Christianity in Tamil Nadu

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San Thome Basilica, Chennai is built over the site where St.Thomas is believed to be originally interred Santhome Basilica.jpg
San Thome Basilica, Chennai is built over the site where St.Thomas is believed to be originally interred
Church at Yercaud Yercaud Church.jpg
Church at Yercaud
Thiruvithamcode Arappally under Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church is believed to be built by Thomas the Apostle Arappally02.jpg
Thiruvithamcode Arappally under Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church is believed to be built by Thomas the Apostle
Our Lady of Lourdes Latin Catholic Church in Tiruchirappalli St. lourdes church.jpg
Our Lady of Lourdes Latin Catholic Church in Tiruchirappalli
St. Sebastian's Church in Coimbatore Saint-Sebastian-Church-Coimbatore.jpg
St. Sebastian's Church in Coimbatore

Christianity in the state of Tamil Nadu, India is the second largest religion in the state. According to tradition, St. Thomas, one of the twelve apostles, landed in Malabar Coast (modern day Kerala) in AD 52. [1] [2] In the colonial age many Portuguese, Dutch, British and Italian Christians came to Tamil Nadu. Priests accompanied them not only to minister the colonisers but also to spread the Christian faith among the non-Christians in Tamil Nadu. Currently, Christians are a minority community comprising 6% of the total population. [3] Christians are mainly concentrated in the southern districts of Tamil Nadu - Kanyakumari (47.7% of the population, 2011 [3] ), Thoothukudi (19%, 2011) and Tirunelveli (15%, 2011).

Contents

The Catholic Church—including the Latin Church, Syro-Malabar Church, and Syro-Malankara Catholic Church—the Church of South India, the Pentecostals, The Salvation Army Church, the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church, the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, the Evangelical Church of India, the Apostolics, and other evangelical denominations constitute the Christian population in Tamil Nadu. The Latin Church of the Catholic Church has 18 dioceses including the Archdiocese of Madras and Mylapore and the Archdiocese of Madurai, and has a homogeneous presence throughout the state. The second-largest church by the number of members is the Church of South India with eight dioceses in Tamil Nadu. They are Coimbatore Diocese, Kanyakumari Diocese, Madras Diocese, Madurai-Ramnad Diocese, Thoothukudi – Nazareth Diocese, Tirunelveli Diocese, Trichy-Tanjore Diocese and the Vellore Diocese. Church of South India Synod, the highest administrative body of the Church of South India, is in Chennai. The vast majority of Christians in Tamil Nadu are either Latin Catholics or members of the Church of South India. The Pentecostal Mission (TPM) is headquartered in Chennai. The Congregational churches were a small group called The London Missionary Society (LMS) run under Travancore Church Council (TCC) with its headquarters in Nagercoil. The London Mission Congregational churches date back to 1795 when British missionaries were sent to 19th century Tamil Nadu and Kerala States of South India.

Salvation Army in Tamil Nadu

The Salvation Army is an International Christian Church and charitable organisation. There are six territories in India; Eastern, Western, Northern, Central, South Eastern and South Western Territory. Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry come under the Central and South Eastern Territory. There are more than 1000 churches over Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry. School, colleges, homes, shelters, and medical services are provided here. The Salvation Army does missionary, medical, educational, emergency disaster, and social services.

The Salvation Army operation commenced on 27 May 1892 as a result of the vision received by Major Deva Sundaram at "Medicine Hill" near Nagercoil in Kanyakumari District. He had been praying and fasting with three officers in South Tamil Nadu. As the Army experienced rapid growth in South India, the territory was separated from Southern Territory on 1 October 1970. States included in the territory: Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry. 'The Salvation Army' in Tamil: Ratchaniya Senai in Malayalam: Raksha Sainyam. Languages in which the gospel is preached: English, Malayalam, Tamil. Periodicals: Chiruveeran (Tamil), Home League Quarterly, Poresatham (Tamil), The Officer (Tamil)

Saint Thomas Christian denominations

In 1996, the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church created its first `Diocese of Thuckalay` in Kanyakumari district, (which was under the Syro-Malabar Catholic Archdiocese of Changanassery in Kerala till then), of Tamil Nadu. The same year the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church has also newly established the `Diocese of Marthandam` (bifurcated from its Archdiocese of Trivandrum) in Kanyakumari district. The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church established its first diocese Chennai Diocese in the year 1979. St. Thomas Mount in Chennai, the place where St. Thomas, one of the disciples of Jesus Christ, was believed to have been martyred, is an important pilgrimage site for Indian Christians. The Santhome Basilica, supposedly built atop the tomb of St. Thomas, and the Vailankanni Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health—revered churches by India's Roman Catholics—are good examples of majestic church architectures in Tamil Nadu.

Christianity In Kanyakumari District

One of the disciples of Jesus Christ, St. Thomas introduced Christianity in Kanyakumari. He built a church in Thiruvithamcode in 63 AD. In the first half of the 16th century, thousands of fishermen converted to Catholicism due to the efforts of Francis Xavier. He built a church in Kottar, Nagercoil. In the 18th century (1806) European missionary William Tobias Ringeltaube established Protestant churches and propagated Christianity in Kanyakumari district and South Travancore. He built a first Protestant Church in mylaudy.

Demographics

Christians in Tamil Nadu
YearNumberPercentage
19511,427,3824.74
19611,762,9545.23
19712,367,7495.75
19812,798,0485.78
19913,179,4105.69
2001 [4] 3,785,0606.06
2011 [5] 4,418,3316.12

Population by districts

Districts with significant percentage of Christians as per 2001 census
DistrictChristian (numbers)Christian (%)
Tamil Nadu3,785,0606.02
Kanyakumari 745,40644.47
Thoothukudi 262,71816.71
The Nilgiris 87,27211.45
Tirunelveli 296,57810.89
Tiruchirappalli 218,0339.02
Chennai 331,2617.63
Dindigul 145,2657.55
Ramanathapuram 84,0927.13
Tiruvallur 169,7196.16
Kanchipuram 170,4165.92
Sivaganga 67,7395.86
Thanjavur 124,9455.64
Ariyalur 36,2615.21
Pudukkottai 66,4324.55
Coimbatore 185,7374.35
Viluppuram 115,7453.91
Virudhunagar 68,2953.90
Madurai 86,3523.35
Cuddalore 73,6113.22
Theni 33,8303.09
Nagapattinam 45,7803.07
Vellore 102,4772.95
Tiruvarur 31,6212.70
Tiruvannamalai 55,1802.52
Erode 55,4142.15
Perambalur 8,4121.70
Salem 50,4501.67
Karur 13,8631.48
Dharmapuri 39,0191.37
Namakkal 13,1370.88
Districts with significant percentage of Christians as per 2011 census
DistrictChristian (numbers)Christian (%)
Tamil Nadu4,418,3366.12
Kanyakumari 8,76,29946.85
Thoothukudi 2,91,90816.68
The Nilgiris 84,61011.51
Tirunelveli 3,42,25411.12
Tiruchirappalli 2,46,1569.04
Dindigul 1,69,9457.87
Chennai 3,58,6627.72
Ramanathapuram 91,1396.73
Kanchipuram 2,56,7626.42
Tiruvallur 2,33,6336.27
Sivaganga 75,4815.64
Thanjavur 1,33,9715.57
Coimbatore 1,90,3145.50
Ariyalur 37,4034.95
Pudukkottai 72,8504.50
Viluppuram 1,38,2794.00
Virudhunagar 67,4053.47
Madurai 97,7113.22
Cuddalore 83,3343.20
Theni 37,5743.02
Nagapattinam 47,5792.94
Vellore 1,11,3902.83
Tiruppur 70,0152.82
Tiruvannamalai 66,9872.72
Tiruvarur 33,6212.63
Erode 55,8992.48
Krishnagiri 36,8981.91
Perambalur 10,3101.82
Salem 58,4501.55
Karur 16,8631.55
Namakkal 16,8980.98
Dharmapuri 14,0890.94

Important basilicas

San Thome Basilica

Santhome Cathedral built in 1523 SANTHOME CATHEDRAL.jpg
Santhome Cathedral built in 1523

San Thome Basilica is a Roman Catholic (Latin Rite) minor basilica and one of the three National Shrines in India located in Santhome, Chennai city (Madras), India. It was built in the 1523 by Portuguese explorers, and rebuilt again with the status of a cathedral by the British in 1893. The British version still stands today. It was designed in Neo-Gothic style, favoured by British architects in the late 19th century. Christian tradition holds that St. Thomas arrived in Kerala & Kanyakumari Dist in 52 AD preached between 52 AD and 72 AD, when he was believed to be martyred on St. Thomas Mount. The basilica is built over the site where he was believed originally to be interred.

San Thome Basilica is the principal church of the Madras-Mylapore Catholic Archdiocese. In 1956, Pope Pius XII raised the church to the status of a Minor Basilica, and on 11 February 2006, it was declared a national shrine by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India. The San Thome Basilica is a pilgrimage centre for Christians in India. This church is a very important site in the world for Christians.The church also has an attached museum at back. [6]

Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health,Velankanni

Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health in Velankanni, Tamil Nadu Entrance Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health in Velankanni, Tamil Nadu Entrance.jpg
Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health in Velankanni, Tamil Nadu Entrance

The Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health is located in the small town of Velankanni in the state of Tamil Nadu in Southern India. The Roman Catholic basilica is devoted to Our Lady of Good Health. Devotion to Our Lady of Good Health of Velankanni can be traced to the mid-16th century and is attributed to three miracles at different sites around where the basilica currently stands: the apparition of Mary and the Christ Child to a slumbering shepherd boy, the curing of a lame buttermilk vendor, and the rescue of Portuguese sailors from a violent sea storm. [7]

Although all three apparitions ultimately resulted in the erection of a shrine to our Lady, it was the promise of the Portuguese sailors that was the proximate cause of a permanent edifice being built at Velankanni. The chapel was dedicated on the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (8 September), the day of their safe landing. More than 500 years later, the nine-day festival and celebration is still observed and draws nearly 5 million pilgrims each year. The Shrine of Our Lady of Vailankanni, also known as the "Lourdes of the East," [8] is one of the most important Christian religious sites frequented by Christians in India.

Basilica of Our Lady of Snows, Thoothukudi

Basilica of Our Lady of Snows, Thoothukudi Our lady of snows basilica.JPG
Basilica of Our Lady of Snows, Thoothukudi

Basilica of Our Lady of Snows, Thoothukudi is located at Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, India. It is one of the Catholic pilgrimage centers in India dedicated to the Our Lady of Snows, a title given to Mother Mary. The Shrine name refers to the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. The site is known for Portuguese architecture and Portuguese prayers and now it is recognised as a Tamil Nadu notable pilgrim site.

St. Francis Xavier's Cathedral, Kottar

St. Xavier's Cathedral, Kottar, kanyakumari district St. Xavier's Church, Kottar.JPG
St. Xavier's Cathedral, Kottar, kanyakumari district

St. Francis Xavier's Cathedral, Kottar, 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 Church stands at present, dedicated to Mary the Mother of God, since AD 1544. 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.

Contributions to literature

Thambiran Vanakkam 1578.JPG
Thambiran Vanakkam first Tamil Christian book (1578)
Tranqebar bible 1713.JPG
Tamil New Testament (1713)

Christians of Tamil Nadu who have made concrete contributions to Tamil language and Tamil literature are

Christians who had been born in Europe, but were adopted to Tamil culture and made major contributions to Tamil language and literature are

Christian pilgrimages

List of denominations

Apostolic Christian Assembly [11]

List of Tamil Christians

Further reading

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nagercoil</span> City in Tamil Nadu, India

Nagercoil, also spelt as Nagarkovil, is a city and the administrative headquarters of Kanyakumari District in Tamil Nadu state, India. Situated close to the tip of the Indian peninsula, it lies on an undulating terrain between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Velankanni</span> Special Grade Town Panchayat in Tamil Nadu, India

Velankanni (Vēḷāṅkaṇṇi), is a Special Grade Panchayat Town in Nagapattinam district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It lies on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal, 350 km south of Chennai (Madras), 12 km south of Nagapattinam, and 33 km southeast of Thiruvarur.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Thomas Cathedral Basilica, Chennai</span> Church in Tamil Nadu, India

San Thome Church, officially known as St Thomas Cathedral Basilica and National Shrine of Saint Thomas, is a minor basilica of the Catholic Church in India, at the Santhome neighbourhood of Chennai, in Tamil Nadu. The present structure dates back to 1523 AD, when it was built by the Portuguese over the tomb of Thomas the Apostle. In 1896, it was renovated in the Madras province according to neo-Gothic designs, as was favoured by British architects in the late 19th century.

Kottar is a locality and a bazaar area of Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu state, in the southernmost part of Peninsular India; though a part of Nagercoil today, it is the original town around which the city of Nagercoil grew. It was an ancient trade centre of both Pandyans and Cheras at various times. The ancient mercantile centre of Kottar was established on the banks of the Pahrali River (Pazhayar).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Devasahayam Pillai</span> Indian martyr and Saint

Devasahayam Pillai or Mar Lazarus Sahada was an Indian layman and martyr of the Catholic Church. He was canonized as a saint of the church by Pope Francis on 15 May 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Our Lady of Good Health</span> Title of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Our Lady of Good Health, also known as Our Lady of Vailankanni, is a title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary by devotees. She is said to have appeared twice in the town of Velankanni, Tamil Nadu, India, in the 16th to 17th centuries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Coast Road</span> Road in Tamil Nadu, India

East Coast Road (ECR), combination of SH-49, NH-332A, NH-32, officially known as Mutthamizh Arignar Kalaignar Road, is a two-lane highway in Tamil Nadu, India, built along the Bay of Bengal coast. It connects Tamil Nadu's state capital Chennai with Kanyakumari via Puducherry, Cuddalore, Chidambaram, Sirkali, Thirukkadaiyur, Tharangambadi, Karaikal, Nagore, Nagapattinam, Thiruthuraipoondi, Muthupet, Adirampattinam, Manora,Peravurani,Manamelkudi, Mimisal, Ramanathapuram, Rameswaram,Thoothukudi, Tiruchendur, Uvari, Kudankulam. The total length of the road is about 777 km between Chennai and Kanyakumari.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health</span> Church in Tamil Nadu, India

The Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health, also known as Sanctuary of Our Lady of Velankanni, is a Christian shrine located at the town of Velankanni, Tamil Nadu, India. The shrine is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Basilica of Our Lady of Snows, Thoothukudi</span> Church in Tamil Nadu, India

Basilica of Our Lady of Snows, Thoothukudi, is a minor basilica located at Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, India. It is one of the Catholic pilgrimage centers in India dedicated to the Our Lady of Snows, a title given to Mother Mary. Even to this day, the Coastal People fondly call her Santa Maria Das Nevis(Senhora, Das Nevis), which means Our Lady of Snows in Portuguese. The shrine name refers to the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. The site is known for Portuguese architecture and Portuguese prayers and now it is recognised as a Tamil Nadu notable pilgrim site.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Francis Xavier's Cathedral, Kottar</span>

St. Francis Xavier's Cathedral, Kottar, 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 Padayatchi nadars 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. 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Diocese of Kottar</span> Roman Catholic diocese in Tamil Nadu, India

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Kottar is a Latin Rite suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical province of, Kottar, Kanyakumari District, southern India yet depends on the missionary Roman Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Diocese of Tuticorin</span> Roman Catholic diocese in Tamil Nadu, India

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Tuticorin is a unit of the Catholic Church in the city of Tuticorin, part of the ecclesiastical province of Madurai in India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diocese of Madras of the Church of South India</span>

The Diocese of Madras is a diocese of Church of South India in Tamil Nadu state of India.The diocese is one among the 22 dioceses of Church of South India, a United Protestant denomination.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thoothukudi - Nazareth Diocese of the Church of South India</span>

The Thoothukudi - Nazareth Diocese is a diocese of Church of South India in Tamil Nadu state of India.The diocese is one among the 22 dioceses of Church of South India, a United Protestant denomination.The cathedral of the diocese is St. John's Cathedral at Nazareth, Tamil Nadu.

Mary Matha Shrine is a Roman Catholic church located at Thiruvithamcode in Kanyakumari District of Tamil Nadu in India. The church is also called the Church of the Ascension of our Lord or the Ascension Jesus Church and is believed to have been established by St Francis Xavier. The shrine of Mary at Thiruvithamcode is rich with its own historical significance and importance. The fact that many saints have sanctified this soil by their visit to this place also adds more importance to this place. Thiruvithamcode was previously part of the Kingdom of Travancore.

Nazarene Soosai is a Roman Catholic Bishop who is currently serving as the Bishop of Kottar diocese. He is the sixth bishop of Kottar diocese.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christianity in Kanyakumari district</span>

Christianity in Kanyakumari district is its second largest religion. The Catholic Church has about 500,000 followers, while the Protestant groups have about 400,000 members.

References

  1. ↑ Whitehouse, Thomas (1873). Lingerings of light in a dark land: Researches into the Syrian church of Malabar. William Brown and Co. pp. 23–42.
  2. ↑ Neill, Stephen (2004) [1984]. A History of Christianity in India: The Beginnings to AD 1707. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 45. ISBN   9780521548854.
  3. 1 2 "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 5 March 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ↑ "Total population by religious communities". Censusindia.gov.in. Archived from the original on 19 January 2008. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  5. ↑ "Indian Census 2011". Census Department, Government of India. Archived from the original on 13 September 2015. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  6. ↑ "Basilica of the National Shrine of St.Thomas". SanThomeChurch.com. Archived from the original on 2 March 2010. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
  7. ↑ "History of Velankanni". Archived from the original on 27 October 2009. Retrieved 12 February 2011.
  8. ↑ Hindus join in India's Marian pilgrimage on Catholic World News
  9. ↑ "Thiruvithamcode church to be global pilgrim centre". The Hindu . 7 December 2007. Archived from the original on 9 December 2007. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
  10. ↑ "The History of the Dohnavur Fellowship and Mission".
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 World Christian Encyclopedia, Second edition, 2001 Volume 1, p. 368
  12. 1 2 3 World Christian Encyclopedia, Second edition, 2001 Volume 1, p. 369
  13. ↑ "Church of South India". Archived from the original on 19 April 2022. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  14. ↑ "Church of North India". Archived from the original on 10 April 2022. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  15. ↑ Dohnavur Fellowship of Tamil Nadu, India
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 World Christian Encyclopedia, Second edition, 2001 Volume 1, p. 370
  17. ↑ World Christian Encyclopedia, Second edition, 2001 Volume 1, p. 371
  18. ↑ "Latest biography news about vijay". www.vikatan.com. 27 December 2021. Archived from the original on 27 December 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  19. ↑ Daily, Keralakaumudi (21 February 2020). ""I was born as a Christian, my wife is a Hindu": Vijay's father SA Chandrasekhar responds to allegations". Keralakaumudi Daily. Archived from the original on 4 January 2022. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  20. ↑ "அன்று கண்ட முகம் - மாதுரி தேவி". antrukandamugam.worpress. 16 November 2011. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  21. ↑ Sreedhar, Sridevi (4 June 2006). "Southern spice". The Telegraph . Archived from the original on 2 November 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2011.
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