One of the most vital visitor points of interest of Goa, the beautiful church of St. Cajetan, lies about half a kilometre away to the north east of the Se Cathedral, one of the landmarks of Goa’s capital city, Panjim.
Constructed in the purity of white, the church is one of the most revered shrines of India, without being one of the largest traveller sights of Goa.
History of Cajetan Church
The history of the church dates back to the middle of the 17th century when it was constructed by the Italian friars of the Order of Theatines. Dedicated to Our Lady of Divine Providence, the church is named after the founder of the Theatine order, St. Cajetan, a necessary religious personality during the duration of St Francis Xavier.
The development of the church was once done in 1661 after permission to construct a church and a convent at the site was obtained in 1655.
Architecture of Cajetan Church
One of the main attractions of the church is the exquisite architecture that surrounds it. Modelled after the Basilica of St. Peter in Rome, the church showcases a Corinthian style of architecture.
Built of laterite blocks that are covered with a plaster of lime, the church exhibits Corinthian columns and pilasters supporting a pediment, and four niches in which the statues of the apostles are kept.
The church consists of six alters, among which the main one is dedicated to Our Lady of Divine Providence. Besides these, the interiors of the church consist of wooden statutes of the various saints of Christianity as well as paintings and sculptures depicting various scenes from the life of St. Cajetan.
Legend and Lore
The story goes, three Italian Theatine monks were sent to India by Pope Urban VIII to spread Christianity in Golconda. Not being allowed to preach there, they got here to Goa in 1640 and quickly thereafter started out the development of a Hospital on the Monte Santo between the Nunnery of Santa Monica and the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary.
However, as they had been foreigners, the Viceroy of Goa stopped the development and evicted them from Goa in 1645.
Undeterred, the monks made their way to Portugal and petitioned the king himself representing the need for the hospital and asking that they be allowed to build it. King Dom Joao IV was impressed by their dedication and gave them his permission. They returned to Goa and built their hospital in 1650. Later, in 1655, they started building the Church and the convent which was attached to it.
The Theatines are also credited as being the ones who advocated that Holy Communion should be distributed to all Goan Catholics irrespective of their social class or caste. Prior to this Communion was reserved only for the higher classes of Indian Catholics.
The Theatines demanded that the archbishop convene a public conference and put forward many arguments from Scripture to support their convictions.
An unrivalled depiction of beauty and grace, this church is yet another must see on a visit to Old Goa. The atmosphere is one of cool and collected reflection as it watches over its people, witnessing days stretch into years in the vast ocean of time.
