Location :
Old Goa, Panjim
Built In : 1884
Architectural Style :Dorian Style
When To Go : September - November
Positioning of The Church
Chapel of St. Francis Xavier in Goa is located on the banks of the pristine
Mandovi River in east Tiswadi Taluka in Central Goa. Behind the gate of St.
Paul's college is a Kuchcha road branching off the main road, leading to the
chapel of St. Francis Xavier.
History
The original chapel was in existence in 1545. With the eruption of the
epidemic and the consequent vacating of the college of St. Paul in 1570, the
chapel fell into ruins and the present chapel was built in 1884.
The Blessed Chapel of Xavier
The chapel adorned with Dorian style of architecture is a unique piece of
architecture. St.Francis Xavier, the patron saint of Goa, lovingly called as
Lord of Goa died in 1552 on his way to China. The body brought in 1554 to
Goa, 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 philosophising. The mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier
can be seen through a glass case in this chapel.
Beauty
Of the Chapel
Beautified in Dorian Style, this chapel was built of laterite plastered
with lime mortar, with tiled roof supported by wooden rafterswith only one
altar.
Something About Francis Chapel
Chapel of St. Francis Xavier in Goa is dedicated to St Francis Xavier or
Santo Padre. St Francis Xavier's real name is Don Francisco de Yesu. He was
a bright young man pursuing scholastic career at the famous University of
Paris. With a mission in mind of bringing Christianity in east it was in
1542 that St. Xavier walked barefooted in an obscure village in India.
Francis Xavier was a linguist. His countless letters to Europe were written
in Latin, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian but he seemed not to have known
any of them very well, which could be judged out from his writings.
How to Reach
You can enjoy driving comfortably on NH 4A, which begins as the Ribander
Causeway, runs east along the Mandovi River and extends south-east to Ponda.
The Basilica is open from 6 AM till 6:30 PM, so you can have the pleasure to
attend the evening mass which is very pleasing to see as well as hear.
