The Convent and the Church of Santa Monica

Just below the Augustinian tower, to the Northern side, there stands the Convent of Santa Monica, mother of St. Augustine. Dom Frei Aleixo de Menezes, the Augustinian Archbishop (1595-1609), founded the cloistered Convent for the women in the East. At present, this edifice of huge proportions, houses the Mater Dei Institute for higher education of Religious Women.

The foundation was laid on 1606 and by 1627 the Convent was completed. The Convent was under the patronage of the King of Portugal from 1636 and came be to be known as Royal Monastery. We find the following inscription on the wall of the Church facing the South: "The Catholic Philip III, King XX of Portugal, Monarch of the Spains, took under his patronage, this illustrious monastery in March of 1639".

Facing the West, the Church is attached to the Southern wing of the Convent. It was consecrated on 15th December 1627. The main Altar is dedicated to St. Monica, mother of St. Augustine. In the Church hangs the "Miraculous Crucifix" which on 8 February, 1638, opened its eyes and was seen moving while blood flowed from the wounds. The miracle happened once again on 12th of February in the presence of the Viceroy and the Nobility. Dom Frei Miguel Rangel, Bishop of Cochin, who governed the Diocese of Goa, also witnessed the occurrence and declared it miraculous.