Location :
Old Goa, Panaji
Built In : 1656
Architectural Style :Italian Renaissance with Baroque
When To Go : September - November
Positioning of The Church
This exclusive massive church of St.Cajetan is located about half a
kilometer away to the north east of the Se Cathedral and lies near the ruins
of the Vice Regal Palace. This Goan church has been patterned on the
original design of the Basilica of St. Peter in Rome.
History
The Church of St.Cajetan was a creation of the Italian friars. Although the
church altar is dedicated to Our Lady of Divine Providence, the church is
named after the founder of the Theatine order, St. Cajetan who was a
contemporary of St. Francis Xavier.
These three friars moved to Goa, but were soon asked to leave in 1654, by
the local Viceroy of Goa, as they began the construction of a hospital. But
the boldest of them, D. Pedro Avitabili, went all the way to Portugal to
explain to the King, Dom João IV, that it would be in the concern of
Christian religion, if they were allowed to work in Goa, together with the
Portuguese priests.
The king was moved by their thought, so he allowed to built the hospital,
in 1650. In 1655, the Theatines managed to obtain permission to build the
Church and also a Convent. The making of the Church was completed in 1661.
Although built around the same time, the Convent was much smaller in size
and was expounded later on.
The Beauty of a Marvel in White Marble
The Church displays an impressive signature of Baroque art in its
Corinthian columns and pillars of massive symmetry. When you'll wander
around the church, you will be astonished to see how Italian renaissance
architecture comes to life before your eyes.
The
Greek Influence
The external architecture is Corinthian whereas, the interiors are adorned
in a Mosaic-Corinthian way. The main body of the church is Greek with a nave
and two sided passageways, marked by four massive docks, and faced by
Corinthian pillars. These pillars also form a platform for support. The
ribbed vaults of the nave and aisles are of various heights, are decorated
with different floral designs. The podium is built in artistic style and
exhibits Goan craftsmanship. The dome of the church presents a majestic
appearance and because of the windows right around the dome the interior of
the church always give a flashy look.
The Chapels And Altars
The Church has two chapels and three altars. The main altar is devoted to
our Lady of the Rosary. The main altar has themes of cashews, mangoes and
flowers. Its frontage has the appearance of a fortress with openings in its
wall to visualize invaders. Its design is simple and concrete and in front
of its altar lies the tombstone of Garcia de Sa, one of the early governors
of Goa.
Baroque Style Altars
There are six altars besides the main one, which is dedicated to Our Lady
of Divine Providence. These altars are intricately carved and gilded in
Baroque style with twisted beams and figures of angles commanding each
other. The altars also have paintings on canvas of the Italian school,
depicting scenes from the life of St. Cajetan. The corners running along the
sides of the vault have wooden statues of saints.
Feast Day
The people of Goa have special reverence for the church, as it connects to
St. Francis Xavier. Every year, in November, there is the feast day of the
church. The day is celebrated with fates, music bands, dances, apery and
fashion shows. It was held in great awe by the public as, it was here that
St. Francis Xavier used to teach catechism every evening to the public, who
clustered together at the sound of a little bell he rang.
On entering the Church one finds three altars on the left, dedicated to the
Holy family of Our Lady of Piety and St. Clare. To the right, the altars of
St. John, St. Cajetan and St. Agnes are situated. The largest of the altars
on the right hand side of the church is dedicated to St Cajetan.
There is a tank or a well beneath it that has led to many guesses. Some
regard that the platform covers the holy tank of a Hindu temple that once
survived here, while others explain that the water reservoir at the centre
of the building was purposely planned by the architect to afford great
steadiness to the structure. There is a decorated wooden pulpit projecting
from one of the piers. In the crossing is a square raised platform, which
serves as a pulpit.
How To Reach
The Church of St. Cajetan is a three minutes walk from the Se Cathedral, to
the right of the Viceroy's Arch and beyond the gate of Yusuf Adil Shah's
Palace in Old Goa. This patch of Goa is situated on the banks of the Mandovi
River in east Tiswadi Taluka in Central Goa. Drive comfortably on NH 4A,
which begins as the Ribander Causeway, runs east along the Mandovi River and
continues south-east to Ponda.
