St. Francis Xavier Church / Gereja St. Francis Xavier, A Gothic marvel celebrating the Apostle of the East

Gereja St Francis Xavier Jalan Laksamana

The exterior of the Church of San Francesco is white

Introduction

St. Francis Xavier Church, a Gothic-style white church in the city center of Malacca, was built in honor of the 16th-century "Apostle of the East" St. Francis Xavier. St. Francis Xavier spread the Catholic doctrine in Southeast Asia and visited Indonesia, India, Japan, and China. During his journey to India, his body was kept in Malacca for 9 months, waiting for the monsoon winds. Legend has it that during this time, the Dutch, who did not believe in the non-decomposition of his flesh, cut off his right hand. Today, although St. Francis Xavier Church is slightly tilted, rumored to be caused by a bomb dropped by the Japanese during World War II, the church remains strong and stands tall. The church also houses some unique relics, such as a piece of foot skin and a section of bone, as well as a grand organ purchased in France in 1930. St. Francis Xavier's missionary work laid the foundation for the growth of Catholic schools and the number of believers in Malacca, with many faithful coming to the church for prayer every week.