Chapel Of St. Francis Xavier, Goa

This church is one of the oldest most famous and most popular churches in Goa. It holds the mortal remains of St Francis Xavier. It is a UNESCO world heritage site and the first example of baroque architecture. St. Francis Xavier was a revolutionary Spanish visionary who contributed immensely to missionary works in Portuguese-ruled India. The amazing fact is that his mortal remains are still intact. This church receives visits from people from all over the world to view this wonderful spectacle.

History

The Chapel was located within the College of St. Paul and was dedicated either to St. Anthony or St. Jerome. As the Chapel was used by St. Francis Xavier, it was rededicated to him after his canonization in 1622. The original Chapel fell into ruins in 1570 and the present Chapel was rebuilt in 1884.

St. Francis Xavier the patron saint of Goa died in 1552 on his way to China. The body was brought in 1554 to Goa and is kept in the Basilica of Bom Jesus. The sacred relic of St. Francis Xavier normally housed in a silver casket in the Bom Jesus church is brought in a conventional emission by several priests to the Se cathedral every 10 years for philosophizing.

Architecture

The Chapel of St. Xavier belongs to the Doric style architecturally. It is built of laterite blocks plastered with lime mortar. The tiled roof is supported by wooden rafters and it is a plain chapel with only one altar.