Basilica of Bom Jesus, Old Goa

The Basilica of Bom Jesus or Borea Jezuchi Bajilika is located in Goa, India and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The basilica holds the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier. The church is located in Old Goa, which was the capital of Goa in the early days of Portuguese rule.

 The Jesuit church is India’s first minor basilica, and is considered to be one of the best examples of baroque architecture in India.

Construction work on the church began in 1594 and the church was consecrated in May 1605 by the archbishop, Dom Fr. Aleixo de Menezes. This world heritage monument has emerged as a landmark in the history of Christianity.
It contains the body of St. Francis Xavier, a very close friend of St. Ignatius Loyola with whom he founded the Society of Jesus, the (Jesuits). Francis Xavier died on Sancian Island while en route to continental China on (December 2, 1552).

This is one of the oldest churches in Goa, as well as in India. The floor is of marble inlaid with precious stones. Apart from the elaborate gilded altars, the interior of the church is simple.

The church also holds paintings of scenes taken from the life of St. Francis Xavier.

The mausoleum, on the top of which is placed the silver casket with the body of St. Francis Xavier (1696), was the gift of the last of the Medicis, Cosimo III, the Grand Duke of Tuscany.

The Basilica of Bom Jesus is more than 408 years old and is open to the public everyday.
The body of St. Francis Xavier is kept in a well-decorated casket, which can be seen in the photographs below. 

Solemn exhibitions of the 'body' are held every ten years. Some photos taken inside the church are attached for better understanding of the art work of that time. These art works are called "murals".


Information taken from google....