Se Cathedral

Se Cathedral is dedicated to Saint Catherine of Alexandria in present day Egypt. She became a Christian at the age of 14 and converted hundreds of people to Christianity before being martyred at the young age of 18 by the then emperor. When Afonso de Albuquerque, the Portuguese general, conquered Goa on 25th November after defeating Adil Shah, it was the day of Feast of St. Catherine. Hence when Se Cathedral was built in the 16th century to commemorate the victory of Portuguese, it was dedicated to her. It is also the seat of the Roman Catholic Metropolitan Archdiocese of Goa and Daman. The Archbishop's Palace is right behind it, but is no longer in use. Situated on the banks of Mandovi River and opposite the Church of St Cajetan, this UNESCO World Heritage Site covers a huge tract of land with nicely manicured lawns. In the 18th century, one (northern) of the two towers of the cathedral collapsed and it has not been reconstructed since. This lends a unique asymmetric look to the imposing edifice. A tall statue of Jesus Christ with open arms can be seen facing the cathedral entrance. On the inside, besides the main altar dedicated to Saint Catherine of Alexandria, the cathedral has eight chapels and six altars along its aisles. This cathedral hosts the largest church bell in the state and you could hear the pealing at regular intervals.