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Christian
Pilgrimage
Information
on Churches in India,
providing on-line
reservation /booking
for visit to Christian
Pilgrimage Sites
and Churches in
India.
Churches in India
Churches
in India have got
a lot of influence
from the western
world, Portuguese
brought with them
the Latin cultural
heritage, which
one can very well
witness in Goa.
But the churches
of Old Goa are enriched
with intricate designs
and beautiful interiors.
In Pondicherry,
French made an impact
that can be seen
even today. Kerala
has Dutch architecture
very much in common
in their churches.
Not leaving the
British behind Christ
Church and St. Michael's
Church in Himachal
Pradesh is the one
of the biggest attraction
of the capital,
Shimla.
Churches
in South India
St
Thomas Shrine, Palayur
- Founded
by St Thomas, the
Apostle in 52 A.D
Palayur
Mahatheerthadanam
(The Great Pilgrimage)
Palayur
Mahatheerthadanam,
which is held normally
on the third Sunday
of the Lent every
year, attracts thousands
of people from all
over Thrissur District
and other parts
of Kerala. This
Pilgrimage commences
from Lourde Cathedral,
Thrissur and the
participants walk
28 Kilometers, all
the way from Thrissur
to Palayur, carrying
wooden crosses...
Parumala Pally,Mannar,
Kerala
The most important
of the spiritual
centers of the Malankara
is the Tomb of His
Holiness the "Parumala
Thirumeni". The
Church was constructed
as a result of the
efforts of Parumala
Geevarghese Mar
Gregorios. On 27
January 1825 a provisional
consecration of
the Church was conducted.
Later, on 19 August
1912 His Holiness
Abdheth Misheha,
the Patriarch consecrated
the Parumala
Church.
The Church is built
and named after
the Apostle
St. Peter and St.
Paul. The
burial place of
Yuyakim Mar Ivanios
can also be seen
here.
St.
Francis Church -
Cochin ( Built
in the Year 1503)
: Fort Cochin is
believed to be the
oldest European
Settlement in India
and St. Francis
Church was the first
European Church
to be built in India.
The history of this
Church reflects
the colonial struggle
of European powers
in India, from the
15th to 20th Centuries.
Santa
Cruz Basilica, Cochin
: The Santa
Cruz Basilica is
a historic church
that was built by
the Portuguese.
The church was elevated
to a cathedral by
Pope Paul IV in
1558 AD. In 1795
AD, it fell into
the hands of the
British when they
took over Cochin
and was demolished.
Santa Cruz Basilica,
Kerala: The
Santa Cruz Basilica
is a historic church
that was built by
the Portuguese.
The church was elevated
to a cathedral by
Pope Paul IV in
1558 AD. In 1795
AD, it fell into
the hands of the
British when they
took over Cochin
and was demolished.
About a hundred
years later, Bishop
Dom Gomez Ferreira
commissioned a new
building at the
same site in 1887
AD. The church was
proclaimed a Basilica
in 1984 by Pope
John Paul II.
Cathedral Church
of St. Thomas, Mumbai:
St. Thomas'
Cathedral, the city's
first Anglican Church
is situated in the
heart of the commercial
fort area, in Mumbai
. The foundation
was laid in 1672
during the governorship
of Gerald Aungier,
and was opened to
public on the Chris
Ãtmas Day in 1718,
and subject to a
number of later
additions. Though
simple in structure,
the interior of
the Church has some
exquisite art adoration.
Little Mount,
Chennai (Madras)
The church, consecrated
in 1971 attracts
attention by unusual
circular shape.
However, it is the
old church next
door, built in 1711
as extension to
shrine which the
Portuguese had built
in 1511, that is
thronged by pilgrims.
Velankanni Church:
Velankanni is
located 12-km south
of Nagapattinam,
which is one of
the most popular
pilgrim spots in
southern part of
India. Velankanni
is also called as
the Mecca of Christians.
The shrine is dedicated
to Our Lady of Health,
the Madonna of Velankanni
and it is located
on the shore. This
church in honour
of Virgin Mary is
popularly called
as 'Sacred Arockia
Madha Church' and
is visited by people
of all faiths and
religions.
Churches in
Goa
Some highly reverred
churches and cathedrals
built during 16th
to 17th century
AD at Old Goa
comprise of the
Se' Cathedral,
Church and Convent
of St. Francis
of Assisi, Chapel
of St. Catherine,
Basilica of Bom
Jesus; Church
of Lady of Rosary;
Church of St.
Augustine.
The Church
of St. Cajetan
is modelled on
the original design
of St. Peter's
Church in Rome.
The Church of
Bom Jesus with
its facade decorated
with Ionic, Doric
and Corinthian
pilasters, shows
the application
of the Classical
order. The Se'
Cathedral, with
its Tuscan exterior,
the Corinthian
columns at its
portals, the raised
platform with
steps leading
to the entrance,
the barrel-vault
above the nave,
is yet another
example of Renaissance.
Church of
St Francis of
Assisi, Goa
: This church
is the former
palace of the
Archbishop that
connects the Se
Cathedral to the
Convent and Church
of St. Francis
of Assisi. The
exterior of the
Church is of the
Tuscan order while
the main entrance
is in Manuline
style. To the
west of the Se
Cathedral is the
former palace
of the Archbishop
that connects
the Se Cathedral
to the Convent
and Church of
St. Francis of
Assisi.
Basilica
of Bom Jesus - Goa:
The church
of Bom Jesus, is
known principally
for the tomb of
St. Francis Xavier.
In 1946, it became
the first church
of India to be elevated
to the status of
Minor Basilica.
One of the richest
churches in Goa,
it is covered with
marble and inlaid
with precious stones
and paintings depicting
the life of St.
Francis Xavier.
The basilica, where
the mortal remains
of St. Francis Xavier
are kept, is the
best specimen of
baroque architecture
in India. St. Francis's
body was brought
to Goa almost 150
years after his
death. It now lies
in an airtight glass
coffin, placed inside
a silver casket
fashioned by a 17th
century Florentine
jeweller.
Visitors from India
and overseas flock
to the Basilica
of Bom Jesus in
Old Goa, built in
1605, and now declared
a World Heritage
Monument. The church
houses the sacred
relics of St. Francis
Xavier.
Church of St.
Andrew: This
famous church of
Goa Velha was originally
built in 1583 but
was abandoned for
fear of its collapse.
The present church,
named after the
Patron St. Andrew,
the Apostle, was
built in 1868 in
a different place
at the same village.
The most remarkable
feature of this
church is the Procession
of All Saints, the
only such procession
besides Rome, when
31 statues of the
saints are taken
in a procession
on the 5th Monday
of Lent around the
whole village covering
some 2-km distance.
The Church of
St. Cajetan, Goa:
Modelled on
the original design
of St. Peter's Church
in Rome. The Church
of Bom Jesus with
its facade decorated
with Ionic, Doric
and Corinthian pilasters,
shows the application
of the Classical
order. The Se' Cathedral,
with its Tuscan
exterior, the Corinthian
columns at its portals,
the raised platform
with steps leading
to the entrance,
the barrel-vault
above the nave,
is yet another example
of Renaissance.
Built in the style
of St. Peter’s Basilica
in Rome in c.1655
AD, it is well maintained
and a splendid example
of Christian architecture.
Procession of All
Saints, the only
such procession
besides Rome, when
31 statues of the
saints are taken
in a procession
on the 5th Monday
of Lent around the
whole village covering
some 2-km distance.
The Church of
St. Francis Xavier
in Goa: Behind
the gate of St.
Paul's college is
a Kuchcha road branching
off the main road,
leading to the chapel
of St. Francis Xavier.
It is built of laterite
plastered with lime
mortar, with tiled
roof supported by
wooden rafters is
a plain chapel with
only one altar.
Architecturally,
it is of the Doric
order. The Chapel
was within the enclosure
of the College of
St. Paul and was
dedicated either
to St. Anthony or
to St. Jerome. As
the chapel was used
by St. Francis Xavier,
it was re-dedicated
to him after his
canonization in
1622.
Cathedral
Church in Goa :
The Portuguese
Viceroy Redondo
commissioned the
Se, or St. Catherine's'
Cathedral, southwest
of St. Cajetan's,
to be "a grandiose
church worthy of
the wealth, power
and fame of the
Portuguese who dominated
the seas from the
Atlantic to the
Pacific". Today
it stands larger
than any church
in Portugal.
The Chapel of
Our Lady of The
Mount in Goa
: A series of steps
leads to the Chapel,
which is built of
laterite plastered
with lime mortar.
It has three main
altars dedicated
respectively to
our lady of the
mount, St. Anthony
and St. Andrew.
Church & Convent of St. Monica, Goa;
Construction of
the convent and
the church of St.
Monica was commenced
in 1606 and completed
in 1627. The building
was destroyed in
a fire in 1636 and
re-built the following
year.
Churches
in North India
Christ
Church & St.
Michael's Cathedral,
H.P.: The most
prominent building
on the famous Mall
of Shimla is the
yellow Christ Church,
reputed to be the
second oldest church
in northern India.
It still has those
lovely stained glass
windows for which
it is so famed.
Church
of the Sacred Heart,
Delhi : The
Roman Catholic Church
of the Sacred Heart
displays a strong
Italianate influence,
with a facade of
white pillars supporting
a canopy set against
a dark brick background,
and circular arcades
turrets rising above
the roof to each
side of the entrance
porch. The lofty
interior has a towering
curved roof, polished
stone floors and
broad arches set
into smooth walls,
presenting a very
grand look.
Kanpur Memorial
Church : Built
in 1875, the Kanpur
Memorial Church
was designed by
Walter Granville.
The church was built
in honour of the
British who lost
their lives in the
war of 1857. The
complete Church
in Lombardic Gothic
Style is handsomely
executed in bright
red brick, with
polychrome dressings.
The interiors of
the church are adorned
with the monuments
to the mutiny, including
several memorial
tablets.
Roman Catholic Church Sardhana : The Roman
Catholic Church
built in Sardhana
is an imposing structure
that exhibits the
subtle mixture of
architectural styles.
Two huge lakes near
the church are the
result of the mud
that was removed
to supply the building
materials for the
church Facing the
west, this church
has its entrance
from the north side.
18 Doric pillars
line the verandah.
At the backside
rises two lofty
spires, and the
steeple an the left
has two large bells.
The octagonal lantern
above the central
dome is made up
of finely chiselled
and perforated slates
and capped with
black and white
marble. This reflects
an obvious Muslim
architectural influence.
On the top of the
three domes and
two spires, there
are heavily glided
metal balls surmounted
by metal crosses.
St. Joseph's
Roman Catholic:
Built in 1860, this
Catholic Church
is situated in the
Civil lines of Gorakhpur.
Blessed and opened
by Bishop Hartmann
and dedicated to
St. Joseph. This
church was built
by. Fr. Raphael
of Livorno. It is
the fifth oldest
Catholic church
in U.P. The others
being at Allahabad
(1845), Ghazipur
(now no more), Chunar
(1848) and Varanasi
(1851). This church
was set up at the
demand of Catholic
troops stationed
at Gorakhpur during
1850's.
