St. Francis Church, Gia

Church of St Francis of Assisi, Goa

Church and Convent of St. Francis of Assisi - Vacations India

Location : Old Goa, at a distance of 10 kms from Panaji
Year of Construction : 1521
Style of Architecture : Initially Manueline rebuilt as Tuscan with Baroque
Church Timings : Open all weekdays from 7.30 am to 6.30 pm, Sundays closed.
Museum Timings : 9 am - 12.30 pm, 3 pm - 6.30 pm

About the Church and Convent

If you are in Old Goa, undoubtedly visiting the churches of this old town is a priority in your itinerary. A worth visiting place, Church and Convent of St. Francis of Assisi is one of the most important churches of Old Goa. To visit this magnificent church, take a walk to the west of the Se Cathedral, there is an old palace of the Archbishop, which connects the Se Cathedral to the Church and Convent of St. Francis of Assisi.

Church and Convent of St. Francis of Assisi, are the reminder of the Franciscan friars, who came to Goa in the early 16th century. After their arrival in 1517, with their consistent efforts they constructed a small chapel with three altars and a choir. Eventually in the year 1521, the chapel was modified into a church and dedicated to the Holy Ghost in 1602. Later, the church was pulled down and the present church was constructed on the same spot in 1616, retaining only the black stone gateway. The west-facing church has a nave with three chapels on both side, a choir on the first floor, a main altar and two other altars. To the north of the main altar is a belfry and sacristy.

Originally built as a group of cells by Friars for their residence purpose, those structures were later converted into a convent in 1529. In 1835, the Portuguese Government closed the convent and an Archaeological Museum was established here in 1964. In the museum, you will find a huge collection of artifacts, paintings and sculptors. Most appealing exhibits that you can see here are 60 portraits of the Portuguese viceroys and governors of Goa.

Other exhibits that will fascinate you are a statue of Albuquerque, a model of Vasco da Gama's Sao Gabriel, the bronze statue of St Catherine and Grey basalt statues of Lord Vishnu and Surya, both belong to the Kadamba period. The museum also exhibits stone slabs with inscriptions in Marathi and Persian, hero stones, sati stones, coins and Christian iconography in wood.

Architecture of the Church

Built on laterite blocks, the church is lime-plastered. Initially built in Manueline architectural style, the present church was rebuilt with a Tuscan exterior and a Baroque interior. Its Manueline style gateway was saved from the former church, which still stands at the main entrance. The facade of the church is flanked on its either side by octagonal towers.

Interior of the Church

After taking a splendid view of the Tuscan facade, enter inside the church from the Manueline style main entrance. As you enter inside the church, a wooden pulpit beautifully carved with floral patterns on the left welcomes you. Its interiors have been illustrated with scenes from Holy Bible and some exquisite 17th century wall paintings. The buttress walls are nicely decorated with floral frescoes that have a touch of Indo-Portuguese Baroque style. The interior walls separate the three chapels and support a gallery above. Other noted features of this church are the gilded main altar and inscribed tombstones paving the floor.

The main altar of the church is heavily ornated in Baroque style with Corinthian features. Dedicated to St. Francis, the altar has a huge statue of St. Francis and an equally large statue of Jesus Christ on the cross. Beneath the two statues are the inscriptions of the three vows of the Saint - poverty, humility and obedience. On either side of the main altar are beautiful paintings on wood, depicting scenes from life of St. Francis of Assisi.

Article Taken from - Vacations India

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The Convent And Church Of St. Francis Of Assisi, Goa

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 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 facade, 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 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.

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.

Artcile Taken From - Goa Travel

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Church of St. Francis of Assisi from Surf India

Situated in the same compound where Se Cathedral is consructed, the church is dedicated to Saint Francis of Assisi. The beautifully designed building has the best of the architecture of Portuguese era in Goa.

Location : The Church of St. Francis of Assisi is located in Old Goa, 9 Km from Panaji.

About the Church

The Church of St. Francis of Assisi is situated in the same compound, where Se Cathedral stands. The church is a beautiful building, constructed during 1517-1521 AD. Initially a chapel, it got converted into a church in 1521 AD and was dedicated to the Holy Ghost in 1602 AD. There used to be a convent in the church. The Portuguese government closed the convent in 1835 AD. The church has been converted into a museum by the Archaeological Survey of India in 1964. The church displays artifacts, paintings and pieces of Hindu temple sculptures from Goa.

Architecture of the Building

The Church of St. Francis has been designed very finely. The church is much smaller than the Se Cathedral and the Basilica of Bom Jesus, and although it’s heavily painted and there are profusely carved altars, the aura is one of muted dignity. The pattern painted on the ceiling near the door has a distinct Indian touch to it. The architecture is a combination of the Tuscan style from the exterior and the Mosaic-Corinthian style from the interior. The interior of the church is gilded with the scenes from the Bible and wall frescoes show intricate floral designs. The niche of the façade holds the statue of St Michael and a wooden statue of St Francis Assisi decorates the pedestal in one of its chapel. A heavily carved niche with tabernacle supported by four evangelists can be seen in the main altar. Two huge statues, one of St Francis Assisi and the other of the Jesus on the Cross, are placed above the tabernacle.

Getting there

Old Goa can be reached by Taxi, Bus, Auto-rickshaw or Motorcycle. The city can be explored on taxi, motorbike or on foot. The Church of St. Francis of Assisi is near the church of Bom Jesus, which is easily accessible on foot.