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Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica  

  Kochi , Kerala.
FREE

  • Spiritual
    Category
    Spiritual
  • duration
    Duration
    45 Min - 1 Hour
  • mobile_voucher
    Mobile Voucher
    Accepted
  • parking
    Parking
    Available
  • staircase
    Staircase
    Available
  • Disability Friendly
    Disable
    Friendly
  • baby friendly
    Couple
    Friendly
  • ExploreBees
    Baby
    Friendly
  • restroom
    Restroom
    Available
  • sitting area
    Sitting Area
    Available
  • baggage counter
    Baggage counter
    Available
  • footwear counter
    Footwear Counter
    Available
  • prayer room
    Prayer room
    Available
  • cctv
    Cctv
    Available
  • security guard
    Security guard
    Available

Ticket

  • free entry
    free entry
  • adult ticket
    Adult
    FREE
  • children ticket
    Children
    FREE
  • mobile camera
    Mobile Camera
    FREE
  • still camera
    still camera
    FREE
  • video camera
    Video Camera
    FREE

Description

The Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica at Fort Kochi is one of the eight Basilicas in India. This magnificent This Roman Catholic Church is a must-see destination for tourists who come to Kochi. The Santa Cruz Cathedral not only happens to be one of the oldest churches in Cochin, but also in the whole of India. Counted as one of the heritage edifices of Kerala, this church is visited by tourists the whole year round.  It is situated close to St. Francis. The church fest of mother Mary is widely celebrated by the diocese. The Dutch way of alter design is another feature. The Church has two lofty spires and a remarkably bright, white-washed exterior and a pastel-colored interior. The interiors of the church are mostly Gothic, with the main altar decorated by the famous Italian painters. The Portuguese built Basilica’s 500th anniversary was very recently. With gracious and admiring interiors, Gothic facade with soaring and dazzling spires the Basilica is a charming prayer home. the interiors are decorated with colorful Indo-Romano style of decoration.The Dutch catch of Kochi in 24 December 1500 AD resulted in booming of warehouses in places of worships. The irresistible beauty garnered by stained glass and the imposing Caryatids over the confessional boxes might have persuaded the Dutch to spare it. Founded soon after the arrival of the first Portuguese visitors to India.

1505 - Building the 1st church

In 1505, Dom Francisco de Almeida the first Portuguese Viceroy got permission from the Cochin Raja to build a church edifice using stones and mortar which was unheard of at that time as the local prejudices were against such a structure for any purpose other than a royal palace or a temple. The foundation stone of the Santa Cruz church was laid on May 3, 1505, the feast day of the ‘Invention of the Holy Cross’, hence the magnificent edifice when completed was named Santa Cruz. This Church was located on the eastern side of the present Children’s Park, Fort Cochin.

1558 - Raising to the Status of Cathedral

In 1558, Pope Paul IV, raised the Santa Cruz Church to the status of a Cathedral along with the foundation of the Cochin diocese as the second diocese in India. Afterwards when the Dutch conquered Cochin in 1663, they destroyed all catholic buildings. Only the St. Francis Church and the Cathedral escaped this fate. The Dutch made the Cathedral their arms storehouse. Later it fell into the hands of the British who demolished it when they took over Cochin in 1795. One of the decorative granite pillars of the destroyed Cathedral is still kept as a monument at the southeastern corner of the present Basilica premises. 1887 - Rebuilding the Cathedral About 100 years later, Bishop D. Joao Gomes Ferreira (1887-1897) who reached Cochin took initiative to erect the present Cathedral and commenced the construction, but it was the next bishop, D. Maheus de Oliveira Xavier (1897-1909) who completed the edifice. The Cathedral was consecrated on November 19, 1905 by Dom Sebastiao Jose Pereira, Bishop of Damao. 1984 - Raising to Basilica Considering the antiquity, artistic dignity and historical significance, Blessed Pope John Paul II, by his Decree Constat Sane Templum Sanctae Cruci of December 19, 1984, raised the Santa Cruz Cathedral to the status of Basilica. 2004 - Celebrating the Quin centenary Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica is a Roman Catholic place of worship that celebrated five centuries of its existence only very recently in 2004.


Tips

for tourists, if you are to go there on a Sunday make sure to reach before 11.30am.


Operational Hours

January to December
Monday 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Tuesday 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Wednesday 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Thursday 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Friday 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Saturday 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Sunday 10:30 AM - 01:00 PM
Last Admission

Things to carry

  • id card
    Id card
  • water bottle
    Water bottle
  • sunglasses
    Sunglasses
  • cap
    Cap
  • first aid kit
    First aid kit
  • medicine
    Medicine
  • sun cream
    Sunscreen
  • power bank
    Power Bank

Things Not Allowed

  • no alcohol
    alcohol
  • no bags
    Bags
  • no outside food
    Outside Food
  • no weapons
    Weapons
  • no pets
    Pets
  • no skate board
    Skate board
  • no smoking
    Smoking
  • no wifi
    Wifi
  • no plastic bag
    Plastic Bag

Near By

  • atm
    ATM
    0.1 KM
  • fuel station
    Fuel Station
    0.5 KM
  • restaurant
    Restaurant
    0.1 KM
  • hospital
    Hospital
    0.3 KM
  • pharmacy
    Pharmacy
    0.3 KM
  • hotel
    Hotel
    0.1 KM
  • shopping mall
    Shopping Mall
    2.0 KM
  • metro
    Metro
    12.5 KM
  • bus stop
    Bus Stop
    0.3 KM
  • train
    Train
    12.0 KM
  • taxi
    TAXI
    0.5 KM
  • beach
    Beach
    1.0 KM

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