An Andhra Cathedral With an Italian Designer

Waheeda Bi khan

An Andhra Cathedral With an Italian Designer

Far far away from our land, on his way to Damascus to persecute the new converts of Christianity, when the Saul of Tarsus met Jesus for the first time, little did he know that his life story will be eternalised in the annals of Christianity all over the world. The seeds of Catholicity sown by him have sprouted and mushroomed in every nook of this globe, blessing his apostlehood even on our sub-continent through the diocese and cathedrals named after him. Like the St Paul’s Cathedral in the Deccan land of victory, Vijayawada.

St. Paul’s Cathedral, Vijayawada; Source: UCA news

Far far away from our land, on his way to Damascus to persecute the new converts of Christianity, when the Saul of Tarsus met Jesus for the first time, little did he know that his life story will be eternalised in the annals of Christianity all over the world. The seeds of Catholicity sown by him have sprouted and mushroomed in every nook of this globe, blessing his apostlehood even on our sub-continent through the diocese and cathedrals named after him. Like the St Paul’s Cathedral in the Deccan land of victory, Vijayawada.

The seeds of Christianity, which were sown far away in Damascus, found fertile ground on the coast of Machalipatnam or Bandar in the 17th century. It was during this time that an Augustinian friar began his missionary service, spreading the message of Jesus as conveyed by St. Augustine and St. Paul in this land. The PIME (The Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions) missionaries, arriving on this coast in 1855, continued the work started by the Augustinian friar and envisioned the Vijayawada church, which would eventually become a thriving centre of Christianity in the Deccan region of India.

However, in 1864, a devastating tidal wave struck the city, almost reducing it to ruins. This catastrophe led the missionaries to search for a new location to continue their mission. They decided to shift from the coastal Bandar town and established their centre of Christian activities in Eluru. With the construction of the railway bridge and barrage over the Krishna river, connecting Bengal to Madras, the missionaries found an ideal means to spread their missionary work in Bezwada (now Vijayawada). This marked the transformation from a 'misssio sui juris' to the Diocese of Vijayawada in 1933, after separating from the Eluru diocese.

The journey of faith from distant lands to our subcontinent, carried forth by missionaries following in the footsteps of their apostolic roots, has been marked by compassion, belief, patience, perseverance, and devotion to Jesus Christ. St. Paul's Cathedral in Vijayawada serves as a symbol of this extraordinary journey, transcending national borders, ethnicities, castes, civilisations, and political strife to nourish the hearts of all who enter its sacred space. Visitors who come to witness the blend of architectural splendour and divine ambience will always carry with them a profound sense of sanctity and peace, cherished for generations to come.

During World War II, many Italian missionaries were interned or sent to concentration camps, leading to the arrival of missionaries from Kerala as substitutes. Among these Indian missionaries, Msgr. Ambrose De Battista emerged as a prominent figure. He later became the second bishop of the Vijayawada diocese and played a pivotal role in its development. Bishop Battista's diligent efforts over a quarter-century earned him the reputation of being the builder of the Vijayawada diocese.

In 1967, during Bishop Battista's tenure, Archbishop James Knox of India visited the diocese and advised the bishop to relocate the headquarters to a more peaceful area. This suggestion arose from the disturbances caused by noise and dust near the railway station at the previous church in One Town, which was constantly affected by ashes from passing trains.

After an extensive search lasting five years, Bishop Joseph Thumma, the succeeding bishop of Vijayawada, carried forward Bishop Battista's efforts to establish the new parish headquarters in Patamata. The chosen location offered a serene landscape on the outskirts of the city. Assisted by the first parish priest, Fr. Louis Pozzoli, and supported by his benefactor, Don Dante Basilico, the construction of the Cathedral dedicated to the great Apostle St. Paul finally commenced. The consecration of the Cathedral took place in 1976 and had the honour of being designed by the esteemed architect Br Giani Davide, who also contributed to various other structures under the Vijayawada diocese.