Destination of the Month |
| The Convent And Church Of St. Francis Of
Assisi |
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Location : Old Goa, Panjim,
Goa
Present Church Was Built In : 1661
Architecture Style : Baroque & Manuline Style
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To the west of the Se Cathedral is the
former palace of the Archbishop that connects the Se Cathedral to the Convent and Church
of St. Francis of Assisi. The structure is built of laterite blocks and is lime-plastered.
The church faces west and has a nave with three chapels on either side, a choir, two
altars in the transept and a main altar. 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.
The Architectural Grandeur
The exterior of the Church is of the Tuscan Order while the main entrance is in Manuline
style. The main altar is Baroque with |
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Corinthian features. There are no aisles but
only a nave, which is rib-vaulted. The internal buttress walls, separating the chapels and
supporting the gallery on top, have frescoes showing intricate floral
designs.
In a niche on the fa�ade, stands a
statue of our lady of miracles brought from Jaffna in Sri Lanka. A wooden statue of St.
Francis of Assisi adorns a pedestal bearing the insignia of the Franciscans. A wooden
pulpit, richly carved with floral designs is to the left as one enters. Beneath a ribbed
vault with frescoes showing floral decorations, is the main altar, which is gilded and has
a richly carved niche with a tabernacle supported by the four evangelists.
The Tabernacle
The tabernacle was used for displaying the holy sacrament. Above the tabernacle, in the
main altar, is |
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a large statue of St. Francis of Assisi and
an equally large statue of Jesus on the cross. Beneath the two figures are inscribed the
three vows of the Saint - poverty, humility and obedience. On either side of the main
altar, in the nave, are beautiful large paintings on wood, depicting scenes from the life
of St. Francis of Assai.
The scenes include:
(I) An angel revealing to his mother that she would beget a child who would become a great
saint
(II) His birth
(III) His first anointment
(IV) Praying at the church of St. Dominica when Jesus commands him to support his kingdom.
(V) The saint taking the oath and joining the Dominican odder.
(VI) His visit to the Sultan of Damascus.
(VII) The saint showing his wounds to Pope Gregory IX. In the first floor on the western
side, is the choir, which has amidst carved wooden panels, portrait from Franciscan
hagiology.
The Origin
The origin of this church and the attached convent can be traced to the humble beginnings
made by eight Franciscan friars, who, on their arrival in 1517, secured from the then
Governor a few houses that belonged to a deceased Thanadar. By their persistent efforts
they constructed a small chapel with three altars and a choir. A church consecrated to the
Holy Ghost was built in 1521 and was later pulled down and the present church was built on
the same spot in 1661 retaining only the entrance of the earlier church.
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