Great Landmarks To Visit

Official Church of Scientology Online Videos: What is Scientology, Scientologist Beliefs, Spiritual Healing with Dianetics

2009-12-20T20:21:00.000+05:30

Official Church of Scientology Online Videos: What is Scientology, Scientologist Beliefs, Spiritual Healing with Dianetics

Great Landmarks To Visit: LUZ CHURCH

2008-05-07T18:08:00.000+05:30

Great Landmarks To Visit: LUZ CHURCH

LUZ CHURCH

2008-05-07T14:20:00.005+05:30

Church of ‘Our Lady of Light', popularly known as Luz Church, situated a mile to the west of the Santhome Cathedral, is associated with an ancient tradition, that some mariners saw a light beckoning to them from that place when they were tossed about in a storm near the coast. Steering towards this guiding light, they landed safely, and following it came to the spot where the church is built. The church is thus dedicated to 'Our Lady of Light'. The church, built by Franciscan missionaries from

Portugal

in honor of Mother Mary in 1516, is commonly known as ‘Kaatu Kovil' in Tamil (Church located in a forest) amongst the local people. It is the first church built in honor of 'Our Lady of Light'. The church, over the years had withstood the vagaries of time and human misadventures: it was damaged when Golconda forces occupied it in the 17th century; later Hyder Ali occupied it in the late 18th century. The East India Company also occupied Luz church for some time. The Luz Church is noteworthy for its old European ecclesiastical architecture. The arches in Gothic style and well-designed classical lines in European style, add to its beauty.

GREAT LANDMARKS OF CHENNAI, INDIA

2008-03-02T15:14:00.004+05:30

WELCOME TO INTERNATIONAL SHRINE OF

ST.THOMAS BASILICA

(The above pictures were shot from a Nokia N70 Mobile)

In the whole world, there are only three churches built over the tomb of an Apostle of Jesus Christ - the Basilica of Saint Peter built over the tomb of St.Peter in Rome, Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela built over the tomb of St.James in Spain and Basilica of the International Shrine of St.Thomas built over the tomb of St.Thomas. Basilica of the International Shrine of St.Thomas is in Chennai, India.

According to tradition Catholics believe that Christianity was first introduced into India by St. Thomas, one of the twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ.

After the Death and Resurrection of Christ, Thomas became acquainted with Habban, a merchant from India. Habban used to visit Egypt, Mesopotamia, Syria and other countries in the Middle East on his master, King Gondophare's business. It was in the company of this merchant that Thomas made the trip from Palestine, via the Island of Socotra, and, in 52 A.D., landed at Cranganore on the Malabar Coast of present-day Kerala. After building seven churches on this coast, under the benign patronage of the Hindu Kings of the time, Thomas crossed the Coromandel Coast of India's eastern seaboard. Vincent Smith, the historian, has stated that there was nothing incredible in the traditional belief that St. Thomas did come to South India.

Madras and its suburbs are closely associated with St. Thomas. At Little Mount (Chinnamlai in Tamil) he is believed to have lived for some years in a cave which can still be seen. At St. Thomas Mount he was pierced to death with a lance in 72 A.D. At Santhome in Mylapore, a magnificent Cathedral stands over the place where he was buried. This Church, which is dedicated to him and is popularly known as Santhome Cathedral, overlooks the Bay of Bengal, being situated on the sea-front of the historic city of Madras now called CHENNAI.