PilgrimstaysAlthough constructed in June 1881, the Basilica of the Holy Redeemer at Trichy in Tamil Nadu, India has its roots in the Jesuit missions to Trichy dating back to 1616. Popularly known as the Holy Redeemer Church, Trichy this famous Basilica is held in great reverence by devotees whose prayers never go unanswered. The first Jesuit priests from the Madurai mission were deputed to Trichy, or Tiruchirapalli in 1616. Madurai was then ruled by the Nayakas who began as feudatories of the Vijayanagar Empire.The Jesuits were able to obtain the support of the Nayaka Kings, which helped them immensely in their mission to spread the word of God in Tamil Nadu. Coincidentally, the capital of the Madurai Nayakas was shifted to Trichy in 1616. Many officers and soldiers in the King’s army had been converted to Christianity by Roberto de Nobili, an Italian Jesuit missionary. Through these new converts Christianity began to spread in Trichy and its surrounding areas. Previously, Christians in the area had to go to the St Mary’s Cathedral which was not well connected. The other nearby church was the Our Lady of Sorrows Church which was in the hands of the Portuguese priests. This church too was off bounds owing to the Padroado-Propaganda Schism of that period. When the foundation for the Holy Redeemer Church, Trichy was laid on February 9th 1880, there already were about 7500 Christians in the region. Trichy was under British rule when construction began. The then Diwan, Kanjamalai Mudaliar granted the land on which the Basilica stands, as a token of gratitude for a favour received by him. The new church was consecrated on June 29th, 1881 by the Archbishop of Pondicherry Msgr Lovenan. In 1957, a Redemptorist priest Fr Francis, began the Novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Succour. People attending these Novenas found their prayers answered and many favours received. In course of time devotees from other faiths too started thronging the shrine every Wednesday for the Novenas. On October 12th 2006, Pope Benedict XVI raised the Holy Redeemer Church, Trichy to the status of a Basilica.
Although constructed in June 1881, the Basilica of the Holy Redeemer at Trichy in Tamil Nadu, India has its roots in the Jesuit missions to Trichy dating back to 1616
Popularly known as the Holy Redeemer Church, Trichy this famous Basilica is held in great reverence by devotees whose prayers never go unanswered
The first Jesuit priests from the Madurai mission were deputed to Trichy, or Tiruchirapalli in 1616
The new church was consecrated on June 29th, 1881 by the Archbishop of Pondicherry Msgr Lovenan
On October 12th 2006, Pope Benedict XVI raised the Holy Redeemer Church, Trichy to the status of a Basilica
The basilica, set in the diocesan compound with its gardens and associated buildings, presents the dignified face of institutional Tamil Nadu Catholicism. The architecture reflects the evolution of Catholic church building in Tamil Nadu from the colonial Portuguese style toward a more locally rooted aesthetic.
The image of the Holy Redeemer — Christ as Redeemer, arms extended or raised in blessing — is the central devotional object. The Redeemer title emphasises the universal scope of Christ's work: the redemption of all humanity. The image receives the devotion of pilgrims from across the diocese.
Tiruchirappalli's religious landscape is extraordinary — the 7th-century Rock Fort temple rising 83 metres above the city, the massive Ranganathaswamy Temple island complex at Srirangam (the largest functioning temple in the world by area), and the Catholic basilica together create a city saturated with centuries of religious life. Walking between these sites in a single day is an education in the depth of Indian religious culture.
The view of the Rock Fort rising above the city — with the Kaveri River, the basilica towers, and the temple gopurams visible in the same vista — is the defining image of Tiruchirappalli. It is one of the great urban landscapes of Tamil Nadu, a city where every civilisation that has passed through has left its vertical signature.
The diocesan compound around the basilica includes the Bishop's residence, offices, and the administrative centre of a diocese that serves hundreds of parishes. The compound has the quiet authority of an institution that has been present in this city for a long time.
Robert de Nobili arrived in Madurai in 1606 and decided that the Gospel could only reach India if it were expressed in Indian terms. He learned Sanskrit, adopted the dress of a Brahmin sannyasi, and wrote Christian theology in classical Tamil and Sanskrit. He was scandalous to his contemporaries and foundational for all subsequent inculturation in Indian Christianity. The Diocese of Tiruchirappalli was built on the tradition he began. The Holy Redeemer celebrated here is the same Redeemer — but made intelligible in the language and culture of the Kaveri Delta.
“All are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
Read in full on Bible Gateway →Although constructed in June 1881, the Basilica of the Holy Redeemer at Trichy in Tamil Nadu has its roots in the Jesuit missions to Trichy dating back to 1616. Popularly known as the Holy Redeemer Church, Trichy, this famous Basilica is held in great reverence by devotees whose prayers never go unanswered.
The first Jesuit priests from the Madurai mission were deputed to Trichy, or Tiruchirapalli, in 1616. Madurai was then ruled by the Nayakas, who began as feudatories of the Vijayanagar Empire. The Jesuits were able to obtain the support of the Nayaka kings, which helped them immensely in their mission to spread the word of God in Tamil Nadu. Coincidentally, the capital of the Madurai Nayakas was shifted to Trichy in 1616.
Many officers and soldiers in the king’s army had been converted to Christianity by Roberto de Nobili, an Italian Jesuit missionary. Through these new converts, Christianity began to spread in Trichy and its surrounding areas. Previously, Christians in the area had to go to St Mary’s Cathedral, which was not well connected. The other nearby church was the Our Lady of Sorrows Church, which was in the hands of the Portuguese priests; this church too was off bounds owing to the Padroado–Propaganda schism of that period.
When the foundation for the Holy Redeemer Church was laid on 9 February 1880, there were already about 7,500 Christians in the region. Trichy was under British rule when construction began. The then Diwan, Kanjamalai Mudaliar, granted the land on which the Basilica stands as a token of gratitude for a favour received by him. The new church was consecrated on 29 June 1881 by the Archbishop of Pondicherry, Msgr Lovenan.
In 1957, a Redemptorist priest, Fr Francis, began the Novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Succour. People attending these Novenas found their prayers answered and many favours received. In course of time, devotees from other faiths too started thronging the shrine every Wednesday for the Novenas. On 12 October 2006, Pope Benedict XVI raised the Holy Redeemer Church to the status of a Basilica.
