India is the mother of Hinduism. The religion of this country has remained unchanged for thousands of years. And then suddenly information appears that in this conservative country (in terms of faith) there is a functioning Christian church. It is located in the center of tourist life - in Goa. St. Catherine's Cathedral is a true Christian island in such a distant land. Get to know him in more detail.
Cathedral of St. Catherine (Goa)
It is very difficult for Hindus to pronounce a long European name, so in Asia it is customary to refer to the church as the Cathedral of Se Catedral. This is the oldest and most famous building of Christian culture throughout India. It is guarded by the world community, and now thousands of tourists come to the city of Old Goa to take a closer look at the beauty and originality of architecture of the 17th century.
Nowadays, the church adorns Old Goa. St. Catherine's Cathedral was built during the time of Portuguese greatness, when imperial mariners massively captured foreign countries.
Old Goa is considered the Catholic capital of Asia. A lot is known about him thanks to the missionary activities of nowadays St. Francis Xavier. It was he who initiated the creation of the cathedral and its main bishop after the opening. The relics of the saint are currently stored in a basilica in the city center.
History of creation
Back in 1510, the Portuguese invaders broke into the city of Goa, which was in India. This country aroused extraordinary interest among European colonists, as it possessed innumerable wealth. Fights for supremacy were waged for several decades, until finally, at the beginning of the 16th century, the Portuguese won.
In honor of this great event for the empire, the king ordered the creation of a grand temple, which will testify to the greatness of Portugal. So the Cathedral of St. Catherine appeared on Goa. And it is named after the feast of the Holy Great Martyr Catherine, on the day of remembrance of which the army raised the victorious flag in the central square of the city.
Architecture
This is what the modern cathedral of St. Catherine (Goa) looks like . The photo was taken from the square on which a masterpiece of medieval art now stands.
By the way, the square itself is also very remarkable. It is called Terreiro de Sabayo. During the Inquisition, auto-da-fe were held here. Literally, this translates as an “act of faith”, but practically meant the execution of the sentences of the inquisitorial court, and this, as you know, is a painful execution.
The first project was completely different. It was originally planned that the cathedral will be adobe, but, as it turned out, such a design is completely unreliable in a tropical climate. The temple was rebuilt from brick. The construction took as much as 75 years and was finally completed in 1640 with solemn consecration.
Cathedral of St. Catherine (Old Goa) is made in the traditional style of Portuguese Gothic. The design was attended by Portuguese and Italian architects. Characteristic Gothic features can be easily traced: a rich facade with many carved details, intricate multi-color stained-glass windows, sharp domes and spiers, pointed arched vaults and tall columns.
Myths of the Cathedral of Xie Catedral
One of the most mysterious cases that occurred with the temple is the loss of the second tower. If you look closely, the photo shows that the Cathedral of Xie is not symmetrical. So I want to add a second tower for proportion. The thing is that in 1776 a hurricane took her away.
Some historical sources claim that the tower was blown away by a hurricane, while others are sure that lightning has hit it. Heretics believe that this is God's message to the Portuguese government. Be that as it may, but soon the invaders were expelled from the country, and St. Catherine’s Cathedral remained a symbol of the former power.
Another story is connected with the appearance of Christ. According to eyewitnesses, the image of God's Son appeared in one of the chapels. After that, a crucifix was discovered in that place. Even those who do not believe in miraculous power are surprised, but the crucifix increases by several millimeters every year. There are legends about his phenomenal powers. They say that leaning against a crucifix, you can not only ask for healing, but also ask the deceased for the right way out of a difficult situation. Now the chapel is called the name of Christ.
Main attraction
In one of the remaining towers, a magnificent landmark has been preserved, which people come to see from all over Goa. St. Catherine’s Cathedral has preserved a huge gilded bell. It is called the Golden Bell. The addition of noble metal gives a special sound. A symbol of such magnitude is the only relic of a similar scale preserved from those times. It is the largest not only in Asia, but also one of the largest leaders in the world.
The central altar is also of interest. It is dedicated to Catherine of Alexandria. Surprisingly, several paintings have survived from the 17th century. They are on display right on the main altar. The largest image, dating from the late 17th century, is located next to the place where the church choir sings.
To the right and left of the altar are chapels. There are eight of them, and each of them bears the name of one of the Catholic saints.
Where to go
An ordinary tourist does not need to know exactly where the Cathedral of St. Catherine (Goa) is located. Getting there is the concern of travel agencies offering excursions to this place. But just in case, we inform you: you need to go to the city of Old Goa or Goa Velha (the more common name in India). If you get on your own, it will be easiest to order a taxi.