Church of St Francis of Assisi, Goa
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Church of St Francis of Assisi was build during 1517-1521 AD by the Franciscan friars which was later constructed into a museum by the Indian government.
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 The Church of St. Francis of Assisi is located in Old Goa and 9 Km away from Panaji. Attached to the west side of Se Cathedral the Church faces the west. The Church of St. Francis of Assisi was built during 1517-1521 AD by the Franciscan friars, eight of whom came to Old Goa during that time. The Franciscan friars are a religious order within the Catholic Church that preaches the Gospel in the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi. Earlier the church was a chapel. Later in 1521, the church was consecrated to the Holy Spirit and consecrated to the Holy Spirit on 2nd August, 1601 but was demolished after some time. It was rebuilt in 1661 with an educational institution within the church. The institution was closed down by the Portuguese government around 1835. In 1964, the Indian government converted the St. Francis of Assisi Church into a museum. Ancient relics and old paintings are now displayed here.
Architecture of Church of St. Francis of Assisi
The architectural style of the church has a combination of Christian and Hindu elements. The entrance hall of the earlier church remained as it is. The convent that was reconstructed was just a group of cells built by the Friars in the lawn for residential purpose. It now has a doorway of Manueline style and the facade is bordered by octagonal towers on either side. The church built of laterite is lime plastered. The doorway is Manueline style and the facade is flanked by octagonal towers on either side. One of the walls holds the statue of Our Lady of Miracles. On the pedestal bearing the sign of Fransiscans stands a wooden statue of St. Francis.
The interiors of the church are Mosaic Corinthian in style and its arch is ribbed. The interiors of the church are decorated with depictions from the Bible whereas the walls are carved with floral designs. The main altar is Baroque with Corinthian features. The church has a belfry in the north of the main of the altar.
Inside the convent
The convent was turned into an Archaeological Museum for public in 1964. The Museum architecture has a touch of the Indo-Portuguese Baroque style. It has a rich collection of paintings, artefacts, statues. There is also a vast collection of sixty portraits of Portuguese viceroys and governors of Goa. There are statues of Alfonso de Albuquerque, Vasco da Gama and St.Catherine (in bronze) from the Viceroy's Arch. Some Hindu deities are also there like Lord Vishnu and a standing statue of Lord Surya (the sun god).
(Last Updated on : 26-07-2012)
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Church of St Francis of Assisi, Goa
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