THE CONVENT AND CHURCH OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI
Church Was Built In : 1661
Architectural Style: Baroque & Manuline Style
Architectural Style: Archaeological Museum
To the west of the Se Cathedral is the former palace of the
Archbishop that connects the
Se
Cathedral to the
Convent
and Church of St. Francis of Assisi. The structure is built of
laterite blocks and is lime-plastered. The church faces west and has a
nave with three chapels on either side, a choir, two altars in the
transept and a main altar. To the north of the main altar is a belfry and
a sacristy. The convent, which forms an annexure to the church, now houses
the Archaeological Museum.
The Architectural
Grandeur
The exterior of the Church is of the Tuscan Order while the main entrance
is in Manuline style. The main altar is Baroque with Corinthian features.
There are no aisles but only a nave, which is rib-vaulted. The internal
buttress walls, separating the chapels and supporting the gallery on top,
have frescoes showing intricate floral designs.
In a niche on the façade, stands a statue of our lady of miracles
brought from Jaffna in Sri Lanka. A wooden statue of St. Francis of Assisi
adorns a pedestal bearing the insignia of the Franciscans. A wooden
pulpit, richly carved with floral designs is to the left as one enters.
Beneath a ribbed vault with frescoes showing floral decorations, is the
main altar, which is gilded and has a richly carved niche with a
tabernacle supported by the four evangelists.
The Tabernacle
The tabernacle was used for displaying the holy sacrament. Above the
tabernacle, in the main altar, is a large statue of St. Francis of Assisi
and an equally large statue of Jesus on the cross. Beneath the two figures
are inscribed the three vows of the Saint - poverty, humility and
obedience. On either side of the main altar, in the nave, are beautiful
large paintings on wood, depicting scenes from the life of St. Francis of
Assai.
The scenes include:
(I) An angel revealing to his mother that she would beget a child
who would become a great saint
(II) His birth
(III) His first anointment
(IV) Praying at the church of St. Dominica when Jesus commands him
to support his kingdom.
(V) The saint taking the oath and joining the Dominican odder.
(VI) His visit to the Sultan of Damascus.
(VII) The saint showing his wounds to Pope Gregory IX. In the first
floor on the western side, is the choir, which has amidst carved wooden
panels, portrait from Franciscan hagiology.
The Origin
The origin of this church and the attached convent can be traced to the
humble beginnings made by eight Franciscan friars, who, on their arrival
in 1517, secured from the then Governor a few houses that belonged to a
deceased Thanadar. By their persistent efforts they constructed a small
chapel with three altars and a choir. A church consecrated to the Holy
Ghost was built in 1521 and was later pulled down and the present church
was built on the same spot in 1661 retaining only the entrance of the
earlier church.
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