Churches in Goa
One
of Goa's important institutions, Goa's famous and magnificent churches are largely
a legacy of Portuguese colonization
Church building was one of the main occupations of the early Portuguese and
in fact one of Vasco da Gama's main missions for finding the sea route to India
was to "seek Christians and spices".
Christianity was forced upon with religious fervor by the Portuguese during
the period of the "Inquisition" with wide scale destruction of temples
and this continued till the official end of the "Inquisition" in Goa
in 1812. Most of Goa's churches were built on the very site of former temples.
The confiscated lands of the temples were handed over to the church and the
communidades. In fact, the first Hindu temple allowed to be constructed by the
Portuguese in 300 years was in 1818 at Panaji.
With a significant population of Goans being Christians for many generations
today, the Church is an important factor in Goa's social , cultural and religious
life. For example, the contribution of the Church to education in Goa is immense.
Today the churches are all part of the Archdiocese of Goa and function with
its help, many are also protected sites.
Se Cathedral Chruch: One of the
most ancient and celebrated religious buildings of Goa, this magnificent 16th
century monument.
Click here for more
details
Ruins of Church of St. Augustine:
This highly visible landmark, a 46m-high tower served as a belfry and formed
part of the facade of a magnificent Church.
Click here for
more details
The Church of St. Anne at Talaulim.
Ilhas: Of all the churches in Goa, the most ostentious and notable for
its excellent architeture is that of St Anne.
Click here for more
details
Basilica of Bom Jesus: This is
the only church in Old Goa, which is not plastered on the outside, the lime
plaster having been stripped off by a zealous Portuguese conservationist in
1950.
Click here for more details
Reis Magos Church: The small hamlet
of Reis Magos lies on banks of the Mandovi river and is home to two famous landmarks
of Goa - the Reis Magos fort and the Reis Magos Church.
Click here for more details
St. Cajetan Church: The large and
beautiful Church of St. Cajetan, lies about half a kilometer away to the north
east of the Se Cathedral, and quite near the ruins of the Viceregal Palace.
Click here for more details
Church of St. Francis of Assissi:
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.
Click here for more details
Church of St Paul: It was started as
a seminary of the Holy Faith for training young converts by two priests Diogo
de Borba and Miguel Vaz who had established the Santa Fé confraternity.
Click here for more details
Church of Mary Immaculate Conception:
The church was one of the first to be built in Goa, certainly being there by
1541.
Click here for more
details
Churches in Goa »
Se
Cathedral Church »
Ruins
of Church of St. Augustine »
The
Church of St. Anne at Talaulim. Ilhas »
Basilica
of Bom Jesus »
Reis Magos Church
»
St. Cajetan Church »
Church
of St. Francis of Assissi »
Church of
St Paul »
Church of Mary Immaculate
Conception
Copyright©,
Goa Tourism.org. All Rights
Reserved
|