Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica (one of the eight Basilica in India) is located at Fort Kochi. This basilica serves as the Cathedral church of the Diocese of Cochin, the second oldest Diocese of India.
The history of the basilica dates back to the 16th century with the arrival of Portuguese missionaries along with the second Portuguese fleet under Pedro Álvares Cabral on 24 December 1500. The Cochin King Godha Varma I received them very warmly. This caused the Zamorin of Calicut to declare war against Cochin. The Portuguese army under Commander Dom Afonso de Albuquerque who reached Cochin in 1503 defeated the enemies of the King of Cochin and in return the king gave them permission to build a fort in Cochin.
The foundation stone was laid on 3 May, 1505, the feast day of the 'Invention of the Holy Cross', hence the church was named Santa Cruz.
In 1958, Pope Paul IV, raised the Santa Cruz Church to the status of a Cathedral along with the erection of the second diocese in India - Diocese of Cochin. The Dutch who conquered Cochin in 1663, made the Cathedral their arms storehouse. Later it fell in the hands of the British who demolished it
The present day structure was consecrated on 19 November 1905 by Bishop Dom Sebastião José Pereira. In 23 August 1984, Pope John Paul II through a special Decree "Constat Sane Templum Sanctae Cruci" raised the status of Santa Cruz Cathedral to Basilica for its antiquity, artistic dignity and historical importance.
The church has two lofty spires and a remarkably bright, white-washed exterior. The interior of the church has Gothic style architecture with its overwhelming arches and the main altar was decorated by the famous Italian painter Fr Antonio Moscheni, S.J., and his disciple De Gama of Mangalore. The seven large canvas paintings including a beautiful reproduction of the 'Last Supper' by Leonardo da Vinci are a real feast for the eyes. The ceilings of the church are adorned with paintings that depict scenes from the Via Crucis of Christ. The beautiful stained glass windows are another attraction
Tourist Visiting Hours: 09:00 AM to 05:00 PM (from Tuesday to Saturday), 10:30 AM to 01:00 PM (Sunday)
Website: http://www.santacruzcathedralbasilica.org/
The history of the basilica dates back to the 16th century with the arrival of Portuguese missionaries along with the second Portuguese fleet under Pedro Álvares Cabral on 24 December 1500. The Cochin King Godha Varma I received them very warmly. This caused the Zamorin of Calicut to declare war against Cochin. The Portuguese army under Commander Dom Afonso de Albuquerque who reached Cochin in 1503 defeated the enemies of the King of Cochin and in return the king gave them permission to build a fort in Cochin.The foundation stone was laid on 3 May, 1505, the feast day of the 'Invention of the Holy Cross', hence the church was named Santa Cruz.
In 1958, Pope Paul IV, raised the Santa Cruz Church to the status of a Cathedral along with the erection of the second diocese in India - Diocese of Cochin. The Dutch who conquered Cochin in 1663, made the Cathedral their arms storehouse. Later it fell in the hands of the British who demolished it
The present day structure was consecrated on 19 November 1905 by Bishop Dom Sebastião José Pereira. In 23 August 1984, Pope John Paul II through a special Decree "Constat Sane Templum Sanctae Cruci" raised the status of Santa Cruz Cathedral to Basilica for its antiquity, artistic dignity and historical importance.
The church has two lofty spires and a remarkably bright, white-washed exterior. The interior of the church has Gothic style architecture with its overwhelming arches and the main altar was decorated by the famous Italian painter Fr Antonio Moscheni, S.J., and his disciple De Gama of Mangalore. The seven large canvas paintings including a beautiful reproduction of the 'Last Supper' by Leonardo da Vinci are a real feast for the eyes. The ceilings of the church are adorned with paintings that depict scenes from the Via Crucis of Christ. The beautiful stained glass windows are another attraction
Tourist Visiting Hours: 09:00 AM to 05:00 PM (from Tuesday to Saturday), 10:30 AM to 01:00 PM (Sunday)
Website: http://www.santacruzcathedralbasilica.org/
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