Basilica of the Holy Redeemer, Tiruchirappalli

2020-01-07T07:24:23Z

106.197.182.141: /* Bishops of Tiruchirapalli Diocese */

{{Use Indian English|date=November 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2013}}
{{refimprove|date=September 2013}}
{{Infobox church
| name = Basilica of the Most Holy Redeemer
| fullname = உலக இரட்சகர் பெருங்கோவில், திருச்சி
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| coordinates = {{coord|10.8103|78.6980|region:IN_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| location = [[Tiruchirappalli]], Tamil Nadu
| country = [[India]]
| denomination = [[Roman Catholic]]
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| website = http://holyredeemersbasilica.org
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| founded date = 9 February 1880
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| consecrated date = 29 June 1881
| cult = Devotion to Our Lady of Perpetual Help
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| status = [[Minor Basilica]]
| functional status = active
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| designated date = 12 October 2006
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| diocese =[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Tiruchirappalli|Tiruchirappalli]]
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| bishop = Antony Devotta
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| rector = S. Louis Britto
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| priest = S. Louis Britto
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The '''Basilica of the Holy Redeemer, Tiruchirappalli''' is one of five [[Roman Catholic]] [[minor basilica]]s in the southern state of [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]].

==History==
The origins of the basilica can be traced to the early decades of the 17th century, when [[Society of Jesus|Jesuit]] missionaries began spreading [[Christianity]] through the [[Madurai|Madurai Mission]]. The first conversions occurred in the area known as [[Tiruchirappalli]], also called "Trichy", in 1616. The missionaries eventually got support from the [[Hinduism|Hindu]] Naicker rulers of Madurai. The many Jesuit missionaries who worked in the Madurai Mission included [[Robert de Nobili]] and [[Constanzo Beschi]].

While Trichy was still a mission station of the Madurai Mission, several Christian communities were established in Palakkarai, Dharmanathapuram, and Varaganeri. Even before the construction of the Holy Redeemer Church, there were some 7500 Christians in the area. They worshiped at the St. Mary's Cathedral, Trichy, rather than at Our Lady of Sorrows because the latter was under the administration of the [[Padroado|Portuguese Padroado]].

Realizing the need for the Christians of [[Palakkarai]] to have a church of their own, [[Alexis_Canoz|Bishop Alexis Canoz]], S.J. laid the foundation for a new church on 9 February 1880. The church of the Most Holy Redeemer was consecrated on 29 June 1881 by the Vicar Apostolic of [[Pondicherry]], Msgr. François-Jean-Marie Laouënan, M.E.P.

The land for the construction of the church was a gift from the local ruler, Diwan Kanjamalai Medullar.

==Devotion to Our Lady of Perpetual Help==
In 1957 the [[novena]] devotion to Our Lady of Perpetual Help was introduced by the parish priest, Rev. A. Thomas, after a parish mission conducted by the [[Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer|Redemptorist]] priest Rev. Francis. The devotion has continued till the present as hundreds of devotees, Christian and non-Christian, gather to pray on Wednesdays.

==Minor basilica==
[[Pope Benedict XVI]] raised the church of the Most Holy Redeemer to the dignity of a minor basilica on 12 October 2006. The request for the elevation of the church to a basilica was presented to the [[Holy See|Vatican]] by the Bishop of Trichy, Most Rev. Antony Devotee while Rev. A. Gabriel was the parish priest.<ref>[http://holyredeemersbasilica.org/index.htm basilica status] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325050528/http://holyredeemersbasilica.org/index.htm |date=25 March 2014 }}</ref>

==Art and architecture==
The inner walls of this church are adorned with oil paintings of the saints and scenes from the Old and New Testaments.

==Bishops of Tiruchirapalli Diocese ==
*Bishop [[Alexis Canoz]], S.J. 1846–1888
*Bishop John Barthe, S.J. 1888–1913
*Bishop Ange-August Faisandier, S.J. 1913–1936
*Bishop John Peter Leonard, S.J. 1936–1938
*Bishop James Mendonça 1938–1970
*Bishop Thomas Fernando 1971–1990
*Bishop Lawrence Gabriel 1990–1997
*Msgr. Vincent Mathias (administrator) 1997–1999
*Bishop Peter Fernando 2000–2001
*Bishop Anthony Devotta 2001–2018
*Bishop.Devadoss Ambrose (administrator) 2018-

==See also==
{{Portal|Christianity}}
{{Wiktionary|basilica}}
* [[Cathedral]]
* [[Duomo]]
* [[List of basilicas]]
* [[Roman architecture]]
* [[Tiruchirapalli]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Tiruchirappalli}}
{{Basilicas in India}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Basilica Of The Holy Redeemer, Tiruchirapalli}}
[[Category:Basilica churches in Tamil Nadu|Holy Redeemer, Tiruchirappalli]]
[[Category:Churches in Tiruchirappalli district]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic churches in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Redemptorist churches]]
[[Category:Churches in Tiruchirappalli]]

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Basilica of the Holy Redeemer, Tiruchirappalli