St. Andrew's Basilica, Arthunkal, India Verified listing

St. Andrew's Basilica, Arthunkal, India

St. Andrew’s Basilica stands in the village of Arthunkal in Alappuzha, Kerala, India. Moreover, it serves as a major center of faith, devotion, and culture. Thousands of pilgrims and visitors come every year to admire its spiritual atmosphere and architectural beauty. In fact, Portuguese missionaries built the basilica in the 16th century to serve the local Christian community. Its location near the Arabian Sea adds to its spiritual and scenic appeal.

The grand annual feast of St. Sebastian takes place every January. This feast, called “Makaram Perunnal,” lasts a full month. Millions of devotees attend from across India. Therefore, people consider it one of Kerala’s most important religious celebrations. Vicar Jacomo Fenicio, an Italian Jesuit, rebuilt the church in 1584. Devotees believe he could heal both body and mind. As a result, they called him “Arthunkal Veluthachan,” meaning “fair-skinned father.” Fenicio died in 1632, but pilgrims still honor his memory.

Eight years later, the church leaders rebuilt it again. They turned the building to face west toward the long white-sand beach of the Arabian Sea. Furthermore, in 1647, church officials brought a statue of St. Sebastian pierced with arrows from Milan. The statue shows his martyrdom under Roman emperor Diocletian and now stands inside the church. Finally, on 9 July 2010, Pope Benedict XVI elevated the church to the status of a basilica. Thus, the parish became the first in the Diocese of Alleppey to receive this honor, which strengthened its role as a spiritual and cultural landmark in Kerala.

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