St Francis Xavier and the 400-Year Story of the Basilica
Construction began in 1594 and was completed in 1605, when Archbishop Aleixo de Menezes consecrated the church. ‘Bom Jesus’ translates from Portuguese as ‘Good Jesus’, a name tied to the Jesuit devotion to the Infant Jesus, and the church was raised to the status of a Minor Basilica by pontifical decree in 1946.
The Basilica’s identity, however, belongs almost entirely to one person. St Francis Xavier was born in Spain in 1506, co-founded the Society of Jesus alongside St Ignatius of Loyola, and arrived in Goa in 1542. He spent the following decade evangelising across India, Southeast Asia, and Japan before dying in 1552 on Shangchuan Island, off the coast of China.
His body was transferred to Goa in 1554, and his remains arrived in the early 17th century. The current mausoleum structure was installed in the Basilica around 1698. The reported incorruptibility of that body, said to have been found entirely intact when retrieved, turned a church into a pilgrimage centre. Once every decade, the Basilica holds an Exposition, bringing the silver casket down from its elevated platform so that pilgrims may view the remains through the glass urn directly; the event draws hundreds of thousands of visitors to Old Goa over several weeks. Outside Exposition years, the casket remains on its platform in the right transept, visible from the floor but not at close range.
Baroque Architecture: What to Look for on the Outside
The first thing that sets the Basilica apart, before you step inside, is what is missing. Every other major church in Old Goa is plastered white. This one is not. Its laterite stone facade has been left exposed since 1605, giving it a studied austerity that reads as striking rather than unfinished, particularly when you are standing across from the gleaming Sé Cathedral.
Look up at the upper pediment, and you will find the Jesuit monogram IHS carved into the stone, an abbreviation for ‘Jesus, Saviour of Men’. The facade draws on Doric, Corinthian, and composite architectural orders, and a belfry rises at the rear, topped with a pyramidal roof. The structure follows a simple Renaissance layout; all the Baroque richness is saved for the interior.
Inside the Basilica: Altars, the Silver Casket, and the Art Gallery
The interior is considerably richer than the facade suggests. The floor is inlaid with marble mosaic and precious stones, and the gilded main altar, elaborately carved in wood and stone, fills the nave with considerable presence. Side chapels dedicated to different saints line the perimeter. Give yourself time in the nave before moving towards the mausoleum.
St Francis Xavier’s mausoleum occupies the right transept on an elevated platform. His remains lie within an airtight glass urn, placed inside a silver casket crafted in the late 17th century under the supervision of Fr Marco Mastrilli SJ. The entire structure rests on a marble base, part of a cenotaph gifted by Cosimo III de Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany.
Before leaving, take the passage at the rear of the church to the attached art gallery. One of the largest religious art galleries in Asia, it houses large-format paintings by Goan artist Dom Martin produced between 1973 and 1976; the 2 standout works are ‘The Last Judgement’ (6 ft x 9 ft) and ‘Genesis’ (4 ft x 28 ft). Most visitors walk past the entrance. The detour takes about 20 minutes.
Â
Visiting Hours and Mass at the Bom Jesus Church, Old Goa
The Bom Jesus Church, Old Goa, is open throughout the week, and entry is free. Below are the key practical details for your visit:
Visiting Hours (Weekdays): 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Visiting Hours (Sundays): 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Entry: Free of charge
Mass (Sunday): 7:00 AM - 8:00 AM (Konkani), 9:15 AM (English)
Mass (Monday - Saturday): 7:00 AM (Konkani), 8:00 AM (English)
Mass at the Chapel of St Francis Xavier: 6th of every month at 10:00 AM
Holy Hour: First Friday of every month at 5:00 PM
Timings may vary on public holidays and major feast days. Confirming ahead of your visit is recommended.
Visitor Tips: Dress Code, Photography, and What to Expect Inside
Before your visit, keep the following in mind:
Dress Code: Covered shoulders and knees are required throughout the building.
Photography: Flash photography is not permitted in the mausoleum area.
Silence: Respectful silence is expected near the relics.
Guides: Available near the entrance; tours run approximately 45 minutes and cover the nave, mausoleum, and art gallery.
First-time Visitors: Hiring a guide adds significant depth to the experience.
The Basilica sits at the centre of Old Goa’s UNESCO heritage precinct. The Sé Cathedral, the Church of St Francis of Assisi, and the Archaeological Museum of Goa are within walking distance from the Basilica. A practical order is to start at the Basilica early, then walk to the Sé Cathedral and across to the Church and Museum.
Best Time to Visit the Basilica of Bom Jesus
Peak Season (October to March): Temperatures between 20°C and 28°C, dry skies, and the most comfortable conditions for sightseeing
Quietest Months: November and February, if avoiding crowds matters more than weather
Monsoon (June to September): The Basilica stays open, but the surrounding heritage area can be wet, and other monuments may have limited access.
Feast of St Francis Xavier (3rd December): Large crowds gather from early morning; parking in Old Goa fills quickly; arriving before 8:00 AM is advisable if attending.
Weekday Mornings: Generally the quietest; organised tour groups typically arrive later in the day.
For those planning a full day across the heritage precinct, the cooler months between November and February give you the longest comfortable window outdoors. The precinct extends well beyond the Basilica, with over a dozen places to visit in Old Goa ranging from the St Augustine Tower ruins to the riverside views at Viceroy's Arch.
MIROS Hotels: Your Stay near the Basilica of Bom Jesus, Goa
After your morning at the Basilica of Bom Jesus, Goa, and the surrounding heritage precinct, MIROS Hotels in Bainguinim sits within walking distance. We are a 5-star boutique property with 3 room categories: the 300 sq. ft. Serene Room with garden or pool views and the 750 sq. ft. Miros Suite, complete with a sunlit bathtub and a walk-in wardrobe.
Our pure vegetarian restaurant draws on Indian, Asian, and Continental recipes with an à la carte menu, and outdoor dining is available in the evenings. Beyond the pool and spa, our leisure facilities include archery, a cricket pitch with a bowling machine, and guided heritage walks across Old Goa.
Spend more than a day covering the Bom Jesus Church, Old Goa, precinct, the Sé Cathedral, and nearby heritage sites, and return to something considerably quieter at the end of the day at MIROS Hotels.
