St. Francis Xavier's Cathedral, Kottar,[1] also known as St. Xavier Church, is a Roman CatholicLatin Rite shrine in Kottar, Nagercoil, in the Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadustate, India. While Francis Xavier was doing missionary work in Kottar and its neighbourhood, he averted an invasion of Vadugas with the help of the army of Paravars and Padaiyatchis of Kottar, at Vadasery, thus protecting the people of the Venad kingdom from that attack which was appreciated by the king, Unni Kerala Varma, who became closer to the priest and befriended him from then on. In recognition of Xavier’s services, the king allotted him a piece of land to construct a Catholic church, as a gesture of goodwill, as per the church records. There was already a small church, in the same place where St. Xavier’s church stands at present, dedicated to Mary the Mother of God, since AD 1544 .[2] Church records indicate that St. Xavier Church was built in 1600. In 1865, the Shrine of Mary was renovated and enlarged. In 1930, the church was raised to the status of a cathedral. The annual festival is celebrated during November – December, lasting for 10 days.
Saint Francis Xavier, a Spanish Jesuit missionary, landed in Goa in May 1542 and he sailed from Goa to Cape Comorin in October 1542 on missionary tour to Travancore[3] Once a great band of dacoits attacked Travancore. Raja`s forces could`t combat the enemy successfully, but Xavier chased away the marauders at Vadasery by raising his Crucifix aloft and shouting at them. Very pleased with Xavier, the Raja showed special regards and gratitudes to him.[4][5] At Kottar, Xavier had a dwelling house and a small church. Tradition says that the heathens set fire to Xavier`s house and reduced it to ashes, but they were struck with awe when they saw the holy man on his knees devoutly praying, not in the least touched by the flames. To mark the place a cross was put up, to which miraculous powers were attributed. From the time the church was built on the spot, a lamp is kept perpetually burning. Even Hindus go there and make vows and pour oil. Miracles are recorded to have taken place there; and hence multitudes of devout Catholic pilgrims from British India, Ceylon and Malacca [6] resort to the annual festival at St. Xavier`s church, Kottar, about December of every year. Christianity in Travancore was introduced by the disciple of Jesus Christ St.Thomas in 52 AD.[7] The primitive or original church which still subsists was built by St. Francis Xavier himself between the years AD 1542 and AD 1550.[8] Afterwards the Bishops of Cochin constructed a new and more spacious church that was richly endowed with precious ornaments and utensils gifted by the Kings of Portugal.[9] The mortal remains of Christian martyr Devasahayam Pillai were given a Christian burial in front of the high altar of St.Xavier`s church at Kottar in January AD 1752.[10] While being one of the oldest churches in the whole of erstwhile Southern Travancore, it is definitely the oldest Cathedral church of Roman Catholic Diocese of Kottar in the present-day`s Kanyakumari district (of Tamil Nadu) since there are three more dioceses got established here later on.[citation needed]
^Agur C.M., `Church History of Travancore`, ISBN81-206-0594-2, Page:285.
External linksedit
St. Francis Xavier`s Cathedral Church, Kottar - Official site.
December 15, 2023
francis, xavier, cathedral, kottar, also, known, xavier, church, roman, catholic, latin, rite, shrine, kottar, nagercoil, kanyakumari, district, tamil, nadu, state, india, while, francis, xavier, doing, missionary, work, kottar, neighbourhood, averted, invasio. St Francis Xavier s Cathedral Kottar 1 also known as St Xavier Church is a Roman Catholic Latin Rite shrine in Kottar Nagercoil in the Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu state India While Francis Xavier was doing missionary work in Kottar and its neighbourhood he averted an invasion of Vadugas with the help of the army of Paravars and Padaiyatchis of Kottar at Vadasery thus protecting the people of the Venad kingdom from that attack which was appreciated by the king Unni Kerala Varma who became closer to the priest and befriended him from then on In recognition of Xavier s services the king allotted him a piece of land to construct a Catholic church as a gesture of goodwill as per the church records There was already a small church in the same place where St Xavier s church stands at present dedicated to Mary the Mother of God since AD 1544 2 Church records indicate that St Xavier Church was built in 1600 In 1865 the Shrine of Mary was renovated and enlarged In 1930 the church was raised to the status of a cathedral The annual festival is celebrated during November December lasting for 10 days St Francis Xavier s CathedralReligionAffiliationCatholic ChurchDistrictKanyakumariRiteRoman RiteEcclesiastical or organizational statusCathedralStatusActiveLocationLocationKottar Nagercoil IndiaStateTamil NaduArchitectureCompleted1600 Contents 1 History 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksHistory editSaint Francis Xavier a Spanish Jesuit missionary landed in Goa in May 1542 and he sailed from Goa to Cape Comorin in October 1542 on missionary tour to Travancore 3 Once a great band of dacoits attacked Travancore Raja s forces could t combat the enemy successfully but Xavier chased away the marauders at Vadasery by raising his Crucifix aloft and shouting at them Very pleased with Xavier the Raja showed special regards and gratitudes to him 4 5 At Kottar Xavier had a dwelling house and a small church Tradition says that the heathens set fire to Xavier s house and reduced it to ashes but they were struck with awe when they saw the holy man on his knees devoutly praying not in the least touched by the flames To mark the place a cross was put up to which miraculous powers were attributed From the time the church was built on the spot a lamp is kept perpetually burning Even Hindus go there and make vows and pour oil Miracles are recorded to have taken place there and hence multitudes of devout Catholic pilgrims from British India Ceylon and Malacca 6 resort to the annual festival at St Xavier s church Kottar about December of every year Christianity in Travancore was introduced by the disciple of Jesus Christ St Thomas in 52 AD 7 The primitive or original church which still subsists was built by St Francis Xavier himself between the years AD 1542 and AD 1550 8 Afterwards the Bishops of Cochin constructed a new and more spacious church that was richly endowed with precious ornaments and utensils gifted by the Kings of Portugal 9 The mortal remains of Christian martyr Devasahayam Pillai were given a Christian burial in front of the high altar of St Xavier s church at Kottar in January AD 1752 10 While being one of the oldest churches in the whole of erstwhile Southern Travancore it is definitely the oldest Cathedral church of Roman Catholic Diocese of Kottar in the present day s Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu since there are three more dioceses got established here later on citation needed nbsp Internal viewSee also editSt Francis XavierReferences edit St Francis Xavier s Cathedral Kottar Tamil Nadu India www gcatholic org Retrieved 19 November 2016 J S Michael B A Kumari Maavatta Devaalayankal Tamil Vittal Process Tirunelveli amp Kalveedu Nagercoil 1971 Page 1 Agur C M Church History of Travancore Madras 1903 Reprint Asian Educational Services New Delhi 1990 ISBN 81 206 0594 2 Page208 Agur C M Church History of Travancore Madras 1903 Reprint Asian Educational Services New Delhi 1990 ISBN 81 206 0594 2 Page 209 211 Dr Issac Arul Dhas G Kumari Mannil Christhavam Tamil Scott Christian College Nagercoil 2010 ISBN 978 81 8465 204 8 Page 20 Agur C M Church History of Travancore Page 212 http www ots org in main malankara 20orthodox 20church stthomas asp Christianity in India 2000 years old Agur C M Church History of Travancore ISBN 81 206 0594 2 Page 214 Agur C M Church History of Travancore ISBN 81 206 0594 2 PAGE 215 Agur C M Church History of Travancore ISBN 81 206 0594 2 Page 285 External links editSt Francis Xavier s Cathedral Church Kottar Official site Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title St Francis Xavier 27s Cathedral Kottar amp oldid 1178673275, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
