Basilica of Bom Jesus
| Basilica of Bom Jesus | |
|---|---|
Basílica do Bom Jesus (Portuguese) | |
Front of the Basilica of Bom Jesus | |
Basilica of Bom Jesus | |
| 15°30′3.14″N 73°54′41.44″E / 15.5008722°N 73.9115111°E | |
| Location | Old Goa, Goa |
| Country | India |
| Denomination | Catholic Church |
| Sui iuris church | Latin Church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architectural type | Basilica |
| Style | Baroque architecture, Portuguese colonial architecture |
| Groundbreaking | 1594 |
| Completed | 1605 |
The Basilica of Bom Jesus (Portuguese: Basílica do Bom Jesus; Konkani: Borea Jezuchi Bajilika) is a Catholic basilica in Goa, in the Konkan region of India. The church is a pilgrimage centre and recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.[1][2] The basilica is located in Old Goa, the former capital of Portuguese India, and holds the body of St Francis Xavier.[3]
Bom Jesus (meaning, "Good Jesus" in Portuguese) is the name used for the Ecce Homo in Portuguese speaking countries. It is one of the Seven Wonders of Portuguese Origin in the World.
It was made a basilica in the pontifical decree “Priscam Goae” on 20 March 1946.
History
Construction work on the church began in 1594. The church was consecrated in May 1605 by the archbishop,Aleixo de Menezes. This world heritage monument has emerged as a landmark in the history of Christianity. It contains the Catholic saint Francis Xavier's body.[4]
The Basilica and its outbuildings were the venue for the 2nd National Eucharistic Congress whose attendees included the Bishop of Dhaka, Peter Joseph Hurth.[5]
Architectural historian Vishvesh Prabhakar Kandolkar's 2025 book Goa's Bom Jesus as Visual Culture: The Basilica's Architecture, Image, History and Identity chronicles the long history of this church.[6] As Kandolkar and others note, the church is in need of significant intervention to maintain its structural upkeep.[7]
Gallery
-
Interior view towards altar
-
Relics of St. Francis Xavier
-
The ornamented entrance to the church
-
Basilica of Bom Jesus, Goa
-
Basilica of Bom Jesus-View from the entrance
-
View from the Se Chathedral
-
Mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier
-
Inside courtyard
-
Basilica of Bon Jesus inside the courtyard
-
An exhibit in the art gallery
-
St. Francis Xavier's Vestments
-
Relic of St. Francis Xavier
-
Mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier
See also
References
- ^ "One wall inside Red Fort to turn white". The Times of India. 20 May 2011. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ "Bom Jesus Basilica sitting on a fire bomb: Church official". The Times of India. 11 May 2011. Archived from the original on 17 September 2018. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
- ^ "Church slams govt over Iffi dates, threat to Old Goa". The Times of India. 12 November 2011. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ Himbutana, Gopitha Peiris (29 January 2006). "Ven. Thotagamuwe Sri Rahula Thera Scholar monk par excellence" (PDF). Lake House. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
- ^ The Southern Messenger, San Antonio, Texas, USA, 14 February 1901
- ^ "Goa's Bom Jesus as Visual Culture: The Basilica's Architecture, Image, History and Identity". Routledge & CRC Press. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
- ^ Kandolkar, Vishvesh Prabhakar (10 September 2021). "Rain in the Basilica: Protecting Goa's Bom Jesus from the Ravages of Climate Change". eTropic: electronic journal of studies in the Tropics. 20 (2): 95–113. doi:10.25120/etropic.20.2.2021.3814. ISSN 1448-2940.
External links
- Media related to Basilica of Bom Jesus (Goa) at Wikimedia Commons
- Official website