The foundation for the oldest Church in Goa, Basilica of Bom Jesus, was laid out in the year 1594, and it was completed at the hands of the then Archbishop of Goa and Primate of India Fr. Alexia de Menezes in the year 1605.
After his death, the body of St. Francis Xavier was first preserved in Portugal but was then shipped to the Basilica. St. Francis Xavier was known to have therapeutic healing powers, along with some phenomenal insights. His body remains preserved in an ornamented coffin kept at the Basilica in a mausoleum.
Even after 400 years of burial, the remains are said to be in good condition and are taken out every decade. It is, in fact, one of the Seven Wonders of the World of Portuguese origin.
The church completed its construction in the year 1604 and stands as an epitome of the Portuguese colonial architecture and Baroque architecture.
The church is located in Bainguinim, about 10 km from Panjim, and attracts several tourists from all across the world.
‘Bom Jesus’ is a word of Latin origin and translates to ‘Holy (or Good) Jesus.’ The rooftop of the church is triangular, and is inscribed with the initials ‘IHS’, which translates to the Jesuit emblem meaning ‘Jesus, Savior of Men.’
The Basilica of Bom Jesus is a Roman Catholic Church located in Old Goa and stands to be the oldest Church of Goa. It is a UNESCO recognized World Heritage Site.
