©St. Lucia's Cathedral 2022, designed and developed by Joseph W.

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Catholic cathedral in Colombo

St. Lucia's Cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Colombo in Sri Lanka. The Cathedral is located at Kotahena, in the north east of Colombo, on 18,240 sq. ft. of land. It traces its origins to a small structure for worship built during the Dutch occupation.

An overall description of St. Lucia's cathedral colombo

The structure of St. Lucia's Cathedral which attracts all visi turs and passers by to wonder whether they accidentally have visited St. Peter's Basilica, Vati can in Rome. Yes, it is a minature replica of the massive Vatican Basilica built in Gothic Architecture in the North East of Colombo within an extent of 18,240 square feet and rising to 151 feet in height, rendering its services to the spiritual needs of the Roman Catholic faithful and in particular to its parish ioners. However while probing and tracing the emergence of the church it is felt as a form dable and tiresome experience. In the midst of the 17th century, following the exit of the Portuguese rulers the invading Dutch rulers subjugated the Ceylonese and the freedom of practising the Catholicism was suppressed. However the bold and dedicated priests of the congregation of Oratorians whose founder was St. Phillip Neri persuaded the then Dutch Authorities and obtained a grant of 10 Acres of land and built a small hut church in 1779 AD. dedicated to "OUR LADY OF ASSUMPTION". Later in 1782 AD. Fr. Nicholas Rodriguez the Superior of the Oratorian fathers developed the church with brick & mortar. In 1796 AD a war between the occupy ing Dutch rulers and the invad- ing British soldiers occurred at the banks of the Kelani River, which forced the majority of the people to seek refuge at this church dedicated to "OUR LADY OF ASSUMPTION". In 1820 AD the victorious British rulers restored the civil rights of the Catholics and granted them the freedom of practising their reli- gion. As a result a deceased pie neer missionary priest Fr. Mon teiro de Setuval's remains were interred in the premises of this church. Until the year 1834 AD this Catholic church was under the bishopric of Cochin and under the jurisdiction of the Arch bishop of Goa, India. On April 21, 18634 AD. Pope Gregory XVI detached this church from the Indian administration and ap pointed Fr. Vincente Rozario Dias as the "Vicar Apostalic" of Ceylon. On January 14, 1938 AD. this church of "OUR LADY OF ASSUMPTION" was dedicated to ST. LUCY, a virgin martyr of Syracuse, Italy and was declared as the first Cathedral in Ceylon.

John 16:33. "In the world you will have tribulation. ...

SAINT LUCY

 ST. LUCY THE VIRGIN MARTYR OF SYRACUSE. . A BABY BORN IN THE YEAR 283 AD AT SYRACUSE IN SICILY TO A RICH CUM NOBLE FAMILY, WHERE THE FATHER WAS OF ROMAN ORIGIN & EUTYCHIA THE MOTHER BELONGING TO THE ANCESTRY OF GREEKS WAS NAMED LUCIA. THE NAME "LUCIA" IS THE DERIVATION THE LASS OF THE ROOT WORDS "LUX OR LUCIS" IN LATIN MEANING "LIGHT OR CLEAR" LOST HER FATHER IN TENDER AGE AND THUS MADE HER UPBRINGING TO THE ONUS OF HER MOTHER EUTYCHIA, WHO WAS ALSO INFLICTED WITH A LOATH-SOME HAEMORRHAGE FOR SEVERAL YEARS. YOUNG LUCIA WAS SUBJECTED TO THE CONTROL OF HER MOTHER AND GREW UP WITH THE CHRISTIAN VIRTUOUS OP PIETY & CHASTITY. SHE WAS INSPIRED BY THE LIFE OF YET ANOTHER FEMALE MODEL & VIRGIN NAMED AGATHA OF CATANIA (A TOWN 50 MILES FROM SYRACUSE) WHO SUPPERED MARTYRDOM 52 YEARS BACK FOR THE SAKE OF LORD JESUS CHRIST. AGATHA'S RENOWN IMPULSED YOUNG LUCIA TO ACCOMPANY HER SICK STRICKEN MOTHER TO THE FORMER'S TOMB SITE AT CATANIA TO PRAY FOR THE CURE OF THE UNPLEASENT MALADY OF HER DEAR MOTHER. ALL NIGHT LONG LUCIA & EUTYCHIA PRAYED VERY EARNESTLY TO ST. AGATHA UNTIL THEY BOTH WERE EMBRACED IN DEEP SLUMBER. SUDDENLY IN A VISION ST. AGATHA ASSERTED TO LUCIA "SOON YOU SHALL BE THE GLORY OP SYRACUSE, AS I AM OF CATANIA",& INSTANTANEOULY EUTYCHIA WAS RESTORED TO NORMALCY. BY THEN LUCIA HAD DECIDED & OPTED OUT TO BE MARRIED AND CHOSE TO REMAIN IN A SINGULAR LIFE THAT OF A VIRGIN IN DEDICATION TO LORD JESUS CHRIST. NEVERTHELESS, ON THE CONTRARY HER MOTHER HAD BETROTHED A PAGAN BRIDEGROOM TO LUCIA WHICH WAS STRONGLY OPPUGNED & TURNED DOWN. LUCIA ALSO DECIDED TO MAKE USE OF HER PATRIMONY & DOWRY TO BE DISTRIBUTED IN LARGESSE TO THE POOR NEEDY OF HER VICINITY. INDEED THIS COURSE OF ACTION DID VERY MUCH INFURIAT THE DEPRIVED BRIDEGROOM WHICH INDUCED HIM TO BETRAY LUCIA AS A CHRISTIAN TO THE GOVERNOR PASCHASIUS OF SICILY, THAT SUFFERED A FORMIDABLE PERSECUTION UNDER THE DIOCLETIAN RULE. SO, PASCHASIUS ARRESTED &ORDERED LUCIA TO BURN & OFFER A SACRIFICE TO THE EMPEROR'S IMAGE AND THE REJECTION TO COMPLIANCE RESULTED IN ISSUANCE OF AN ORDER THAT LUCIA BE SENT TO A BROTHEL FOR DEFILEMENT OF HER WELL PRESERVED CHASTITY. WHEN THE GUARDS CAME OVER TO MOVE HER TO THE BAWDY HOUSE, SHE WAS SO FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT AND HER FEEBLE BODY TURNED INTO AN UN-IMMAGIN- ABLE STIFFNESS WHICH BECAME SO HEAVY AS A MOUNTAIN THAT COULD NOT BE MOVED EVEN AFTER HITCHING HER TO A TEAM OF OXEN!. WONDERING OF HER UNUSUAL STIFFNES & HEAVINESS HER PERSECUTERS DECIDED TO TORCH HER ALIVE BY SPREADING BUNDLES OF WOOD ON HER & SET FIRE, BUT THAT TOO BECAME IN-EFFECTIVE AND DID NO HARM TO LUCIA. IN PERSUANCE THE DISAPPOINTED TORMENTORS GOUGED OUT HER BEAUTIFUL EYES, YET GOD RESTORED HER SIGHT MIRACULOUSLY SANS HER LOST EYES, THUS MAKING HER THE PATRONESS OF THE BLIND AT A LATTER TIME. AS A FINAL TORTURE A DAGGER MADE TO PIERCE THROUGH HER THROAT & YET SHE WAS ABLE TO PROPHESIZE AGAINST HER PERSECUTERS & BREATHED HER LAST AS A VIRGIN MARTYR IN FIDELITY TO HER LORD & MASTER JESUS CHRIST AT A TENDER AGE OF 21 YEARS IN THE YEAR 304 AD AT HER OWN BIRTH PLACE SYRACUSE.

 PAGE 2. THROUGH THESE ORDEALS OF ONTOLD IMMENSE SUFFERINGS LUCIA EARNED HER CROWN OF VICTORY BY HER ONWAVERING & COMMITEED CHRISTIAN FAITH TOGETER WITH THE PRESERVATION OF HER CHASTITY THAT WITHSTOOD HER MARTYRDOM PAVED THE WAY FOR BER EARLY CANONIZATION AS "ST.LUCY" BY THE THEN EARLY CHURCH & FOUND FAVOURED COMMEMORATION BY NAME IN THE CANON OF THE MASS ALONG WITH SIX OTHER FEMALE SAINTS VIZ BLESSED VIRGIN MARY THE MOTHER OF JESUS, AGATHA, AGNES, BARBARA, CATHERINE & THECLA, ST.LUCY IS SHORT LISTED & REVERED AS A CHRISTIAN VIRGIN MARTER BY CATHOLIC, EASTERN ORTODOX, ANGLICAN & LUTHERAN CHURCHES AND HER FEAST LE CELEBRATED ON 13TH DECEMBER. IN SCANDINAVIAN COUNTRIES SPECIAL FESTIVITIES ARE HELD IN HER HONOUR ST.LOCK THE VIRGIN MARTYR RENOWNED FOR HER SIMPLICITY, MODESTY & CHASTITY BE A CRITARION FOR THE MORDERN EVES OF THIS ERA WHO WILLINGLY EXPOSE & EXHIBIT THEIR PHYSIQUES WITH THEIR VENTILATING DE-COLLETAGES, BARE MIDRIFFS & ATTIRES CE TRANSPARENT SCANTY CLOTHING UNDER THE COVER OF MODERN FASHIONS. IT IS ALSO PITIABLE TO NOTE THAT EVEN SOME MOTHERS & ELDERS ENCOURAGE SUCH ACTIRES & TURN A BLIND EYE TO SUIT THEMSELVES ADJUSTED IN THESE IMMODEST SOCIAL EVILS WITHOUT A WORD OF REBUKE TO CORRECTION. LET ST.LUCY THE PATRONESS OF THE BLIND BE AN EYE OPENER & SHED CLEAR LIGHT ON THEIR IGNORANCE & MISDEEDS & TURN THEM REFORMED LEST THEY BE LOST IN ENTRETIES BLINDNESS, MAY ST.LUCY BEING THE PATRONESS OF THE CATHEDRAL OF THE ARCH-DIOCESE OF COLOMBO AT KOTARENA & THE CO-PATRONESS OF THE CITY OF COLOMBO ALONG WITH ST. LAWRENCE INTERCEDE FOR ALL HER FAITHFUL DEVOTEES TO BE SHOWERED WITH GOD'S MIGHTY BLESSINGS IN ABUNDANCE TO EXPERIENCE A FORE TASTE OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD HERE ON EARTH.

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Contributor: Mr. Joseph A. R. Ranjit Fernando 59/29,5TH LANE, ST.BENEDICT'S MANATHA, KOTARENA, COLOMBO 13.