Se Cathedral Church

Dedicated to St. Catherine, the Se Cathedral is also known as the Chapel of St Catherine and St Catherine’s Cathedral. This church is dedicated to St Catherine because Alfonso de Albuquerque conquered Goa on her feast day – 25th November 1510. The Church is a magnificent 16th century monument. The Se Cathedral Church is the largest church in Asia and was commissioned by the Portuguese Viceroy, Redondo in order to display the grandeur and power of his nation. The edifice, when finished, in fact, turned out to be bigger than any of the churches in Portugal.

The construction of the Se Cathedral Church began in 1562 during the rule of King Dom Sebastiao and was completed by 1619. The main altars of the church were finished in 1652. The Se Cathedral Church was consecrated in 1640. Built for the Dominicans, The Se Cathedral is located to the west of the square in Goa called the Terreiro de Sabaio. The style of the building is an amalgamation of Portuguese and Gothic elements; with the exterior of the building being Tuscan and the interior being Corinthian. The Se Cathedral Church is 250 ft in length and 181 ft in breath. The ornamental Façade of the Cathedral stands 115 ft high. There were originally two towers on either sides of this façade; but the southern tower collapsed in 1776. It was never rebuilt. The fallen absent tower, however, makes the Se Cathedral Church unique. The other thing that is very unique to the Se Cathedral Church is its simplicity of style and architecture.

It is claimed that a vision of Christ is appeared in 1919 in the Chapel of the Cross of Miracles housed in the Se Cathedral Church on the cross that hangs there. It is claimed today that the cross is slowly growing. Before, the Se Cathedral Church also used to host the Exposition of the hallowed relics of St. Francis Xavier to the public.