Church And Convent Of St Monica

Locating onto the Monte Santo, decisively facing North is the convent of Santa Monica. Like a grand old matriarch, the constructing stands not just with grace and dignity but with formidable splendor and an air of insurmountable defenses; tenderly sheltering the ones within at the same time as repelling the whims and fancies of the fickle, shallow world.

This nunnery in Goa is called for St. Monica who was the ancestor of St. Augustine, and it may once hold extra than 250 inmates. It turned into a sanctuary now not best for nuns, but additionally for widows inclined to dedicate themselves to the provider of God, and for the limited protection of well-born women whose husbands had cruised too far off the country on military invasion or journey.

The convent loved the patronage of Royalty and turned into the primary nunnery within the east. The convent resides the Miraculous or Weeping Cross in one of the churches and chapels.

This convent of Santa Monica became sanctioned in 1598 and the Archbishop Aleixo de Menezes laid the inspiration stone in 1606. Construction changed into completion in 1627. Built like a fortress, this convent is extensive for its large walls and buttresses. The convent has a full-size courtyard with a cloister. Its three tales have several cells and halls. Massive standing, instead of flying buttresses represent the exterior of the convent.

On Christmas Eve 1636, a huge fire in part destroyed the building however it became restored by Fr. Diogo de Santa Anna, who became the then administrator and “spiritual father” of the convent.