Se Cathedral
Latin Catholic cathedral in Goa, India
title: "Se Cathedral" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["roman-catholic-church-buildings-in-old-goa", "roman-catholic-cathedrals-in-india", "colonial-goa", "monuments-and-memorials-in-goa", "tourist-attractions-in-north-goa-district", "roman-catholic-churches-completed-in-1619", "1640-establishments-in-india", "1640s-establishments-in-portuguese-india", "baroque-architecture-in-india", "portuguese-colonial-architecture-in-india", "1619-establishments-in-the-portuguese-empire", "17th-century-roman-catholic-church-buildings-in-india", "roman-catholic-church-buildings-in-goa"] description: "Latin Catholic cathedral in Goa, India" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Se_Cathedral" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Latin Catholic cathedral in Goa, India ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox church"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Se Cathedral |
| fullname | Cathedral of St. Catherine |
| native_name |
| | image | Se Cathedral from Rua Direita.jpg | | imagesize | 250px | | caption | Front façade of the Se Cathedral | | coordinates | | | location | Old Goa | | country | India | | denomination | Catholic Church | | sui iuris church | Latin Church | | website | | | founded date | | | dedication | Catherine of Alexandria | | consecrated date | 1640 | | status | Cathedral | | style | Portuguese-Gothic | | length | 250 ft | | width | 181 ft | | archdiocese | Archdiocese of Goa and Daman | ::
::callout[type=note] the Se Cathedral in Goa, India ::
| name = Se Cathedral | fullname = Cathedral of St. Catherine | native_name =
| image = Se Cathedral from Rua Direita.jpg | imagesize = 250px | caption = Front façade of the Se Cathedral | coordinates = | location = Old Goa | country = India | denomination = Catholic Church | sui iuris church = Latin Church | previous denomination = | churchmanship = | membership = | attendance = | website = | former name = | bull date = | founded date = | founder = | dedication = Catherine of Alexandria | dedicated date = | consecrated date = 1640 | cult = | relics = | events = | past bishop = | people = | status = Cathedral | functional status = | heritage designation = | designated date = | architect = | architectural type = | style = Portuguese-Gothic | groundbreaking = | completed date = | construction cost = | closed date = | demolished date = | capacity = | length = 250 ft | width = 181 ft | width nave = | height = | diameter = | other dimensions = | floor count = | floor area = | dome quantity = | dome height outer = | dome height inner = | dome dia outer = | dome dia inner = | spire quantity = | spire height = | materials = | parish = | deanery = | archdeaconry = | archdiocese = Archdiocese of Goa and Daman | diocese = | province = | presbytery = | synod = | circuit = | district = | division = | subdivision = | archbishop = | bishop = | dean = | subdean = | provost = | provost-rector = | viceprovost = | canon = | canonpastor = | precentor = | archdeacon = | prebendary = | rector = | vicar = | curate = | priestincharge = | priest = | asstpriest = | minister = | assistant = | honpriest = | deacon = | deaconness = | seniorpastor = | pastor = | abbot = | chaplain = | reader = | organistdom = | director = | organist = | organscholar = | chapterclerk = | laychapter = | warden = | flowerguild = | musicgroup = | parishadmin = | serversguild = | logo = | logosize =
The Sé Catedral de Santa Catarina, known as Se Cathedral, is the cathedral of the Latin Church Archdiocese of Goa and Daman and the seat of the Patriarch of the East Indies. It is part of the World Heritage Site, Churches and convents of Goa located in Old Goa, India.
History
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a4/Perspective_view_of_Church_of_St._Francis_and_Se_Cathedral.jpg" caption="A view of the Se Cathedral and Church of St. Francis"] ::
The word Sé is Portuguese for See. The Se Cathedral was built to commemorate the victory of the Portuguese under Afonso de Albuquerque over a Muslim army, leading to the capture of the city of Goa in 1510. Since the day of the victory happened to be on the feast of Saint Catherine, the cathedral was dedicated to her.
It was commissioned by Governor George Cabral to be enlarged in 1552 on the remains of an earlier structure. Construction of the church began in 1562 in the reign of King Dom Sebastião. The cathedral was completed in 1619 and was consecrated in 1640.
It had two towers, but one collapsed in 1776 and was never rebuilt.
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5a/SeCathedralMillstone.jpg" caption="Mill Stones from the Gun Powder factory preserved at the church."] ::
In 1953, the cathedral was presented with "The Golden Rose" by Venerable Pope Pius XII. The Golden Rose is a gold ornament, which the Popes of the Catholic Church have traditionally blessed and conferred as a token of reverence or affection. It is placed on the tomb of St. Francis Xavier.
The first Lithuanian Jesuit missionary in China, Andrius Rudamina, arrived in India in Goa on 22 August 1625. Almost 400 years later, 2015, a memorial stone bearing Andrius Rudamina's name was erected in the courtyard of Se Cathedral in Old Goa.
Architecture
The architecture style of the Se Cathedral is Portuguese-Manueline. The exterior is Tuscan, whereas the interior is Corinthian. The church is 250 ft in length and 181 ft in breadth. The frontispiece stands 115 ft high.
Inside the cathedral
The Se Cathedral's tower houses a large bell known as the "Golden Bell" on account of its rich tone. It is said to be the largest in Goa, and one of the best in the world. The main altar is dedicated to Catherine of Alexandria, and there are several old paintings on either side of it. On the right there is a Chapel of the Cross of Miracles, where a vision of Christ is said to have appeared in 1619. There are six main panels, on which scenes from the life of Saint Catherine are carved. There is a huge gilded reredos above the main altar.
The Se Cathedral also houses a baptismal font made in 1532 which was used by Saint Francis Xavier in order to baptise several Goan converts.
Gallery
File:Se Cathedral4.JPG|Altar File:SeCathedralAltar.jpg|Altar detail File:Interior of Se Cathedral Old Goa 1.jpg|Interior view towards Reredos File:Side Elevation of Se Cathedral.jpg|Side view File:Old Goa, Se Cathedral 2.jpg|Front view File:Goa-CathedralInterior.jpg|Interior view File:Bell Tower on Se Cathedral.jpg|Bell Tower File:Paitings on the walls of Se Cathedral.jpg|Painting on the walls File:Church of St. Francis of Assisi and Se Cathedral.jpg|Church of St. Francis of Assisi and Se Cathedral
References
;Citations ;Bibliography
References
- {{harvnb. Issar. 1997
- {{harvnb. Pereira. 2000
- Monteiro L., [https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/State-to-unveil-memorial-to-first-Lithuanian-in-India/articleshow/48563799.cms State to unveil memorial to first Lithuanian in India]
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