Monday, December 10, 2018

7 Most Famous Churches in Puducherry


1. Immaculate Conception Cathedral:
Immaculate Conception Cathedral or Eglise de Notre Dame de la Conception Immaculate Church is the cathedral mother church for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore. It is located in the Union territory of Puducherry. It is also known as "Samba Kovil" which is a phonetic corruption of "Saint Paul’s Kovil" where "Kovil" means church. It is a beautiful place of worship established in year 1686. This cathedral, which bears a strong resemblance to a church in France, was built in 1791 on the ruins of the older church. This 300 years old church is also the residence of the bishop. The Church is situated in the heart of Puducherry Town.

2. Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus:
Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is situated on the south boulevard of Pondicherry is an oriental specimen of Gothic architecture. It contains rare stained-glass panels depicting events from the life of Christ and saints of the Catholic Church. In recent years it has become one of the famous pilgrimage spots for Christians. This church was established in 1908 by the French missionaries and attained the status of basilica in 2011. The centenary celebrations were celebrated during 2008-2009. As part of the centenary celebrations, a special postal stamp and postal envelope were released. This Catholic Church is one of the finest churches of Pondicherry. This church was built by the French missionaries. The Eglise De Sacre Coeur De Jesus Pondicherry, as it is referred to in French. The church is the first basilica in Pondicherry, 6th in Tamil Nadu, 20th in India and 50th in Asia.

3. Our Lady of Angels Church:
Our Lady of Angels Church (also called Eglise de Notre Dame des Anges, White Chapel, Kaps Koil) is the fourth oldest church in Puducherry, a Union territory in South India. The original structure was built in Greco Roman architecture by Napolean III in 1855, with the architect being Louis Guerre. It is the only church that offers mass in three languages namely French, Tamil and English. Our Lady of Angels Church is a working church with hourly prayer and daily services and follows Roman Catholic sect of Christianity. The chapel was controlled by Capuchin priests, Holy Spirit Fathers subsequently and finally during 1887 changed hands to Foreign Mission Fathers from Paris. The church that was built by Louis Guerre has Greco Roman architecture and is loosely based on the Notre Dame chapel in Paris and the Basilica at Lourdes. It is one of the most prominent landmarks in Puducherry and faces the Bay of Bengal.

4. Assumption Church, Nellithope:
Assumption Church is located at Nellithope near to Puducherry Main Bus Stand in Union Territory of Puducherry. Assumption Church, being a popular parish across Pondicherry, is devoted to the blessed Mary of Assumption. This prevalent Roman Catholic Church is recognized for its assorted unique features with more than five thousand parishioners in and around Nellithope. This Church has an impressive collection of statues. The interior of the Church is endowed with some of the most beautifully crafted altarpieces which includes a Crucifix with flying angels surrounding it.

5. Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine, Villianur:
Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine is a famous Marian shrine located in Villianur Town in Union Territory of Puducherry. This Church has a significant place in the history of the Catholic Church as the First Church in the World, other than that is in Lourdes – France, to be dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes. The devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes in Asia in general and in India in particular has its roots in Villianur. As the existing Church could not accommodate the growing number of pilgrims, a new Church has been built recently.

6. St. Andrew's Church, Reddiarpalayam:
St. Andrew's Church is one of the oldest churches in Reddiarpalayam area of Puducherry, a Union territory in South India. The original structure was built in Gothic architecture in 1745 by Kanakaraya Mudali, the longest serving dubash of the French East India Company. During the opening of the Church, Mudali hosted a feast that included all castes and religions, the first of its kind that is recorded in the history of South India. It is believed that the Church was destroyed by the British in 1761 and was later rebuilt in 1830. It is the first Church in South India to have inscriptions made in Tamil during the times. St. Andrew's Church is a working church with hourly prayer and daily services and follows Roman Catholic sect of Christianity. The chapel was controlled by Capuchin priests initially and then changed hands to Petite Seminaire School Fathers up to 1860. In modern times, it is under the dominion of Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore. It is one of the most prominent landmarks in Puducherry.

7. Church of Our Lady of Good Health, Ariyankuppam:
Church of Our Lady of Good Health is located at Ariyankuppam in Union Territory of Puducherry. This Church is also called as Ariyankuppam Church. It stands majestically at the corner of a bustling street in Ariyankuppam. The church has a history that dates as far back as 1690 which makes it one of the oldest churches in Puducherry. It has been a very popular pilgrimage amongst the people of Pondicherry for more than 250 years. After the French coming to Pondicherry in 1673, Armenians under the leadership of Bishop Adda Simon built the Church of Our Lady of Conception in 1690. This church was given to the Jesuits of the Carnatic Mission around 1700 and the church was renamed as the Church of Our Lady of Health. This is the oldest church still standing in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Puducherry and Cuddalore.

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