St. Philomena’s Cathedral
St. Philomena’s Cathedral was designed by a French architect, Daly, to resemble Cologne Cathedral in Germany
I am on my vacation to Bengaluru, my vacation nest in India. The city of Bangalore experiences favorable weather throughout the year. Most tourists visit Bangalore in winter, between September and March when the temperature is 28 to 32 degrees Celsius (82 to 90° Fahrenheit). In summer from March to May you can see maximum temperature rise up to 38 degrees Celsius (100° Fahrenheit).
This post is not related to Bangaluru but a historic Place called Mysoru. The road distance to Mysoru from Bengaluru is 146 miles.
My first visit was to St. Philomena’s Cathedral. One of the largest cathedrals in India, St. Philomena’s Cathedral in Mysuru is a remarkable example of Gothic architecture. The majestic church, built to honor the memory of Saint Philomena, a Latin Catholic Saint of the Roman Catholic Church, draws inspiration from the beautiful Cologne Cathedral of Germany.
Remains of St Philomena are preserved at the cathedral. St. Philomena’s Cathedral is one of the tallest churches in Asia.
St Philomena’s Cathedral was designed by a French architect, Daly, to resemble Cologne Cathedral in Germany.
The twin spires of the Cathedral, 175 feet in height, are seen from miles around making it a distinctive city landmark. The main hall or nave of the cathedral can seat up to 800 people and is as exquisitely conceived as the ornately crafted exterior with beautiful stained glass windows depicting scenes from the birth of Christ, the Last Supper, the Crucifixion, the Resurrection, and the Ascension of Christ.
The St. Philomena’s Church in Mysore is one of the oldest churches in India. It is over 200 years old. Initially, over 250 years ago there was a small church in its place.
The entire church is built in the Gothic style and is one of the largest Cathedrals in South Asia. The Church has the relic of the 3rd century Saint Philomena that is in a beautiful catacomb below the main altar. The construction of the church was completed under Bishop Rene Fuga’s supervision. At that time Thamboo Chetty, the Huzur Secretary to the Maharaja of Mysore, heard about the greatness of Saint Philomena and obtained a relic of the saint from Peter Pisani, Apostolic Delegate of the East Indies in 1926. After obtaining the relic it was handed over to Fr. Cochet. The next year a new statue of Saint Philomena was brought from France.
Today St. Philomena’s church stands as a monument to the secular outlook of the Mysore rulers. It is no longer just a religious place but has become a major tourist attraction in Mysore. There is an orphanage on the premises of the church that is run by the church. Holy Mass is held in the morning and evening. Special masses are held on Sundays and on festivals. An Annual Feast is held on August 11th each year.
St Philomena’s Cathedral was built by Maharaja of Mysuru Mummudi Krishnaraja Wadiyar in 1843 in memory of 4th-century saint and martyr St. Philomena. The cathedral was built as a gift to many European populations residing in Mysuru in the 19th century. As the need for a larger church was felt due to the growing population of Europeans, the foundation for the new church was laid in October 1933 by the then-king of Mysuru, Krishnarajendra Wodeyar.
The story of Saint Philomena dates back to the 3rd century A.D. Philomena was the daughter of the monarch of a small state in Greece. Her parents were childless. They prayed to God and asked Him to bless them with a child and promised to convert to Christianity if their wish was granted. The next year Philomena was born to them. Even in her childhood, Philomena showed signs of piety. When Philomena was 13 years old her father took her to Rome to obtain the favor of Emperor Diocletian. The Emperor was enthralled by her beauty and wanted to marry her. But she refused and vowed to give herself to God. As she refused to marry the Emperor she was tortured and beheaded in Rome.
Thanks for reading Shameem Anwar and for your valuable time!