Basilicas in India—Tamil Nadu

I blogged about the following basilica on June 1, 2020.

• Cathedral Basilica of St. Thomas in Chennai.

Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health, Velankanni

Declared a minor basilica by Pope John XXIII in 1962.

Pilgrims have come to this site since two apparitions of Our Blessed Mother were reported in the 16th Century and a possible miracle was attributed to Our Lady’s intercession in the 17th Century.  Today, as many as 5 million pilgrims come every year.  Pope John Paul II referred to the Basilica as the “Lourdes of the East.”  The current Gothic building was constructed in the early 20th Century.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

Shrine Basilica of Our Lady of the Snows, Thoothukudi

Declared a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1982.

The church was built by the Portuguese in the 16th Century.

The first picture is from TripAdvisor and the other two are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of Our Lady of Lourdes, Poondi

Declared a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1999.

The church was originally built in the early 18th Century using Gothic and French styles of architecture.  The Basilica has three statues of made in France shortly after the apparition of Our Lady at Lourdes.  The building was restored in the mid-20th Century.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of the Holy Redeemer, Tiruchirapalli

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Benedict XVI in 2006.

Jesuits brought Christianity to this area in the 17th Century.  This church was built between 1880 and 1881 and has several oil paintings.

Pictures are from local sources.

Basilica of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, Karumathampatti

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Francis in 2019.

At least two churches were destroyed during wars until the current church was completed in 1803.

Pictures are from local sources.

Basilica of Our Lady of the Nativity, Mulagumoodu

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Francis in 2020.

The church was built in 1864 and has a 300-year-old statue of Mary made in Belgium.

Pictures are from a blog and Wikipedia.

Basilica of Our Lady of the Assumption, Kamanayakkanpatti

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Francis in 2023.

Christianity came to this area in the person of St. Thomas the Apostle and a Christian community remained through the centuries.  A church was built here in 1684 but burned in 1748.  It has been replaced with the current church.  A statue of Mary that survived the fire attracts pilgrims who pray for Mary’s intercession.    

The first picture is from a blog and the last two are from Wikipedia.