Nestled in the picturesque village of Velha, also known as Old Goa, the Convent of Santa Monica and the Chapel of Weeping Cross in Goa are historical religious sites with significant cultural and architectural importance. The Church of Santa Monica [a State Protected Monument] is attached to the Convent. The nave of the Church is divided into two parts. The first makes up the main part of the Church, with two side altars, the one on the right dedicated to Divine Jesus, the other on the left to Virgin Mary. The main altar is dedicated to Santa Monica, mother of Saint Augustine. The other part of the Church [presently the Museum of Christian Art] is separated from the first large arcade by an iron railing. The Nuns used to hear Mass from the Choir, which was in the inner part of the chapel, and through the railings one could see the Priest at the altar without being seen by the congregation.
There is an altar dedicated to Christ [Weeping Cross] reputed to be miraculous. It is stated that on February 8, 1636, the second Friday of Lent, this image opened its eyes and was seen moving, while from its wounds blood appeared to flow as though it were living. The miracle is said to have occurred again on the 12th of the same month, in the presence of the Viceroy and many other people. After a thorough enquiry, the occurrence was declared as miraculous. Since then, the image is held in great veneration. Its feast is celebrated on the last Sunday of November.
The Church of Santa Monica [Chapel of the Weeping Cross] has been recently restored by the Museum of Christian Art with the financial assistance from the Directorate of Archives and Archaeology, Government of Goa.
Church of Saint Augustine
Church of Saint Augustine is a ruined Church complex located in Old Goa. The Church was completed in 1602 and is part of the World Heritage Site, Churches and Convents of Goa. Just above the Convent of Saint John of God, there stood a huge monastery or the Convent of Saint Augustine, now all in ruins.
Only one tower of the Church stands there to tell the tourists and the visitors that once there stood a huge Convent and Church from where the Augustinian Friars sallied to work in different parts of India, especially in Bengal, Thane in Mumbai, Hormuz in the Persian Gulf. These Friars had no opportunity to work in Goa.
The Convent was erected on top of the Monte Santo [Holy Hills] in 1572 by twelve Augustinians, immediately after their arrival in the City of Goa on September 3, 1572. Friar Antonio da Paixao was their first Provincial Superior. For three months, they were guests of the Franciscans.
The Convent was built by Friar Gaspar de S. Vicente, the Superior. The foundation was laid by Dom Friar Aleixo de Menezes, the Archbishop, on September 9, 1597. The Convent and the Church were completed in 1602. When the Convent was suppressed in 1835, it was in a good state of preservation; 59 Friars left the Convent after the Portuguese Government of Goa began evicting many religious orders in Goa under its new repressive policies. The subsequent neglect caused the vault of the Church to collapse on September 8, 1842.
To the north of this Convent was the Church with its façade facing the East. It had two towers and contained bells of enormous sizes. The biggest bell is now found hanging on the belfry of the Parish Church of Panjim, from 1875. Previously, the same bell was hanging on the Light House of the Fort of Aguada [in Bardez] from 1841 to 1871.
The façade had fallen during the night of August 8, 1931and half the tower on 19th August of the same year. One third of it had collapsed in 1938. What remains now of the façade is the tower of the north. The tower to the south has disappeared.
Our Lady of Three Necessities [Old Goa]
In the Sé Cathedral, Old Goa on the left, there stands a side altar where there is a small statue of Our Lady. Many might have looked at it, yet very few must have been aware of the fact that it is the statue of Our Lady of Three Necessities. Not much historical information is available. However, tradition has it that Our Lady shed tears on two occasions and three handkerchiefs got soaked when these tears were wiped. At that very instant, her countenance turned resplendent and more graceful. It is said that this very expression on her face continued down the years to our present days.
The Apparitions of Our Lady at Batim
- A Historical Perspective
Batim is a village situated in the Tiswadi district of North Goa. It is situated about 10 kms away from Panjim. The Parish Church of Batim is dedicated to Guadalupe Saibinn. ie. Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe. Next to Batim is Ganxim Hill which forms a part of the village of Ganxim. The imposing Church on the Ganxim hilltop was constructed by the Augustinian Archbishop, D. Frei Alexio de Menezes between 1596-1610 and was dedicated to the Apostles, Saint Simon and Saint Jude.
It was Fr. Pedro Francisco Pereira from Betalbatim who was instrumental in reviving and renovating the Ganxim Church with help from the locals and the Holy See [as can be seen from the plaque in the Church]. He was also helped by Fr. Inacio Mariano do Rosario of Pilar. After completion of the restoration work, the Holy Mass was celebrated on June 3, 1973 and thereafter on every first Thursday of the month. The feast of Saint Simon and Saint Jude after which the Ganxim Church is named, is celebrated on the last Sunday of October.
Batim village received widespread publicity in 1993 due to the apparition of the Virgin Mary to Mrs. Iveta Fernandes at Mount Batim. The devotion to Our Lady of Fatima reinvigorated in that part of Goa. On March 3, 1995, first Friday of the month in lent, inside the Church of Saint Jude and Saint Simon, Batim Goa, there were three candles and an oil lamp burning. The silhouette of Mother Mary was seen when the photographs were developed.
Bambolim Cross
Bambolim is Tiswasdi or llhas Taluka’s cute little village. Since long it has been made known by the miraculous Cross, and more recently by the sprawling Goa Medical Complex, the AIR Super Power Transmitter and the Military camp. Hence passers-by traversing via the NH17 highway may be compelled to believe that whatever meets the eye is all that comprises of Bambolim.
Perhaps the first recorded miracle was that of Santana Afonso of Siridao. Santana was in the terminal stage of cancer and all medical hope was lost. In desperation, when she and her, husband Cassano visited the Cross, she suddenly began writhing in pain. While in pain she vowed to provide a canopy for the Cross if she was cured. And she did get miraculously cured. Santana kept her promise and the Cross got its first temporary canopy. The covering kept changing over the years.
Beautification of the Cross took place in 1969 when the officers and jawans set up their military base in the vicinity. The marble tiles plastered to the Cross by the military are still intact. For the military camp, the Cross was their place of worship. Bambolim owes its fame to the humble Holy Cross. On May 21, 1995 the foundation stone was laid by Archbishop Raul Gonsalves. It was completed, blessed and inaugurated by Archbishop on October 13, 1996 and called the Holy Cross Church [Shrine]. From the beginning, it is known as Bambolecho Khuris , Milagricho Khuris ,Eremito Milagr Khuris later Fulacho Khuris. [Miraculous Cross].People passing by acknowledged its presence with a Sign of the Cross, others by bowing their heads. Some stop, offer garlands, candles and other offerings. Some of them visit the Church for a short adoration as the Blessed Sacrament is exposed during the day. The Feast day is celebrated on the third Sunday of May.
Tomorrow: Part III: Miracles of Goa – Saint Francis Xavier