subject: Get Information on Churches in Goa [print this page] Get Information on Churches in Goa Get Information on Churches in Goa
There are several churches in Goa built by the Portuguese. Several wonderful churches were built by them in Old Goa which is well known all over the world. The churches in Old Goa remind of its former magnificence which once rivaled that of Rome. It was known to the world as Pearl of the Orient' or Golden Goa' in 16th and 17th centuries in its days of glory. Some of the Goan churches are as follows:
Se Cathedral Church
The Portuguese Viceroy Redondo specially made the Se or St. Catherine's Cathedral to be an extravagant church worthy of wealth, power and eminence of the Portuguese who subjugated the seas from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Today it stands bigger than any church in Portugal, even though it was overwhelmed by problems, not least a lack of finances and Portugal's provisional loss of independence to Spain. It took 80 years to build and was not sanctified until 1640.
Basilica of BomJesus, Old Goa
This is one of the most impressive and famous churches in Goa. It contains the leftovers of St. Francis Xavier, Patron saint of Goa, Apostle of the Indies. He was called Goencho Saib by most of the people of the state. The construction of the church began on November 24 1594 AD from the funds bequeathed for this purpose by Dom Jeronimos Mascarenhas. It was blessed by the Archbishop Dom Fr Aleixo se Menezes on May 15 1605 AD. It became the first church in India to be raised to the status of a minor basilica in 1946.
St. Cajetan Church, Old Goa
This church is located in Old Goa. The high crypt on which the words of Christ "My House Is a House of the Words of Christ" are emblazoned is equally amazing. The church has alters to devoted to the Holy Family, Our Lady of Piety and St. Clare and to the right are the altars dedicated to St. Agnes, St. John and St. Cajetan.
St. Augustine Church
Built in 1602, the only damage of the church of St. Augustine on the sacred hill at Old Goa near the Nunnery is a supercilious 46 meter high tower defying the pouring rains. The tower is one of the four of St. Augustine church which once stood there. The church when unbroken was perhaps the biggest in Goa. The Augustinians isolated the church and the convent with the religious suppression in 1835.
Christmas celebrations in Goan churches are held every year to mark the birthday of Lord Jesus.
