St Marys Basilica Church Bangalore
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A Glance at its history
- St Mary's Basilica Church, Bangalore was initially a small chapel built by Abbe Dubois in the year 1818. Later it was re-styled into a Church of Gothic style by Rev. L. E. Kleiner.
- St. Mary's Basilica, Church, Bangalore in India was raised to the status of a Basilica in the year 1973 on the order of Pope John Paul VI. It was the sixth basilica in India.
An Ancient Practice
In ancient days, there was a well known ritual of parading the image of Virgin Mary in the streets. Once, this procession was stoned by a radical sect. Miraculously, the people who were involved in this condemnable act were struck by cholera and died of the disease.
Later, St. Mary's Basilica Church, Bangalore, was again attacked by an atrocious group of people who set it ablaze. Every thing was ruined save the wooden statue of Virgin Mary. Today this statue is kept with great care in a glass case.
Apart from this, another statue of Virgin Mary of a larger stature was erected and placed in a Chapel by the side of the main entrance of St Mary's Basilica Church, Bangalore in India. Every creed, may it be Hindu or Muslim, Sikh or Buddhist revere it and offer there homage to it.
At one point of time, it was decided that the statue of Virgin Mary would be shifted to another part of the St Basilica Church in Bangalore. But the Statue could not literally be removed from its place. Hence, it still stands in its original place. Due to these miracles, St. Mary's Basilica Church, Bangalore in India won the position of the sixth Basilica in 1973.
Unique characteristics of St Mary's Basilicas Church, Bangalore.
- St Mary's Basilica Church in Bangalore is the oldest church and was designed in the gothic architecture.
- It has a vaulted tower and arches decorated with gothic paint.
- In 1882, St. Mary's Basilica Church, Bangalore was further adorned with stained glass windows brought from Paris. Though they had to be removed during the World War II, it was replaced with utmost care in the year 1947.
