Church of Saint Francis, Kochi
Saint Francis Church, in Fort Kochi, Kochi, originally built in 1503, is one of the oldest European churches in India[1] and has historical significance as a witness to the European colonial ambitions in the subcontinent.[2][3] The Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama died in Kochi in 1524 when he was on his third visit to India. His body was originally buried in this church, but after fourteen years his remains were relocated to Lisbon and is now interred at Jerónimos Monastery.[4][5]
History
Vasco da Gama, who discovered the sea route from Europe to India, landed at Kappad near Kozhikode in 1498.[4] He was followed by Pedro Álvares Cabral[4] and Afonso de Albuquerque. They built Fort Emmanuel at the Fort Kochi Beach with permission from the Raja of Cochin. Within the fort, they built a church with a wooden structure, which was dedicated to St. Bartholomew. The neighbourhood is now known as Fort Kochi. Francisco de Almeida, the Portuguese viceroy, was allowed, in 1506, by the Raja of Cochin to reconstruct wooden buildings in stone and masonry.[4]
The Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama died in Kochi in 1524 on his third visit to India. His body was originally buried in this church, but after fourteen years his remains were moved to Lisbon.[4][5]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/42/St_Francis_Church_Entrance.jpg/150px-St_Francis_Church_Entrance.jpg)
The Franciscans retained control over the church till the Dutch captured Kochi in 1663. While the Portuguese were Roman Catholics, and the Netherlands had Catholic and Protestant citizens, the Dutch government and Colonialists were Protestant. They demolished all the churches except this one. They reconditioned it and converted it into a government church.[4]
See also
References
- ^ "National Portal of India". Govt Of India. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
- ^ "St. Francis Church, Kochi". Wonderful Kerala. Retrieved 21 February 2008.
- ^ Missick, Stephen Andrew. "Mar Thoma: The Apostolic Foundation of the Assyrian Church and the Christians of St. Thomas in India" (PDF). Ancient Indian Christianity. Journal of Assyrian Academic Studies Vol. XIV, no. 2, 2000. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 February 2008. Retrieved 21 February 2008.
- ^ a b c d e f "St. Francis Church". webindia123. Retrieved 21 February 2008.
- ^ a b Ayub, Akber (ed), Kerala: Maps & More, Fort Kochi, 2006 edition 2007 reprint, pp. 20–24, Stark World Publishing, Bangalore, ISBN 81-902505-2-3
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- St Francis Church;Colonial History of India in Stone Archived 21 March 2019 at the Wayback Machine
- v
- t
- e
- Basilica of Our Lady of Dolours, Thrissur
- Fathima Matha Chapel, Kandeswaram
- Mar Sleeva Syro-Malabar Church, Mapranam
- Marth Mariam Cathedral
- Marth Mariam Cathedral
- Mary Matha Syro-Malabar Church, Ollur
- Our Lady of Lourdes Metropolitan Cathedral
- Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, West Chalakudy
- Pazhanji Church
- Pazhuvil Church
- St. Antony's Forane Church
- St. Francis Xavier's Church, Sampaloor
- St. Francis Xavier Forane Church, Velur
- St. Joseph Chapel, Americankettu North West
- St Mary's Church, Cheloor
- St. Mary's Syro-Malabar Forane Church, Chalakudy
- St. Thomas Cathedral, Irinjalakuda
- St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Church, Palayoor
- Marthoma Cheriapally Kothamangalam
- St.Mary's Cathedral Kothamangalam
- Mar Sabor and Mar Proth Church, Akaparambu
- Church of Our Lady of Hope
- CSI Immanuel Church, Ernakulam
- Don Bosco Church, North Paravur
- Holy Magi Syro-Malabar Forane Church, Muvattupuzha
- Kadamattom Church
- Karingachira Church
- St. Peter and St. Paul's Church, Kolenchery
- Kottakkavu Mar Thoma Syro-Malabar Church, North Paravur
- Little Flower Church, Kaprassery
- Mar Hormizd Syro-Malabar Church, Angamaly
- St. Mary's Forane Church, Arakuzha
- Marthoma Cheria Pally Kothamangalam
- Mary Queen Church, Thoppil
- Nadamel Marth Mariam Church
- Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica, Kochi
- Vallarpadam Basilica
- Varapuzha Basilica
- St George church, Vypin
- St Louis Church, Mundamveli
- St Thomas' Church, Thuruthur
- Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church, Manjummel
- St. Antony's Church, Kodanad
- St. Francis Church, Kochi
- St. George Syro-Malabar Basilica, Angamaly
- St. George's Forane Church, Edappally
- St. George's Syro-Malabar Church, Thalayolaparambu
- St. John the Baptist Church, South Parur
- St. Jude Church, Kidangoor
- St. Mary's Simhasana Church, Veliyanad
- St. Sebastian's Church, Udayamperoor
- St. Thomas More Syro-Malabar Church, Alakode (Meenmutty)
- St. Thomas Church, Kokkamangalam
- St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Church, Malayattoor
- St. Philomena's Forane Church, Koonammavu
- St.Thomas Dayara, Vettikkal
- Holy Family Syro-Malabar Church, Mannila
- Immaculate Heart of Mary Cathedral, Kottayam
- Mar Aphrem Church
- St Antony's Syro-Malabar Forane Church, Kurumpanadam
- St. George Orthodox Church, Puthuppally
- St. George's Syro-Malabar Catholic Forane Church, Aruvithura
- St. Mary's Church, Kottayam
- St. Mary's Jacobite Syrian Cathedral, Manarcad
- St Mary's Metropolitan Cathedral, Changanassery
- St. Mary's Syro-Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Church Kuravilangad
- St. Thomas Cathedral, Pala
- St. Thomas Church, Arunoottimangalam
- Vettikkunnel church
- Basilica of St. Mary, Champakulam
- St. Andrew's Basilica, Arthunkal
- Kattachira Church
- Marthoma Church, Cheppad
- Pazhaya Suriyani Pally
- St. Bursouma's Church, Attuva
- St. George's Church, Cheppad
- St. George Orthodox Church, Cheppad
- St. Mary's Orthodox Cathedral, Puthencavu
- St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church, Pallipad
- Arohana Marthoma Church, Anicadu
- Bethel Marthoma Church, Chengara
- Holy Innocents' Church, Mezhuveli
- Kadammanittapally
- Kadampanad Church
- Kannamcode Cathedral
- Mar Thoma Sleeha Syro-Malabar Church, Thulappally
- Nilackal St.Thomas Church
- Sacred Heart Church, Mylapra
- St. George Orthodox Church, Chandanapally
- St. George Orthodox Church, Mylapra
- St. Ignatius Monastery Manjinikkara
- St. John's Cathedral, Tiruvalla
- St. Mary's Church, Niranam
- St Mary's Orthodox Church, Kallooppara
- St. Thomas Marthoma Church, Kozhencherry
- Dutch Church, Munroe Island
- Infant Jesus Cathedral
- Mount Tabor Monastery, Pathanapuram
- St Andrew's Church, Kovilthottam
- St Antony's Church, Kanjiracode
- St Elijah Orthodox Syrian Church
- St. George's Church, Chathannoor
- St. Mary's Cathedral, Kundara
- St. Mary's Cathedral, Punalur
- St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Avaneeswaram
- St. Mary's Salem Orthodox Church, Manappally
Templates
Category
WikiProject
India portal