Over 250 years OldSt. Anthony Chapel at Goa-Velha There is life size statue of St. Anthony on the main altar (see pics) Many devotees came here year after year to attend 13 novena starting from June 1. On the feast day i.e. 13th June, it was like any other church feast with fair etc But this year, it was different. The Goa-velha church conducted parallel novenas/feast at the church advising devotee not to attend the chapel? (locals say it was due to the non-corporation of the so called proprietor) The proprietor of the chapel? (whose house is next to the chapel, see pic) claims the family has been looking after the chapel for 82 years. many years ago, we even heard that a priest before dying handed over the chapel to this man or family many years ago. However, despite church parallel services (with news items in Goan dailies) some local people continue attending the services at the chapel. They claim there were regular novena services and mass on the feast day. When we arrived there just after 4pm, preparation was going on for the 4.30 mass. the pics (taken today 13.6.09 after 4pm) St. Anthony http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoaukchurches/3622116449/sizes/l/ Main altar http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoaukchurches/3622936566/sizes/l/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoaukchurches/3622117879/sizes/l/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoaukchurches/3622116919/ The chapel and the proprietor’s house http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoaukchurches/3622121253/sizes/l/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoaukchurches/3622120097/sizes/l/ it says something about the proprietor here Marble stone name plate below the main altar http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoaukchurches/3622937486/sizes/l/ This one taken from NT today. In 1752, a Portuguese nobleman Dom Joao Antonio de Melo, who had lost his eyesight, was being taken by a machila (palanquin) from Agassaim to Ribandar. When his bearers needing rest at Goa Velha below the Pilar hillock, they made a stop beneath the mango tree and told the nobleman that a statue of St Anthony was placed in a niche carved at the wayside log of a coconut tree at Goa Velha. Immediately, the nobleman prayed to St Anthony, �You are known as the Saint of miracles, you are here in the open, in the sun or rain; if you restore my eyesight, I will build a beautiful chapel to keep your statue in.� On return journey, Dom Joao again was lowered in the same place and there the miracle is reported to have taken place. And Dom Joao could see the statue of the Saint. When the nobleman was back home, without help he climbed the steps to the palace. As his wife could not believe, he came out in the veranda and counted the vessels he could see in the bay. Faithful to the vow, he brought the copies of best altars from Portugal, built the Chapel, placed the life-size statue of St Anthony, which still exists in the Chapel Read more http://www.navhindtimes.com/story.php?story=200906121
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