BASILICA OF BOM JESUS
10 km east of Panaji, along the Mandovi river, is the town of Old Goa, where lie some of India’s greatest churches and among them, the most popular and the most revered by Christians worldwide is the Basilica of Bom Jesus. The Basilica, dedicated to Infant Jesus, has been declared a World Heritage Monument now. This is one of the most important of the churches where the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier are enshrined. There is a life-sized statue of St. Ignatius of Loyala the founder of Jesuits.
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CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF IMMACULATE CONCEPTION AT PANAJI
This was reportedly one of the first Churches to be built in Goa , estimated around 1540's. It was built there because of the high ground it stood on. It was rebuilt in 1619. After Panjim became the capital city , the great bell of the Church of Our Lady of Grace in Old Goa or the "Bell of the Inquisition" was moved to this church from Aguada in 1841. At the same time, the renovation created the four tiered steps leading to the church. The interior is simple and is dedicated to Mary. There are two altars on either side , the one on the left dedicated to Jesus and the one on the right to Our Lady of Rosary. On either side is a statue of St Peter and St Paul. In the south transept to the right of the main altar is the Chapel of St Francis Xavier, with his statue. It formerly stood in the Idalcao's Palace and was moved here when the chapel there was dismantled in 1918.
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CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF THE ROCK OF FRANCE, BRITTONA
This church is located at Brittona on the banks of the Mandovi river opposite the capital city of Panaji in Bardez taluka. It was built by grateful seamen who believed that Our Lady has miraculously saved them from the Plague. The church lies on a hillock and is distinguished by the upper section of its tower being octagonal in shape. |
THE ST CAJETAN CHURCH
The St Cajetan Church stands opposite to the Se Cathedral. Its pattern is said to have been derived from the original design of the Basilica of St Peter in Rome.. The original name of te St Cajetan Church was The Church of Our Lady of Divine Providence. The church is named after the founder of the Theatine order, St.Cajetan (a contemporary of St.Francis Xavier). The main altar of the St Cajetan Church is dedicated to Our Lady of Divine Providence. The St Cajetan Church has a total of seven altars. One being the main; while the other six are dedicated to the Holy Family, Our Lady of Piety, St. Clare, St. John, St. Cajetan and St. Agnes – three to the right and three to the left. The paintings on the altars are in the style of the Italian School as it was practiced then. Some of these paintings in the St Cajetan Church also depict scenes from the life of St. Cajetan.
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THE CHURCH OF ST FRANCIS OF ASSISSI
The Church of ST Francis of Assissi lies to the west of the Se Cathedral. The former palace of the Archbishop connects the Se Cathedral to the Convent and Church of St. Francis of Assisi. The church is built of laterite blocks and is plastered with lime. To the north of the main altar is a belfry and a sacristy. The convent, which forms an annexure to the church, now houses the Archaeological Museum.
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SE CATHEDRAL CHURCH
Dedicated to St. Catherine, the Se Cathedral is also known as the Chapel of St Catherine and St Catherine’s Cathedral. This church is dedicated to St Catherine because Alfonso de Albuquerque conquered Goa on her feast day – 25th November 1510. The Church is a magnificent 16th century monument. The Se Cathedral Church is the largest church in Asia. It is claimed that a vision of Christ has appeared in 1919 in the Chapel of the Cross of Miracles housed in the Se Cathedral Church on the cross that hangs there. It is claimed today that the cross is slowly growing.
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