Cathedral of St. Catherine is a Catholic cathedral in Old Goa, built in the Portuguese Manueline style. It is the largest Catholic church in India and one of the largest in Asia, and is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The cathedral is quite large in size: 76 meters long and 55 meters wide. Of the basilica's two 33-meter towers, only one has survived to the present day. It houses the cathedral's bell tower with five massive bells, one of which - the "Golden Bell" - is one of the largest in Goa. Its ringing can be heard 14 kilometers away.
The interior of the cathedral is done in the Corinthian style. The main altar is gilded and dedicated to Saint Catherine the Great Martyr. Ancient images on the sides of the altar depict places from the life and martyrdom of Saint Catherine. In total, the cathedral has 15 altars located in its eight chapels. On the grounds there is the Chapel of Francis Xavier, the patron saint of Goa. In this chapel he baptized the local population during his missionary work in Goa. The Chapel of the Miraculous Cross is also located here. It is believed that Jesus Christ appeared on this cross on February 23, 1619, after which the cross began to increase in size.
It is also believed that this cross is capable of healing the sick. Thanks to this miraculous relic, Cathedral of St. Catherine became a center of unceasing pilgrimage.
