city, and June 13 is a municipal holiday and the highlight of the Lisbon Festivals, with street parties, popular marches, and the famous Saint Anthony weddings.
Matchmaker, protector and saint of lost things
Almost everything is asked of Saint Anthony. He is the matchmaker saint, to whom girls ask for a good fiancé; the saint to whom you pray when you lose something; the protector of children and the poor. The famous thrones of Saint Anthony, which the children of Lisbon set up in the streets, were born after the earthquake of 1755, to raise money to rebuild his church. Few saints are so present in everyday life.
Our Saint Anthony medals
With natural pearls€69
With ruby and sapphire€69
With lapis lazuli€65
Multicolor€69
With fluorite€69
With topazes€69
With amazonite€69
Natural pearls and navy blue enamel€69
Our Saint Anthony medals are round, inspired by old family medals, and are handmade in Spain, by the workshops and enamel artists we have worked with from the beginning. They come with a 40 cm Spanish chain with a 5 cm extender and arrive wrapped as a gift at no extra cost, with an exclusive illustration of the saint and a text about his story. If it is a gift, we will write the message you want by hand, free of charge. We ship to Portugal. See all our Saint Anthony medals.
Who is a Saint Anthony medal for
- For a wedding or a marriage proposal: the medal with natural pearls. Who better than the matchmaker saint to accompany the bride? See also our wedding gifts.
- For an António or an Antónia, on June 13: the medal with ruby and sapphire, with a touch of color.
- For a baptism: the medal with pearls and navy blue enamel, so that the protector of children accompanies them from the first day.
- For someone looking for something (a job, a house, a path): the multicolor medal, cheerful as a street party.
Facts you can check
- Saint Anthony was born in Lisbon as Fernando de Bulhões and died on June 13, 1231, in Arcella, near Padua; he was canonized in record time and proclaimed a Doctor of the Church in 1946. Source
- He was declared a saint by Pope Gregory IX in May 1232; the thrones of Saint Anthony appeared after the earthquake of 1755. Source
- Leo XIII called him "the saint of the whole world"; June 13 is a municipal holiday in Lisbon. Source
The most beautiful medals are at www.khartesmadrid.com. And follow us on Instagram, at @khartesmadrid.
Marian and Bárbara
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