Chapel Of St. Catherine, Goa

This is essentially a Christian ecclesiastical church and the first one of its kind to be built in Goa. Although small, the church is very elegant; this church was built by the Portuguese governor in 1510. Built-in commemoration of St. Catherine, the church underwent subsequent modification before being finally rebuilt in 1952. The chapel is simplistic in its interior design. Rectangular window panes are an omnipresent characteristic of the interiors.

The church’s history dates back to the year when the Portuguese started to rule Goa. There is an inscription on a stone slab in the church premises that essays this fact. This church is historically significant given that it existed during those glorious years of conquest and reclamation.

History

The Chapel of St. Catherine is located in the west of St. Francis of Assisi Church and is dedicated to St. Catherine. It was built by Alfonso De Albuquerque in 1510 when he defeated the local Muslim ruler Adil Shah on St. Catherine's Day that is 25th November 1510. In 1534 the chapel was granted cathedral status by Pope Paul III. It was enlarged in 1550 by the Portuguese Governor George Cabral and rebuilt in 1952 using laterite blocks.

Architecture

The Chapel was built in Renaissance-style architecture. The Chapel with a pale yellow exterior is built with laterite stones and plaster with lime mortar and has a tower on either side. The Chapel interior has only one plain altar. On one side of the Chapel is a stone inscription in Portuguese. The Chapel has rectangular window panes of the Old Portuguese style dressed in mica shells. As you enter the chapel, you will see a statue of Our Lady. There is also a beautiful altar dedicated to St. Catherine upon which stands another statue of Our Lady of Piety. It houses a beautifully gilded altar, various artworks, paintings depicting the story of St Catherine of Alexandria, and an art gallery.