St Anthony's Feast

The feast of St Anthony is preceded by a Talies (13 days of preparations) instead of the novena (9 Days) of all other feasts St Anthony was born in Lisbon and died on Padua and is therefore known as St Anthony of Lisbon or St Anthony of Padua.

St Anthony has a large number of devotees who pray to him for favors to be granted and he is said to have performed many miracles. In Goa the feast is celebrated in all the churches. But with great pomp in siolim in which church he is the patron saint. A grand celebration also takes place at the Chapel of St Anthony at Goa Velha.

The patron of the church in siolim, Bardez is St Anthony. The saints statue has serpent in his right hand tied to a rope which is a unique representation of the saint. At Goa Velha there is a chapel devoted to St Anthony.

Every year on the eve of the feast, the saint was carried to the door of the treasury department where the treasurer respectfully used to place in his hands the salary due to this rank.St Anthony has made many miracles and is very helpful in getting the lost items.