Photo Exhibition To Showcase Life of St. Francis Xavier

The Museum of Christian Art (MoCA), Old Goa, will be hosting a photo exhibition entitled “Stories in Silver” from the 22nd of December 2024. The exhibition, which will be running till the 5th of January, has been curated by the museum using photographs by renowned Goan photographer Pantaleo Fernandes. Visitors attending the exhibition will get to see framed photographs of the 32 silver relief plates that adorn the casket that carries the sacred relics of St. Francis Xavier. Each of the 32 plates depicts various scenes from the saint’s life using the repousse technique. In this technique, a malleable metal is shaped by hammering it from its reverse side to create a design in low relief. The plates were crafted by Goan silversmiths during the 17th century.  

The exhibition offers visitors a unique opportunity to engage with the heritage and craftsmanship of 17th-century Goa while reflecting on the life of St. Francis Xavier. It will be held at the church space adjacent to the Museum of Christian Art. Members of the public are welcome to view the exhibition from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM daily. However, the exhibition will remain closed on December 25th, 2024, and January 1st, 2025. 

While admission to this exhibition is free, visitors can also explore the MoCA collection at the adjoining museum space by paying a nominal entrance fee of Rs. 100 per person. 

The Museum of Christian Art is situated at the Convent of Santa Monica, opposite the ruins of St. Augustine’s Tower in Old Goa.

For more information, please get in touch with the museum on 8308805399

By Steve Antao