Basilica of the Holy Savior

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The Basilica of the Holy Redeemer ( English Basilica of the Holy Redeemer , Tamil உலக இரட்சகர் பெருங்கோவில் ) is a Roman Catholic church in Tiruchirappalli in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu . The church of the Diocese of Tiruchirappalli is consecrated to Jesus Christ as Savior and has the title of a minor basilica .

history

The first Christian traces in the region can be traced back to the early decades of the 17th century, when Jesuit missionaries of the Madurai mission spread Christianity; the first conversions took place in the area in 1616. Roberto de Nobili and Constanzo Beschi were among the many Jesuit missionaries who served in the Madurai Mission .

After other parishes were founded around St. Mary's Cathedral in Tiruchirappalli, a separate church became necessary for the 7500 Christians of Palakkarai, especially since the nearer church of Mary Pain in today's Palayakoil was not accessible because it was in the area under the administration of the Portuguese Padroado . Bishop Alexis Canoz, SJ, laid the foundation stone for the new church on February 9, 1880. The Church of the Most Holy Savior was consecrated on June 29, 1881 by the Vicar Apostolic of Puducherry. The land for the construction of the church was a gift from the local ruler Diwan Kanjamalai Medullar. Pope Benedict XVI elevated the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer to the rank of Basilica minor on October 12, 2006.

Building

A wide tower with six floors rises above the entrance of the white plastered church. The single-nave church is equipped with rows of chapels on both sides. The interior walls are decorated with oil paintings of saints and scenes from the Old and New Testaments. It is worth mentioning the iconic image of Mary of Perpetual Help.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ A b Basilica of the Holy Redeemer on gcatholic.org
  2. ↑ History of the shrine (English)

Coordinates: 10 ° 48 ′ 37.1 ″  N , 78 ° 41 ′ 52.8 ″  E