Padri-Ki-Haveli ("Mansion of Padre"), also known as the Visitation of the blessed Virgin Mary, is the oldest church in Bihar. When Roman Catholics arrived in Bihar, they built a small church in 1713 at a place now known as Padri-ki-Haveli.[1]
| Visitation of the blessed Virgin Mary | |
|---|---|
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| District | Patna district |
| Province | Bihar |
| Region | Magadh |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Cathedral |
| Leadership | Dr. Victor Alphonse (General Secretary, Parish Council). |
| Location | |
| Location | Patna |
| Municipality | Patna Municipal Corporation |
| State | India |
| Geographic coordinates | 25°36′40″N 85°08′38″E / 25.611°N 85.144°E |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Tirreto |
| Type | Cathedral |
| Style | Neoclassical |
| Completed | First build – 1713 Major redisgn – 1772 |
| Construction cost | {INR}700 in 1772 |
The current church was re-designed by a Venetian architect Tirreto in 1772. He came from Kolkata to design the church. The foundation stone of this church has a dimension of 70 feet of length, 40 feet of width and 50 feet of height.[2]
Nawab Mir Qasim destroyed the church because of the quarrel with the British traders on 25 June 1763. Ancient records were destroyed and burnt consequently. In 1857, during the Great Indian Rebellion, the church was very damaged again.
Today, the monument stands as an architectural wonder with intricate details present in few churches in India.
Notes
edit- The main attraction of the church is the large cathedral bell.[3]
- Mother Teresa got her training in this church.[4]
References
edit- ^ Christianity in Bihar Archived 8 August 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Bihareebabu.com. Retrieved 6 September 2012.
- ^ PADRI KI HAVELI. patna.bih.nic.in
- ^ Large Cathedral Bell and architecture of Padri Ki Haveli church in Bihar. Tsiindia.com (21 June 2007). Retrieved 2012-09-06.
- ^ Patna room still houses Mother's memories. Rediff.com (20 October 2003). Retrieved 2012-09-06.
Further reading
edit- Horo, P. C., The Comprehensive History of Bihar, Vol. III, Part II, chapter – "Christian Missions and Communities in Bihar" – (pages 109–292)
- Greene, Meg (2004), Mother Teresa: A Biography, Greenwood Publishing Group, ISBN 0-313-32771-8