The exposition of St.Francis Xavier 5 Photos . Updated: 27 Nov 2014, 02:50 PM IST Livemint The exposition of the relics of St.Francis Xavier in Goa is a once-in-a-decade event. The relics of the saint who died in 1552, are believed to have survived through the centuries, and devotees from around the world flock to Goa to see the remains. Photographs by Abhijit Bhatlekar/Mint 1/5Priests at the mass organised on 22 November, the first day of the exposition of the sacred relics of St. Francis Xavier at Se Cathedral in old Goa. The relics will be on display till 4 January 2015. 2/5Devotees walk past the casket which has the relics of St Francis at Se Cathedral. The relics lie in the17th century Basilica of Bom Jesus in Panjim. Once every 10 years, they travel across the road to the Se Cathedral where it remains for 44 days. 3/5St. Augustine’s Tower in old Goa. St Francis is known here as Goencho Saib, or lord of Goa. Even though he died in 1552, his body was believed to have remained intact. Till 1974, the church used to refer to it as the “incorruptible remains” of St Francis. 4/5Priests at the mass on the first day of the exposition. After several exhumations and three centuries later, the church admitted that the body had signs of decay. 5/5The queuing area for the visitors, called the pilgrims’ walk, is adorned with posters depicting major life events of St Francis.