Imagine quiet streets where time seems to move more slowly, where the breeze carries the scent of the Minas Gerais soil and the bell of an old church still marks the hours. This is how you arrive in Sacramento, in the heart of the Triângulo Mineiro, far from the busier roads of Minas Gerais. And it is in this very stillness that one of the most moving stories of Brazilian Spiritism lives.

It was here, in this peaceful town of welcoming people, that a man Brazil has never forgotten was born, lived and gave himself completely: Eurípedes Barsanulfo (1880-1918), a teacher and medium whom history remembers by a name that says it all, the apostle of charity. And it was here, along these same streets, that he founded the Colégio Allan Kardec, remembered as the first Spiritist school in the world.

Anyone arriving in Sacramento soon realises they have come to a different kind of place. Do not look for big attractions in the usual sense of the word. What draws scholars, sympathisers and so many curious travellers from every corner of the country is something deeper: the sincere wish to walk where a man once walked who united faith, teaching and love of one's neighbour in a way that was rare for his time, and is rare even today. This text is an invitation to get to know the town, the life of Eurípedes and everything that a visit made calmly and with an open heart can reveal.

Who was Eurípedes Barsanulfo?

Eurípedes Barsanulfo was a teacher and medium born in Sacramento, in the Triângulo Mineiro, known as the apostle of charity. Eurípedes Barsanulfo came into the world on 1 May 1880, right here in Sacramento, in a respected Catholic family of the region. From boyhood he stood out: he had an uncommon intelligence and, more than that, a vocation for teaching that seemed to have been with him from the cradle. While still very young he was already a teacher. Those who knew him remembered his prodigious memory, his serene discipline and a capacity for work that left everyone in admiration.

Around 1905, on encountering the work of Allan Kardec, the codifier of Spiritism, Eurípedes embraced the Spiritist doctrine. It was not an easy path. In a small and deeply Catholic town, publicly taking on a new faith cost him dearly: there was criticism, there were estrangements, there were doors that closed. But he carried on with a serenity that impresses, firm in his conviction that charity and study should always walk hand in hand.

He developed a remarkable mediumship and soon became known for receiving everyone who sought him out, making no distinction among those who knocked at his door. It was this daily dedication, this putting of faith into practice alongside the sick and the poorest, that earned him the affectionate and deserved nickname of apostle of charity.

What was the Colégio Allan Kardec?

The Colégio Allan Kardec, founded by Eurípedes Barsanulfo in Sacramento in 1907, is regarded as the first Spiritist school in the world. If there is one achievement that makes eyes shine when the life of Eurípedes is told, it is the founding, in 1907, of the Colégio Allan Kardec. Regarded as the first Spiritist school in the world, the institution was a pioneer in something beautiful: bringing together, under the same roof, formal education and the living practice of the principles of the doctrine.

The school was admired for the quality of its teaching. Eurípedes taught several subjects, often managing almost everything on his own, and the preparation of his pupils was recognised throughout the region. But what made that school truly singular went far beyond the subjects on the blackboard:

Think about what this meant. At a time when studying was the privilege of very few, opening the classroom doors to children in need was, in itself, an act of courage and luminous generosity. A whole generation marked by these values came out of that school, and it became, for ever, a beloved reference point of the Brazilian Spiritist movement.

Devotion to the sick and the Spanish flu of 1918

More than a teacher, Eurípedes was seen by many people as a true friend of the sick. He received the ill, offered comfort, extended a helping hand, and kept up a routine of care that gradually wore down his own strength, without his ever complaining.

This beautiful trait of his life shone even more brightly in 1918, when the Spanish flu epidemic reached Brazil and knocked at Sacramento's door too. While fear of contagion led many to shut themselves away, Eurípedes did the opposite: he threw himself into helping the sick, caring for those who fell ill around the town without ever sparing himself.

It was by serving to his last breath, giving himself without measure to those who suffered, that he ended up contracting the illness himself, passing away on 1 November 1918, aged 38. A life cut short early, in the purest exercise of charity, sealed for ever the image of light that would be kept of him.

This ending gives his story a meaning that touches deeply. For those who visit Sacramento today, the story of 1918 is not a distant page from an old book: it is the beating heart of what people come here to find, and no one leaves without carrying it with them.

What is there to see in Sacramento?

Sacramento, in the Triângulo Mineiro, is a small and peaceful town in the interior of Minas Gerais, linked to the memory of Eurípedes Barsanulfo and the Colégio Allan Kardec. Sacramento remains that quiet town of the Minas Gerais countryside, with the gentle and pleasant rhythm of small places where everyone greets each other in the street. There are no large hotels and no bustle, and that is exactly what so many visitors come looking for: a serene setting, with verandas at dusk and good silence, ideal for reflection and for reconnecting with yourself.

Faith tourism brings to Sacramento scholars of the doctrine, members of Spiritist centres, readers devoted to the books about Eurípedes and also people simply moved by the curiosity of stepping on the ground where it all began. The visit tends to be more contemplative than touristic in the commercial sense, and perhaps that is its greatest beauty.

Among the places linked to the memory of Eurípedes that attract interest are the spaces associated with his life, the school and his work in the town. Because these are places charged with religious and historical meaning, the visit calls for a discreet and respectful attitude, mindful of the value these places hold for those who preserve them with such care.

What is the legacy of Eurípedes Barsanulfo?

The legacy of Eurípedes Barsanulfo lies in the educational pioneering of the Colégio Allan Kardec and in the example of charity he left to Brazilian Spiritism. More than a century after his passing, Eurípedes Barsanulfo remains one of the most beloved and revered figures of Spiritism in Brazil. His life is studied, his story is told in books and talks that fill halls, and his example is remembered as a rare model of consistency between what is preached and what is truly lived.

This legacy is felt in a few points that continue to inspire:

For all this, Sacramento is not only the place where Eurípedes was born: it has become a living and vibrant place of memory, which helps tell the history of Spiritism in the country and keeps alight a flame of faith and generosity.

For the traveller

If your heart is already asking to see Sacramento, keep a few simple suggestions in mind to make the most of every minute:

Travelling in a group, at the right pace

Destinations like Sacramento take on a special colour when the trip is organised with care and affection. On a guided group expedition, the route, accommodation and timings are left to people who know the itinerary by heart, and you can concentrate on what really matters: living the experience with an open heart. For older travellers, there is also the comfort of travelling in good company, with support at every stage and the warm companionship of people who share the same appreciation for faith, culture and history.

Getting to know the land of Eurípedes Barsanulfo alongside a group, without hurry and without worrying about logistics, is a lovely way to honour the serene spirit of the place, and to return home with a lighter soul. If you would like to experience it this way, take a look at our expeditions and discover the next itinerary that will take you through the enchanting interior of Minas Gerais.