Basilica of Bom Jesus

About Basilica of Bom Jesus

Far From City: 9 kms from city center

Basilica of Bom Jesus History The foundation of the Basilica of Bom Jesus was laid down on 24 November 1594 and saw its completion on 15 May 1605 at the hands of Fr. Alexia de Menezes, the Archbishop of Goa and Primate of India. After the death of Francis Xavier, his body was first preserved at Portugal but two years later shipped back to the basilica. The saint is believed to have phenomenal powers of therapeutic healing. The body of the saint is kept in a mausoleum in a nicely ornamented coffin. The Order of the Jesuits was suppressed in 1759 and all of its existing property was confiscated by the Portuguese State. However, the church was allowed to continue its services and has been a revered holy site ever since. It was raised to the status of a minor basilica in the year In 1946. Architecture of Bom Jesus Except for its gilded altars, the structure of the Basilica of Bom Jesus has a simple construction and is a fine example of Baroque architecture. The facade of the building is built out of black granite and is a subtle mix of Doric, Corinthian and composite styles. The church stands tall at a height of 61 feet, and the pillars are carved from basalt. The interior of the church was inspired by the Mosaico-Corinthian style and the main entrance has two smaller ones adjacent to it. In its image, the altar has two chapels beside it with a belfry at the back. The altar of St. Anthony lies towards the right while the left side has an exceptional wooden statue of St. Francis Xavier. The northern wall has a cenotaph dedicated to Dom Jeronimo Mascarenhas, the Captain of Cochin, while the southern wall a carved wooden pulpit with a canopy on top. The pulpit has the figures of Jesus engraved on its three sides, the four evangelists and four doctors of the church. The bottom of the pulpit depicts seven figures. The main altar is again flanked by two decorated altars out of which one is dedicated to Our Lady of Hope and the other to St. Michael. The main altar has a statue of St. Ignatius Loyola overlooking a figure of baby Jesus, and above a medallion with the letters "HIS" inscribed can be seen. Above the medallion, the Holy Trinity - the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost are depicted as well. The southern side has another chapel which has twisted columns which are made out of gold and wood. The relics of St. Francis Xavier are kept safely here, with a beautiful silver statue in front of the cenotaph. Paintings and carvings here depict the life of the Saint as well. A beautiful silver statue is kept in front of the casket. The silver casket, which serves as a reliquary containing the sacred relics of the body of St. Francis Xavier, is exquisitely carved and was once studded with precious stones. The casket is divided on each side into seven panels, each of which has two plates representing in relief important incidents in the life of the saint. Professed House of Bom Jesus Lying adjacent to the Basilica of Bom Jesus is the Professed House of the Jesuits, which was the main centre from which the Jesuit missions to the east were organised. Built in the year 1585 under the supervision of Br. Domingos Fernandes, this building is older than the then church itself. It is built as a two-storey structure with the laterite edifice being covered with lime plaster. A part of the building was destroyed in the year 1633 owing to a fire but was partially restored and rebuilt in 1633. One more floor on the top was destroyed between 1886 and 1887. Modern Art Gallery Interestingly, the complex of the Basilica of Bom Jesus also houses an art gallery, which is the largest of its kind in the continent. The main exhibits here are Italian paintings which have been made during the period between 1973 and 1976. Two of the largest paintings on display here include 'The Last Judgement' (6ft x 9ft) and 'Genesis' (4ft x 28ft).

How to Reach Basilica of Bom Jesus If one is travelling from Mumbai or Pune, one can reach the church by covering a distance of approximately 500 kilometres. Buses ply frequently from Panaji to Old Goa where the church is located. You can also hire a cab to reach your destination. Motorbike taxis are available to the basilica as well.

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