Igreja de São Pantaleão, Catholic church in São Luís, Brazil

Igreja de São Pantaleão is a Baroque church in São Luís featuring sturdy towers and a plain facade decorated with wrought iron details. Its interior holds relics and follows a traditional religious layout designed for worship.

Construction started in 1780 under the direction of Pantaleão Rodrigues de Castro and Pedro da Cunha, completing in 1817. This extended building period was typical for churches in colonial Brazil.

The church is officially dedicated to São José, not to Saint Pantaleon: the donors Pedro da Cunha and Pantaleão Rodrigues de Castro gave an image of São José on condition of being buried in the church and of the saint being celebrated annually. The popular name honours Pantaleão Rodrigues, whose remains were moved into the church in 1830. In 1877 the bones of a figure the faithful took to be the Christian heroine Santa Severa were transferred here.

The church is easily reached on foot from the historic center with its entrance clearly visible from the street. Visitors should note that the interior may not be fully accessible during religious services.

A foundling wheel was installed in the church in 1829 to allow newborns to be left anonymously. This rare architectural feature shows a past social practice that is no longer in use today.