Goa Churches
Se Cathedral Chruch
There
are four chapels on either side of the nave, two of which have perforated wooden
screens across the entrance. The screens have a high degree of filigree carving
which has transformed wood into most delicate insinuations of foliage. Of these
two screened chapels, the outstanding Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament has a
magnificently gilded and beautifully decorated wall and ceiling, in complete
contrast to the sober look of the cathedral's interior.
On the right of the nave, is the other screened chapel, the Chapel of the Cross
of Miracles. A vision of Christ is said to have appeared in 1919 on this huge,
plain, cross. Towering above the main altar is the huge gilded reredos. Scenes
from the life of St Catherine, to whom the cathedral is dedicated, are carved
on its six main panels. The Saint was beheaded in Alexandria and among the images
here are those showing her awaiting execution and being carried to Mount Sinai
by angels.
The two small statuettes inset into the main pillars supporting the choir are
that of St Francis Xavier and St Ignatius Loyola. To the right is a chamber
containing the baptismal font made in 1532, perhaps brought from the old Cathedral.
St Francis Xavier is said to have baptized thousands of Goan converts using
this font. A large painting of St. Christopher is hung beneath the choir.
To the left of the entrance are four chapels dedicated to Our Lady of Virtues,
St. Sebastian, the Blessed Sacrament and Our Lady of Life. To the right, again
are four chapels dedicated to St. Anthony, St. Bernard, the Cross of Miracles
and the Holy Ghost.
In the nave are two wooden pulpits projecting from two columns on the right.
In the transept are six altars, three on either side of the main altar. The
altars on the right side are those of St. Anna, Our Lady of Doloures and St.
Peter, while those on the left are those of Our Lady of Sorrows, Our Lady of
Three Necessities and Our Lady of Hope.
The arches accommodating four of these altars are decorated with paintings depicting
scenes from the lives of the saints. On either side of the nave is a niche in
which are kept the wooden statues of St. Paul and St. Peter.
In the nave, near the altar, to the right is a projecting gallery on which is
kept an 18th century organ. In the nave near the altar are seats for the canon
and a throne for the archbishop. There is also a richly carved ebony stand,
which was originally in the Church of St. Francis of Assisi.
To the right is a door that leads to the sacristy, which is a barrel-vaulted
structure with gilded altar showing a church modelled after St. Peter's Church
in Rome.
The adjoining convent has been turned in to an Archeological Museum and is open
to the public. Just behind the cathedral lies a two storied edifice, the Palace
of the Archbishop, which is no longer in use. The Franciscan church lies to
the the west of the cathedral.
