Basilica of Bom Jesus
This
is the only church in Old Goa, which is not plastered on the outside, the lime
plaster having been stripped off by a zealous Portuguese conservationist in
1950.
Located at Old Goa, 10 kilometres east of Panaji, the Bom Jesus Basilica is
a World Heritage Monument.
The foundation stone of this remarkably large church was laid on 24 November
1594 and the church was consecrated by Fr. Alexia de Menezes, the Archbishop
of Goa and Primate of India consecrated it when it was completed on 15 May 1605.
In 1946 it was raised to the status of a minor Basilica.
The Order of Jesuits was suppressed in 1759 and its property confiscated by
the Portuguese State. The church was, however allowed to continue services.
This magnificent edifice stands as a superb example of Baroque architecture
in Goa. The church is called "Bom Jesus" meaning 'good Jesus' or 'infant
Jesus' to whom it is dedicated. The façade has on it, at the top, the
letters, "HIS" which are the first three letters of Jesus in Greek.
The imposing facade built out of black granite in an exquisite combination of
the Doric, Corinthian and composite styles, is remarkable for its simplicity.
It measures 183 ft in length,55 ft in breath, and 61 ft in height. The main
altar is 54 ft high and 30 ft broad. The pillars and detail are carved from
basalt which was brought from Bassein, some 300 kms away. The interior of the
church is built in Mosaico-Corinthian style and is remarkable for its charming
simplicity.
The roof was originally tiled. The church is cruciform on plan. The flying buttresses
on the northern side of the church are recent additions. A single-storeyed structure
adjoining the church on its southern wing connects it with the Professed House.
The three-storeyed facade of the Church shows Ionic, Doric and Corinthian Orders,
and has a main entrance flanked by two smaller ones, each having Corinthian
columns supporting a pediment. There are two chapels, a main altar and a sacristy
besides a choir inside the Church itself. There is a belfry is at the back.
As one enters, beneath the choir, to the right is an altar of St. Anthony and
to the left is an exceedingly well-carved wooden statue of St. Francis Xavier.
In the middle of the nave on the northern wall is the cenotaph of the benefactor
of this church, Dom Jeronimo Mascarenhas, the Captain of Cochin, who died in
1593, bequeathing the resources out of which this church was built. The two
columns supporting the choir bear slabs inscribed in Portuguese and Latin the
dates of beginning of construction and the consecration.
Opposite the cenotaph, projecting on the southern wall is a profusely carved
wooden pulpit with a canopy on top. The pulpit has on its three sides the figures
of Jesus, the four evangelists and four doctors of the church. The bottom of
the pulpit depicts seven figures as though supporting it.
A projecting gallery, which was intended for the use of dignitaries on solemn
occasions, runs along the two longer sides of the Church.
The main altar at the end of the nave is flanked by two decorated altars in
the transept, one dedicated to Our Lady of Hope and the other to St. Michael.
The richly gilded main altar has the figure of infant Jesus and above it is
a large statue of St. Ignatius Loyola, founder of the order of Jesuits, gazing
with fervour at a medallion on which is inscribed "HIS". Above the
medallion, the Holy trinity - the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost are depicted.
In the transept on the northern side is the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament.
On the southern side in the transept is a chapel with gilded twisted columns
and floral decorations of wood, where the sacred relics of the body of St. Francis
Xavier are kept. The interior of this chapel is richly adorned with wooden carvings
and paintings, depicting the scenes from the life of the Saint.
A beautiful silver statue is kept in front of the casket. The silver casket,
which serves as a reliquary containing the sacred relics of the body of St.
Francis Xavier, is exquisitely carved, and was once studded with precious stones.
The casket is divided on each side into seven panels, each of which has two
plates representing in relief important incidents in the life of the saint.
Adjoining the Chapel of St. Francis Xavier is a corridor that leads to the sacristy,
entered through an exquisitely carved wooden door. It is an oblong vaulted structure
with an apse at the end. Alongside the walls are kept the portraits of various
saints above delicately carved chest of drawers. In the altar at the apse in
an iron chest containing a golden rose blessed by the Pope Pius XII and gifted
to this city in 1953. At the foot of the altar is the grave of the founder of
the vestry, Balthazar da Veiga who died in 1659. A painting giving a fair idea
as to the state of the body of St. Xavier about a hundred years ago is displayed
near the altar.
Inside the basilica the layout is simple but grand. A simple wooden one has
now replaced the original vaulted ceiling. To the left of the door as you enter
the basilica is a statue of St. Francis Xavier, but the visitor's attention
is drawn to the huge and ornate gilded reredos which stretches from floor to
ceiling behind the altar.
Timings:
Sunday: 10.00 to 18.30 hrs. Weekdays: 09.00 to 18.30 hrs
Masses: Sunday: 08.00 & 09.15 hrs. Weekdays: 07.00 & 08.00 hrs.
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