Churches of Goa : St. Xavier's Mausoleum

St.Francis Xavier Picture

To the south of the Basilica of Bom Jesus church on the right lies a lavishly and exquisitely decorated chapel and tomb of St. Francis Xavier laid in St. Francis Xavier Church. Following the Canonization of St. Francis Xavier, the Jesuits decided to move his body to the Basilica from the College of St. Paul. The body of the saint was moved with great fanfare and ceremonies in 1624 to the Chapel in the Basilica on the north side . It was moved to its present site in 1655. The Chapel is entered by three doors, looking to the east, west and and South respectively. Over the last door is hung a beautiful picture 5 7/10 feet by 4 1/3 feet which is said to bear a faithful likeness to the saint. The interior of the chapel is richly gilded and embellished with twenty seven pictures choice pictures representing the life and the miracles of the saint.

The mausoleum is a three tiered catafalque structure that was financed by the Duke of Tuscany (1670-1737) in return for the pillow on which the head of St. Francis Xavier rested for many years after his death. The famed Florentine sculptor Giovanni Batista Foggini designed and executed the structure ( taking about ten years to do that) and it was consecrated in 1698.The tomb is constructed of rich marble of variegated colors. The mausoleum packed in 65 cases arrived at Goa on September 16 1698 from Florence, Italy. It was erected between October 14th to November 9th 1698.

The first or lowest stage is of jasper. Its bottom is of reddish and purple colors marked with white stripes and the borders are of white stone with yellow stripes. This is sculpted with figures of eight large cherubs. This stage is 4 1/3 feet high, 19 1/10 feet long and 9 2/3 feet broad and resembles an urn.

The second stage is 5 2/3 feet high, 11 1/3 feet long and 5 1/3 feet wide and is a regular quadrangle. It is also made of jasper and in its center on each side is a bronze plate depicting the various incidents in the life of the saint. There is also a corresponding emblematic figure with a motto below each plate.

The third and the highest stage is exquisite. It is 9 2/5 feet long and 3 2/3 feet broad and 2 1/5 feet high. It is surrounded by a beautiful railing of red jasper marked with white spots. It is adorned with pretty figures of angels, and its middle portion is graced with columns carved and standing at equal intervals. The intervening spaces are surmounted with arches and have several incidents in the life of the saint represented on them. On the top of this stage lies the Silver casket in which the relics of the saint are deposited.