basilica of bom jesus

basilica of bom jesus

The basilica of bom jesus is located in Goa  ...the basilica holds the mortal remains of st francis xavier who is known as goecho saibh ...the church is located in old goa ,it was the capital of goa during the portuguese rules.....construction of this church was started in 1594 and it was completed in the year 1605. 'bom jesus' is the name used for ecce homo in the countries of portuguese colonization .the jesuit church is indias first minor basillica and is considered to be one of the best examples of baroque architecture in india.....this world heritage monument has emerged  as a landmark in the history of christianity.
this church is one of the oldest churches in goa and also in india ..the floor is made up of marbles inlaid with precious stones ..the church also holds paintings of scenes taken from the life of st.francis xavier .the mausoleum,on the top of which is placed the silver casket with the body of st. francis xavier (1696).the casket containing his body is made up of silver.the holy relics of the saint are displayed every ten years during his death aniversary .
On the upper level ,overlooking at the tomb,is the bom jesus basilica art gallery .this basilica of bom jesus is more than 408 years .this is the only church in old goa not plastered on outside, inside  the basilicas layout is simple but grand,contained beneath a simple wooden ceiling.

next to the basilica is the professed house of the jesuits ,a two storey laterite building covered with lime plaster .it actually pre-dates the basilica ,having been completed in 1585. here many schools come for retreat ...and i was one of them .staying there for two days were the best days of my life .people doesn't get to visit all parts of basilica but as retreatens we were allowed to see the other beautiful  parts of it . 

mass is held in the basilica  in konkani at 7 am and 8 am monday to saturday,at 8 am and 9:15 am on sunday .and in english at 10:15 am on sunday. confession is held daily in the sacristy from 5 pm to 6 pm