St. Andrew's Basilica, Arthunkal

St. Andrew's Basilica of Arthunkal St.Sebastian
St. Andrew's Forane Church of Arthunkal
St. Andrew's Basilica of Arthunkal St.Sebastian Location in Kerala, India
9°39′40″N 76°18′01″E / 9.6611°N 76.3004°ECoordinates: 9°39′40″N 76°18′01″E / 9.6611°N 76.3004°E
Location	Arthunkal, Kerala
Country	India
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Website	www.arthunkalbasilica.com
History
Founded	1584
Architecture
Status	Basilica
Functional status	Active
Designated	9 July 2010
Administration
Diocese	Roman Catholic Diocese of Alleppey

St. Andrew's Forane Church

The church, officially Arthunkal St. Andrew's Forane Church, Arthunkal, Alappuzha district, Kerala, India was originally built by the Portuguese missionaries in the 16th century. It was rebuilt in 1584, under the then vicar Fr. Jacoma Fenicio, whom the devotees claim, possessed magical powers to heal the body and mind. Devotees fondly referred to him as "Arthunkal Veluthachan", which in English translates to "fair skinned father". Fr. Fenicio died in 1632. Eight years after his death, the church was rebuilt again, this time facing the west towards the long white-sand beach on the shores of the Arabian Sea. In 1647, a statue of St. Sebastian, struck with arrows all over his bleeding body (he was executed on the order of the Roman emperor for embracing the Christian faith) sculptured in Milan, was brought and placed in the Arthunkal church.

Arthunkal St Andrews Forane Church, the first Parish of the Diocese of Alleppey was elevated to the status of Basilica on 9 July 2010.^[1]

Arthunkal Basilica became the first Basilica in the diocese of Alleppey and the 7th Basilica in Kerala. It is the 3rd Basilica of the Roman Catholic Latin church of Kerala.

References

1. http://getawayskerala.com/177/arthunkal-church-elevated-to-basilica