Akbar's Church

Akbar's Church[1] also known as Church of Akbar[2][3] is a Roman Catholic Church, built in 1600 by Jesuit Fathers, situated in Agra, India[4].

Akbar's Church
Akbar's Church, Agra
LocationKamla Nagar, Civil Lines, Agra, Uttar Pradesh 282003
CountryIndia
DenominationRoman Catholic
Websitewww.agraarchdiocese.com
History
StatusCatholic Church
Founded1600 (1600)
Founder(s)Society of Jesus
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Administration
ArchdioceseRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Agra
DioceseDiocese of Agra
Clergy
ArchbishopAlbert D'Souza

History

Jesuit priest were invited by Mughal Emperor Akbar the Great from Goa to learn more about Christianity. So, Father Rodolfe Aquauiua, the Father Antoine de Monserrat and the Father Francois Henriques reached Agra on 18 February 1580. Akbar learnt about Christianity and gave land to Jesuit fathers to built a Church in Agra. This was the first Roman Catholic Church in Mughal Empire. After Akbar it was his son Jahangir who donated for further expansion of the Church[5]. Khwaja Martins and Mirza Sikandar Junior too contributed for the expansion. The church was demolished by Emperor Shah Jahan in 1635, after he captured Jesuit Priests crossing religious limits of Islam and agreed to release them only if they demolish the Church. The Church was rebuilt in 1636 by the permission of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan after the pardon of Jesuits.

First Holy Mass was celebrated in the Church on 8 September 1636. In 1761, in the aftermath of the Third Battle of Panipat the church was looted by Afghan Invaders under Ahmed Shah Abdali[6].

In 1769 the church was rebuilt by Father Wendel S.J. with the help of Walter Reinhardt, Commander of Agra Fort. Bishop Antonino Pezzoni, O.F.M. Cap. extended the church westward with the contribution from Jean Baptiste Filose in 1835.

Historic events
  • In 1610 three Royal Princes, nephews of Emperor Jahangir, Tahmuras (Don Felipe), Baisanghar (Don Carlos) and Hoshang (Don Henrique),[7] having been catechized by Fr. Corsi, S.J.,[8] were baptized by Fr. Jerome Xavier S.J. in this Church.[9][10]
  • Akbar's Church was the Cathedral of Agra till 1848.
  • In 1843 Bishop Borghi consecrated Msgr. Carli Bishop of Almira.


Church of Akbar
Inscription at the church showing the time in history that this church went through
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References
  1. Peck, Lucy (6 April 2011). Agra: The Architectural Heritage. Roli Books Private Limited. ISBN 9788174369420.
  2. "Agrarising » Historical `Akbar Church': Surviving the ravages of time". agrarising.co.in. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  3. Speaks, History (12 December 2007). "History Speaks: CATHOLIC MUGHALS - AGRA". History Speaks. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  4. "Akbar's Church | Agra | Tourist Attractions & Sightseeing | eventseeker". eventseeker.com. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  5. Speaks, History (12 December 2007). "History Speaks: CATHOLIC MUGHALS - AGRA". History Speaks. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  6. "Akbar's Church". Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  7. Grewal, Royina. (2007). In the shadow of the Taj : a portrait of Agra. New Delhi: Penguin Books. p. 117. ISBN 0-14-310265-6. OCLC 154688731.
  8. Raeymaekers, Dries; Derks, Sebastiaan (2016). The Key to Power?: The Culture of Access in Princely Courts, 1400-1750. Rulers and Elites: Comparative Studies in Governance. Leiden: Brill. pp. 74–75. ISBN 9789004304246.
  9. Marshall, T. W. M. (1862). Christian Missions Their Agents, Their Methods, and Their Results. Vol. 1. London: Burns and Lambert. p. 358.
  10. Ranke, Leopold (1852). The History of the Popes, Their Church and State, in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries. Translated by Kelly, Walter Keating. London: George Routledge and Company. p. 254.
  11. "Akbar's Church". Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  12. "Revisiting Jesuit Legacy at Agra: A memorable visit to "Akbar's Church" | JEASA". www.jeasa.org. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  13. "Archdiocese of Agra". www.agraarchdiocese.com. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  14. "The story of Akbar's church". Times of India Blog. Retrieved 25 June 2017.

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