RECENTLY I WAS IN GOA FOR A HOLIDAY AND I VISITED THE BASILICA OF BOM JESUS.
The Basilica of Bom Jesus or Borea Jezuchi Bajilika (Portuguese: Basílica do Bom Jesus) located in Goa, India, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The basilica holds the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier. The church is located in Old Goa, which was the capital of Goa in the early days of Portuguese rule. 'Bom Jesus' (literally, 'Good (or Holy) Jesus') is the name used for the Ecce Homo in the countries of Portuguese colonization. The Jesuit church is India’s first minor basilica, and is considered to be one of the best examples of baroque architecture in India.
The Basilica of Bom Jesus or Borea Jezuchi Bajilika (Portuguese: Basílica do Bom Jesus) located in Goa, India, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The basilica holds the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier. The church is located in Old Goa, which was the capital of Goa in the early days of Portuguese rule. 'Bom Jesus' (literally, 'Good (or Holy) Jesus') is the name used for the Ecce Homo in the countries of Portuguese colonization. The Jesuit church is India’s first minor basilica, and is considered to be one of the best examples of baroque architecture in India.
Construction work on the church began in 1594 and the church was consecrated in May 1605 by the archbishop, Dom Fr. Aleixo de Menezes. This world heritage monument has emerged as a landmark in the history of Christianity. It contains the body of St. Francis Xavier, a very close friend of St. Ignatius Loyola with whom he founded the Society of Jesus, the (Jesuits). Francis Xavier died on Sancian Island while en route to continental China on (December 2, 1552). The body of Francis Xavier was first taken to Portuguese Malacca and two years later shipped back to Goa. It is said that the saint's body was as fresh as the day it was buried. The remains of the saint attract a huge number of devotees (Christian and non-Christian alike) from all over the world. The saint is said to have miraculous powers of healing.
The Basilica of Bom Jesus is more than 400 years old and is open to the public everyday. The body of St. Francis Xavier is kept in a well-decorated silver casket and displayed every ten years during the anniversary of the saint's death. His liturgical feast is the third of December. The exposition will take take place this year on third December.
IN THE HEADER PHOTO I AM STANDING IN FRONT OF THE BASILICA OF BOM JESUS WITH AN UMBRELLA IN MY HAND. IT WAS RAINY DAY .
THE PHOTO BELOW SHOWS THE DECORATED SILVER CASKET IN WHICH THE UNCORRUPTED BODY OF ST.FRANCIS XAVIER IS KEPT ON A HIGH PEDESTAL.
Wonderful write Joseph and the pictures are priceless.
ReplyDeleteYvonne.
Joseph,
ReplyDeletewhat a very cool place to visit...the last large church like this i went to was in new york actually...such amazing art in the stain glass there...in my area, the churches are a bit more modern...which is sad because i love the art of old churches...
i hope that you have been doing well...been a while since i saw you...and i have been away myself for a bit.
god bless you,
b
Like that bell tower.
ReplyDeleteI remember my first visit to this place in 1964 when I was in school.
Thanks for sharing the pics and your experience.
ReplyDeleteGoa is my dream destination and I really wish that I visit that place sooner.
Wow, what an amazing building. Vast and yet modest, I think it beautiful.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos and post. Thank you so much for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful to visit the basilica. Amazing building and history!
ReplyDeletewhat stunning architecture!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos. This is a part of India I would love to visit one day. I know a few Indians with surnames such as Gomes, Lopes and Rodrigues, typical Portuguese surnames. Thanks for the lovely post.
ReplyDeleteGreetings from London.
At least 3/4 times I have visited this church while in Goa, It is very beautiful church, the architecture is superb. I am glad you have started to blog again, please don't leave blogging, you are so good at it and the photographs are so good.
ReplyDeleteNice write-up and photos. I believe the feast day of St Francis is celebrated with much fervour every year in Goa. I would love to visit this old and historic church myself one day.
ReplyDeleteI visited La Sagrada Familia Basilica in Barcelona, Spain, earlier this year. That is probably the most distinctive church - with its peculiar mix of Gothic, modernism and naturalistic features - I have seen I think.
JI
beautiful church
ReplyDeletenice photos
That's a beautiful place to visit. Rich in story in history.
ReplyDeleteI have never been to Goa sir, but if at all I get a Chance I would surely visit this place.Thanks for sharing..!!!
ReplyDelete:) I have lived for 11 years ( my childhood days)in Goa ( my dad was in the Indian Navy). Have visited this church too and many other churches. museum during those days. the memories are fresh as ever and I still very vividly remember the church buildings, the surrounding buildings, beautiful roads, garden.............Goa is heaven and I miss this place a lot. I hope you will post more on Goa, it must have changed a lot now though.
ReplyDeleteBasilica of Bom Jesus is one of the chief attractions of Goa and sees a steady trickle of visitors all along the year. The party capital of India, this little paradise on earth is a package full of surprises and contradictions. Click here to know more about places to visit in Goa.
ReplyDelete