Christianity in Tamil Nadu
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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 (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 (48.7% of the population, 2001[3]), Thoothukudi (17%, 2001) and Tirunelveli (11%, 2001).
The Roman Catholic Church, the Church of South India, The Salvation Army Church,the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church, the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, the Evangelical Church of India, the Pentecosts, the Apostolics, and other evangelical denominations constitute the Christian population in Tamil Nadu. The Latin Rite of Roman Catholic Church has 15 dioceses including the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Madras and Mylapore and the Roman Catholic 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 8 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 members of the Latin Rite Roman Catholic Church or the Church of South India. The Pentecostal Mission (TPM) is headquartered in Chennai.
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[]
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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. In 18th century European missionaries including William Tobias Ringeltaube established Protestant churches and propagated Christianity in Kanyakumari.
Caste discrimination was so severe in some parts of the district, that many low castes were not allowed to enter temples and lower caste women were not allowed to cover their breasts. During its reign the Kingdom of Travancore enacted several laws which suppressed lower-caste people. Missionaries fought for the rights of the suppressed people and pushed the Kingdom of Travancore to restore only some basic rights for the converted Christians. As a result, many suppressed people embraced Christianity.[4]
Demographics[]
Year | Number | Percentage |
---|---|---|
2001[5] | ||
2011[6] |
Districts with significant percentage of Christians as per 2001 census[]
District | Christian (%) | Christian (numbers) |
---|---|---|
Tamil Nadu | 6.02 | 3,785,060 |
Kanyakumari | 48.74 | 795,406 |
Thoothukudi | 16.70 | 262,718 |
The Nilgiris | 11.45 | 87,272 |
Tirunelveli | 10.88 | 296,578 |
Tiruchirappalli | 9.01 | 218,033 |
Chennai | 7.62 | 331,261 |
Dindigul | 7.55 | 145,265 |
Ramanathapuram | 7.08 | 84,092 |
Kanchipuram | 5.92 | 170,416 |
Sivaganga | 5.86 | 67,739 |
Thanjavur | 5.63 | 124,945 |
Tiruvallur | 5.56 | 169,719 |
Ariyalur | 5.21 | 36,261 |
Pudukkottai | 4.55 | 66,432 |
Coimbatore | 4.34 | 185,737 |
Viluppuram | 3.90 | 115,745 |
Virudhunagar | 3.89 | 68,295 |
Madurai | 3.34 | 86,352 |
Cuddalore | 3.22 | 73,611 |
Teni | 3.09 | 33,830 |
Nagapattinam | 3.07 | 45,780 |
Vellore | 2.94 | 102,477 |
Tiruvarur | 2.70 | 31,621 |
Tiruvannamalai | 2.52 | 55,180 |
Erode | 2.14 | 55,414 |
Perambalur | 1.70 | 8,412 |
Salem | 1.67 | 50,450 |
Karur | 1.48 | 13,863 |
Dharmapuri | 1.36 | 39,019 |
Namakkal | 0.80 | 13,137 |
Important Basilicas[]
San Thome Basilica[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/04/SANTHOME_CATHEDRAL.jpg/220px-SANTHOME_CATHEDRAL.jpg)
San Thome Basilica is a Roman Catholic (Latin Rite) minor basilica and one of the 3 National Shrine 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 in 52 A.D. preached between 52 A.D. and 72 A.D., 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.[7]
Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/32/Basilica_of_Our_Lady_of_Good_Health_in_Velankanni%2C_Tamil_Nadu_Entrance.jpg/220px-Basilica_of_Our_Lady_of_Good_Health_in_Velankanni%2C_Tamil_Nadu_Entrance.jpg)
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.[8]
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,"[9] is one of the most important Christian religious sites frequented by Christians in India.
Popular Church of South India (CSI) churches in Tamil Nadu[]
Holy Trinity Cathedral Palayamkottai,
Tirunelveli DioceseSt. George's Cathedral, Chennai
Madras DioceseSt. Mary's Church, Chennai
Oldest Anglican church in IndiaHoly Trinity C.S.I.Church in Pragasapuram, Thoothukudi - Nazareth Diocese St. John's C.S.I.Cathedral, Nazareth
Thoothukudi - Nazareth DioceseSt Michael and all Angels C.S.I. Church, Mudalur
Thoothukudi - Nazareth DioceseSt. John's C.S.I. Church, Adayal Mudalur St. Paul Church in Mela Ilandaikulam,
Tirunelveli Diocese
Contributions to literature[]
Christians of Tamil Nadu who have made concrete contributions to Tamil language and Tamil literature are
- Vedanayagam Sastriar (1774 -1864)
- Samuel Vedanayagam Pillai (1826–1889)
- Henry Alfred Krishnapillai (1827–1900)
- Dr.Abraham Pandithar (1859–1919)
- Xavier Thaninayagam (1913-1980)
Christians who had been born in Europe, but were adopted to Tamil culture and made major contributions to Tamil language and literature are
- Roberto de Nobili, also known as Thaththuva Bothagar
- Constanzo Beschi / Constantine Joseph Beschi, also known as Veeramaa Munivar
- Bartholomaeus Ziegenbalg
- Robert Caldwell
- George Uglow Pope
- Fred Goodwill
Christian pilgrimages[]
- Santhome Church,Chennai.
- Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health, Velankanni
- St. Thomas Mount in Chennai
- Poondi Madha Basilica
- Our Lady of Snows Basilica Thoothukudi
- St. Antony's Church at Uvari
- St. Francis Xavier's Cathedral at Kottar
- Our Lady of Ransom Church, Kanyakumari.
- Church of Maria Bambina Kangeyam.
- St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Thiruvithamcode[10]
- New Jerusalem Church, Tranquebar
- ST. JOHN DE BRITTO CHURCH, ORIYUR, SIVAGANGAI
List of denominations[]
Apostolic Christian Assembly[11]
- Apostolic Church[11]
- Assemblies of God[11]
- Advent Christian Church
- Brethren Church
- [11]
- [11]
- [12]
- Church of South India (CSI)[13]
- Church of North India (CNI)[14]
- Dohnavur Fellowship[12]
- [12]
- [12]
- [15]
- Indian National Apostolic Diocese
- [15]
- [15]
- [15]
- Prince of Peace Church[15]
- [16]
- The Pentecostal Mission[15]
- [15]
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- , Sankarankovil
- , Mylapore
- Evangelical Church of India
- Church of Mahanaim Ministries
- The Salvation Army Church
- [Indian Pentecostal church (ipc)]
List of Tamil Christians[]
- Vijay (actor)
- Madhuri Devi
- S.J. Suryah
- John Vijay
- Harris Jayaraj
- D. Imman
- Vijay Antony
- Prameela
- Vikram (actor)
- Alexander Babu
- L. R. Eswari
- Chandrababu
- Vedanayagam Sastriar
- Samuel Vedanayagam Pillai
- Vincent Asokan
- Henry Alfred Krishnapillai
- Dr.Abraham Pandithar
- S.A. Ashokan
- Xavier Thaninayagam
- Arun Alexander
- Mahendran
- Nelson Dilipkumar
- Livingston (actor)
- George Maryan
Further reading[]
- William Strickland, `THE JESUIT IN INDIA`, London/Dublin,1852. Reprint: Asian Educational Services, New Delhi,2001.(ISBN 81-206-1566-2).
See also[]
- List of Indian Christians
- List of cathedrals in India
- List of Roman Catholic missionaries in India
- Christianity in Goa
- Christianity in West Bengal
- Christianity in Kerala
- Christianity in Maharashtra
References[]
- ^ Whitehouse, Thomas (1873). Lingerings of light in a dark land: Researches into the Syrian church of Malabar. William Brown and Co. p. 23–42.
- ^ Neill, Stephen (2004) [1984]. A History of Christianity in India: The Beginnings to AD 1707. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 45. ISBN 9780521548854.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 5 March 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ^ "AGITATION FOR UPPER CLOTH IN KANYAKUMARI DISTRICT | rjisacjournal.com". Retrieved 12 November 2019.
- ^ "Total population by religious communities". Censusindia.gov.in. Archived from the original on 19 January 2008. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
- ^ "Indian Census 2011". Census Department, Government of India. Archived from the original on 13 September 2015. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
- ^ "Basilica of the National Shrine of St.Thomas". SanThomeChurch.com. Archived from the original on 2 March 2010. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
- ^ "History of Velankanni". Archived from the original on 27 October 2009. Retrieved 12 February 2011.
- ^ Hindus join in India's Marian pilgrimage on Catholic World News
- ^ "Thiruvithamcode church to be global pilgrim centre". The Hindu. 7 December 2007. Archived from the original on 9 December 2007. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e World Christian Encyclopedia, Second edition, 2001 Volume 1, p. 368
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d World Christian Encyclopedia, Second edition, 2001 Volume 1, p. 369
- ^ Church of South India
- ^ Church of North India
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g World Christian Encyclopedia, Second edition, 2001 Volume 1, p. 370
- ^ World Christian Encyclopedia, Second edition, 2001 Volume 1, p. 371
- Christianity in Tamil Nadu