Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Madras and Mylapore

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Archdiocese of Madras and Mylapore

Archidioecesis Madraspolitanus et Meliaporensis

சென்னை-மயிலை உயர்மறைமாவட்டம்
Santhome Basilica.jpg
Location
Country India
TerritoryTamil Nadu
Ecclesiastical province Madras and Mylapore
Metropolitan Chennai
Statistics
Area3,160 km2 (1,220 sq mi)
Population
- Total
- Catholics
(as of 2018)
9,760,300
661,740 (5.6%)
Information
Denomination Roman Catholic
Rite Latin Rite
Established13 November 1952 (Papal Bull, ‘Ex Primaevae Ecclesiae’ by Pope Pius XII)
Cathedral St. Thomas Cathedral Basilica, Santhome
Co-cathedralSt. Mary of the Angels Co-Cathedral, Georgetown
Secular priests 152
Current leadership
Pope Francis
Metropolitan Archbishop George Antonysamy
Vicar GeneralFr. Stanley Sebastian
Bishops emeritus Malayappan Chinnappa (2005-2012)

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Madras and Mylapore/Madras and Myliapor (Latin : Madraspolitan(us) et Meliaporen(sis)) is an archdiocese based in the city of Madras (now Chennai), in India. It took also the name of the ancient diocese of Mylapore, now a part of Chennai. [1]

Contents

History

Leadership

Archbishop George Antonysamy the present Archbishop of Chennai and Mylapore Chennai Bishop.jpg
Archbishop George Antonysamy the present Archbishop of Chennai and Mylapore

George Antonysamy is appointed as the Archbishop of Historical Metropolitan Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Madras–Mylapore on 21st November 2012. He was installed as the 6th Archbishop of Madras–Mylapore on 27th January 2013.

Episcopal ordinaries

Archbishops of Madras and Mylapore (Latin Rite)

Metropolitan Archbishops of Madras (Latin Rite)

Vicars Apostolic of Madras

Seat of Power

Santhome Cathedral

Santhome church Santhome spire and church sideview.jpg
Santhome church

San Thome Church, officially known as St Thomas Cathedral Basilica and National Shrine of Saint Thomas, is a minor basilica of the Catholic Church and the Seat of power of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Madras and Mylapore in India, at the Santhome neighbourhood of Chennai, in Tamil Nadu. The present structure dates to 1523 AD, when it was rebuilt by the Portuguese over what was believed to be 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.

St.Mary's Co-Cathedral

St. Mary's Co-cathedral Church, Armenian Street, Chennai. St. Mary's Co-cathedral Church, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, in India.jpg
St. Mary's Co-cathedral Church, Armenian Street, Chennai.

St. Mary's Co-Cathedral is a Catholic church in Armenian StreetChennaiIndia. Constructed by Capuchins in 1658, it is one of the oldest churches in the former British India. For a long time Cathedral of the diocese it received the title of co-cathedral when the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Madras and Mylapore was transferred to San Thome Basilica.

Archbishop House

Madras-Mylapore Archbishop House located in Santhome, Chennai. Santhome bishop house.jpg
Madras-Mylapore Archbishop House located in Santhome, Chennai.

The Archbishop House is located in Santhome, Mylapore in Chennai next to the San Thome Basilica. The Archbishop house is the residence of the head and Archbishop of Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Madras and Mylapore.

Ecclesiastical province

Patron Saints

Saint Thomas the Apostle

Saint Thomas the Apostle, is the primary patron of this Archdiocese. According to tradition, Saint Thomas, one of the twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ walked on the sands of Mylapore and preached the Gospel to the people who embraced Christianity. This great Apostle was martyred on St.Thomas Mount, near Mylapore in the year 72 AD and his mortal remains were buried in Santhome in the Church built by him.

Saints and causes for canonisation

Religious congregations, societies and institutes

Religious institutes of men

Related Research Articles

A co-cathedral is a cathedral church which shares the function of being a bishop's seat, or cathedra, with another cathedral, often in another city. Instances of this occurred in England before the Protestant Reformation in the dioceses of 'Bath and Wells', and of 'Coventry and Lichfield'. These two dioceses were each named for both cities that served as bishop's seats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mylapore</span> Neighbourhood of Chennai

Mylapore, or Thirumayilai, is a neighbourhood in the central part of the city of Chennai, India. It is one of the oldest residential parts of the city. The locality is claimed to be the birthplace of the celebrated Tamil philosopher Valluvar, and the Hindu saint and philosopher, Peyalvar.

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<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santhome</span> Neighbourhood in Chennai District, Tamil Nadu, India

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

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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 in AD 52. 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. Christians are mainly concentrated in the southern districts of Tamil Nadu - Kanyakumari, Thoothukudi and Tirunelveli.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Louis Mathias</span>

Louis Mathias was the first Catholic bishop of Shillong who later became the Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Madras and Mylapore (1935-1952). He belonged to Salesian congregation and came as a missionary to India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Mary's Co-Cathedral, Chennai</span>

St. Mary's Co-Cathedral is a Catholic church in Armenian Street, Chennai, India. Constructed by Capuchins in 1658, it is one of the oldest churches in the former British India. For a long time Cathedral of the diocese it received the title of co-cathedral when the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Madras and Mylapore was transferred to San Thome Basilica.

Ephrem de Nevers was a native of Nevers, France. He was a Capuchin Franciscan priest and the first Christian missionary in Madras (Chennai), Tamil Nadu, India. De Nevers founded the first Christian mission in Madras on June 8, 1642, and was appointed the first Prefect Apostolic of Madras Capuchin Mission. Initially, it was known under the name the Apostolic Prefecture of Fort St. George. He served for 53 years as a missionary and died in Madras on October 13, 1695.

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References

  1. "Rinuncia dell'arcivescovo di Madras and Mylapore (India) e nomina del successore" (in Italian). The Vatican. Archived from the original on 28 November 2012. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  2. 1 2 "Saints & Blessed – CCBI" . Retrieved 17 October 2019.

13°02′01″N80°16′39″E / 13.0337°N 80.2775°E / 13.0337; 80.2775