The Church of Nossa Senhora da Ajuda. At a little distance from the hospital lies the Church of Ribandar, dedicated to Nossa Senhora da Ajuda.
Its construction is, according to a tradition, attributed to the miraculous appearance of the Virgin Mary to save a Portuguese ship from being drowned in the river, or, according to some, in the sea.
Hamilton, alluding to this, says-” At a certain time, but God knows when, a ship of Portugal coming to India, got the length of Cabo de Boa Esperanza, and then met with such a violent storm, that drove the ship so violently before it, that it was past the pilot’s skill to keep her to rights in her course; and who should come to their assistance in that critical juncture, but Senhor Diabolo, who took the helm, and managed it very dexterously; and the Virgin Mary, to show her kindness, stood a whole night on the forecastle, directing the devil how he should steer, and behold, to the great admiration of all concerned, the ship was high and dry in the morning, in a valley on the south side of the river of Goa, about half a mile within the land. The ship sailed very well, for on that night she ran, according to a moderate computation, 1,500 leagues. And in commemoration of this miracle there is a fine church built where the ship anchored so safely, and the structure is just the length, breadth and height of the ship.
The church I have often seen as I passed up and down the river.
And this story is so firmly believed in Goa, that it is dangerous to make any doubt of it.” This church, built in honour of the Virgin out of gratitude, soon became a parochial church.
By the Rules framed by Dom Antão de Noronha in 1565, a sum of £1-13-4 was annually granted from the public treasury for the support of its vicar. It was in this church that the body of St. Francis Xavier was first deposited when brought from Malacca, during the short time necessary for the preparation of its reception in the city.
The church was rebuilt in 1711, and provided in 1841 with an altar-piece brought from the Collegio de Populo. It is a pretty large building, embellished with paintings of some saints on its ceiling; it has four altars, on the chief of which is seen the image of the Virgin.