Roman Catholicism in Sri Lanka.html
 
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The Roman Catholic Church in Sri Lanka is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope and curia in Rome.The country comes under the province of Colombo and is divided into 11 dioceses including one archdiocese.There are approximately 1.4 million Catholics in Sri Lanka representing around 7% of the total population.

In 1995, at a ceremony in Colombo, Pope John Paul II beatified Father Joseph Vaz, an early missionary to the country, who was known as the Apostle of Ceylon.

Contents

History

Early History

Records of ancient travellers to Sri Lanka reports that a separate area was allocated for Christians in the ancient capital Anuradhapura and there was a Christian chapel used by the Persian merchants who came to Ceylon in around 5th century AD]].1 The Persian cross excavated in Anuradhapura belonging to the 5th century A.D. and the decorative baptismal pond excavated near Vavuniya proves presence of Christians in Sri Lanka during the early period Anuradhapura kingdom. Two crosses excavated around Anuradhapura in 1913 said to be identical to the cross at St Thomas Mount near Chennai. 2

Modern history

On 15 November 1505 a Portuguese fleet commanded by Lourenço de Almeida, having been driven by a storm to the shores of Sri Lanka, landed in Colombo. With permission of the king of Kotte, Dharma Parakramabahu IX, Alimeida erected a trade station and a small chapel in Colombo. The chapel was dedicated to St Lawrence. Franciscan Friar Vicente, the chaplain of the fleet, celebrated Mass. This is the first record of a catholic mass on Sri Lankan soil.

Important churches

Dioceses Church Type Town
Anuradhapura St. Joseph’s Cathedral Cathedral Anuradhapura
Badulla St. Mary’s Cathedral Cathedral Badulla
Chilaw St. Mary’s Cathedral Cathedral Chilaw
Colombo St. Lucia’s Cathedral Cathedral Kotahena
Basilica of Our Lady of Lanka National Shrine Tewatta
St. Anthony’s National Shrine National Shrine Kochchikade
Galle St. Mary’s Cathedral Cathedral Galle
Jaffna St. Mary’s Cathedral Cathedral Jaffna
Kandy St. Anthony’s Cathedral Cathedral Kandy
Kurunegala St. Anne’s Cathedral Cathedral Kurunegala
Mannar St. Sebastian’s Cathedral Cathedral Mannar
Ratnapura Ss. Peter & Paul Cathedral Cathedral Ratnapura
Trincomalee – Batticaloa St. Mary’s Cathedral Cathedral Trincomalee
St. Ann’s Co-Cathedral Co-Cathedral Batticaloa

Notes

  1. ^ Mahavamsa Translated by Wilhelm Geiger, Chapter 10
  2. ^ Christmas yesteryear Daily News (Sri Lanka) Article

References

External links

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Italics indicates an unrecognised or partially recognised country.  1 Sometimes included in Europe, depending on the border definitions.  2 Also known as Myanmar.  3 Sometimes included in Oceania, and also known as Timor-Leste.  4 Transcontinental country.  5 Commonly known as Taiwan. 
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