>Jeromeenriquez at 13:04, 23 June 2021

2021-06-23T13:04:13Z

New page

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}}

{{Infobox church
| denomination = [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]]
| name = Akbar's Church
| fullname =
| other name =
| image = Agra - Église d'Akbar - 5.jpg
| imagesize =
| imagealt =
| caption = Akbar's Church, Agra
| pushpin map =
| pushpin label position =
| pushpin map alt =
| relief =
| pushpin mapsize =
| map caption =
| coordinates =
| country = [[India]]
| osgridref = 
| osgraw = 
| location = Kamla Nagar, Civil Lines, [[Agra]], [[Uttar Pradesh]] 282003
| previous denomination =
| churchmanship =
| membership =
| attendance =
| website = www.agraarchdiocese.com
| former name =
| bull date =
| founded date = {{start date and age|1600}}
| founder = [[Society of Jesus]]
| dedication =
| dedicated date =
| consecrated date =
| cult =
| relics =
| events =
| past bishop =
| people =
| status = [[Catholic Church]]
| functional status = Active
| heritage designation =
| designated date =
| architect =
| architectural type =
| style =
| groundbreaking =
| completed date =
| construction cost =
| closed date =
| demolished date =
| capacity =
| length = 
| width = 
| width nave = 
| height = 
| diameter = 
| other dimensions =
| floor count =
| floor area = 
| dome quantity =
| dome height outer = 
| dome height inner = 
| dome dia outer = 
| dome dia inner = 
| spire quantity =
| spire height = 
| materials =
| bells =
| bells hung =
| bell weight = 
| parish =
| deanery =
| archdeaconry =
| episcopalarea =
| archdiocese = [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Agra]]
| metropolis =
| diocese = [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Agra|Diocese of Agra]]
| province =
| presbytery =
| synod =
| circuit =
| district =
| division =
| subdivision =
| archbishop = [[Raphy Manjaly]]
| bishop =
| abbot =
| vicar =
| provost-rector =
| provost =
| viceprovost =
| rector =
| dean =
| subdean =
| precentor =
| succentor =
| chancellor =
| canonchancellor =
| canon =
| canonpastor =
| canonmissioner =
| canontreasurer =
| prebendary =
| priestincharge =
| priest =
| asstpriest =
| honpriest =
| curate =
| minister =
| assistant =
| seniorpastor =
| pastor =
| chaplain =
| archdeacon =
| deacon =
| reader =
| student intern =
| organistdom =
| director =
| organist =
| organscholar =
| chapterclerk =
| laychapter =
| warden =
| verger =
| businessmgr =
| liturgycoord =
| reledu =
| rcia =
| youthmin =
| flowerguild =
| musicgroup =
| parishadmin =
| serversguild =
| logo =
| logosize =
| logolink =
| logoalt =
| imagelink =
| deaconness =
}}
'''Akbar's Church'''<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZtFbBAAAQBAJ&q=akbar+church&pg=PT266|title=Agra: The Architectural Heritage|last=Peck|first=Lucy|date=2011-04-06|publisher=Roli Books Private Limited|isbn=9788174369420|language=en}}</ref> also known as '''''Church of Akbar'''''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://agrarising.co.in/?p=2039|title=Agrarising » Historical 'Akbar Church': Surviving the ravages of time|website=agrarising.co.in|language=en-US|access-date=2017-06-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://indiahistoryspeaks.blogspot.com/2007/12/catholic-mughals-agra.html|title=History Speaks: CATHOLIC MUGHALS - AGRA|last=Speaks|first=History|date=2007-12-12|website=History Speaks|access-date=2017-06-25}}</ref> is a [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic Church]], built in 1600 by [[Society of Jesus|Jesuit Fathers]], situated in [[Agra]], [[India]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://eventseeker.com/venue/723150-akbar-s-church-agra|title=Akbar's Church {{!}} Agra {{!}} Tourist Attractions & Sightseeing {{!}} eventseeker|website=eventseeker.com|language=en|access-date=2017-09-29}}</ref>

== History ==
Jesuit priests were invited by [[Mughal Emperor]] [[Akbar the Great]] from [[Portuguese Goa]] to learn more about [[Christianity]]. So, Father [[Rodolfe Aquauiua]], the Father {{Interlanguage link|Anthony Monserrate|WD=Q534142}} and the Father [[Francois Henriques]] reached Agra on 18 February 1580. Akbar learnt about Christianity and gave land to [[Society of Jesus|Jesuit fathers]] to built a church in Agra. This was the first [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic Church]] in the [[Mughal Empire]]. After [[Akbar]] it was his son [[Jahangir]] who donated for further expansion of the Church.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://indiahistoryspeaks.blogspot.com/2007/12/catholic-mughals-agra.html|title=History Speaks: CATHOLIC MUGHALS - AGRA|last=Speaks|first=History|date=2007-12-12|website=History Speaks|access-date=2017-09-29}}</ref> [[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 [[Ahmad Shah Durrani|Ahmed Shah Abdali]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.livehistoryindia.com/amazing-india/2017/06/29/akbars-church|title=Akbar's Church|access-date=2017-09-29}}</ref>

In 1769 the church was rebuilt by [[Father Wendel]] S.J. with the help of [[Walter Reinhardt Sombre|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 [[Jahangir|Emperor Jahangir]], Tahmuras (Don Felipe), Baisanghar (Don Carlos) and [[Hushang Mirza|Hoshang]] (Don Henrique),<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/154688731|title=In the shadow of the Taj : a portrait of Agra|last=Grewal, Royina.|date=2007|publisher=Penguin Books|isbn=978-0-14-310265-6|location=New Delhi|pages=117|oclc=154688731}}</ref> having been catechized by Fr. Corsi, S.J.,<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sXqkDAAAQBAJ&q=corsi|title=The Key to Power?: The Culture of Access in Princely Courts, 1400-1750|last1=Raeymaekers|first1=Dries|last2=Derks|first2=Sebastiaan|publisher=Brill|year=2016|isbn=9789004304246|series=Rulers and Elites: Comparative Studies in Governance|location=Leiden|pages=74–75}}</ref> were baptized by Fr. [[Jerome Xavier]] S.J. in this Church.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q6cgiklMFlMC|title=Christian Missions Their Agents, Their Methods, and Their Results|last=Marshall|first=T. W. M.|publisher=Burns and Lambert|year=1862|volume=Vol. 1|location=London|pages=358}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CqqUVp8fqMgC|title=The History of the Popes, Their Church and State, in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries|last=Ranke|first=Leopold|publisher=George Routledge and Company|year=1852|location=London|pages=254|translator-last=Kelly|translator-first=Walter Keating}}</ref>

* [[Begum Samru|Begum Johana Sumroo]], the Begum of Sardhana was baptized in this Church.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.livehistoryindia.com/amazing-india/2017/06/29/akbars-church|title=Akbar's Church|access-date=2017-09-29}}</ref>

* Akbar's Church was the Cathedral of Agra till 1848.

* In 1842 [[Religious of Jesus and Mary]] from [[France]] were welcomed by Bishop Borghi in the same Church.

* In 1843 Bishop Borghi consecrated Msgr. Carli Bishop of Almira.

* In 1846 [[Anastasius Hartmann|Servant of God Bishop Anastasius Hartmann]] was consecrated Vicar Apostolic of Patna.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.jeasa.org/revisiting-jesuit-legacy-agra-memorable-visit-akbars-church|title=Revisiting Jesuit Legacy at Agra: A memorable visit to "Akbar's Church" {{!}} JEASA|website=www.jeasa.org|language=en|access-date=2017-06-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.agraarchdiocese.com/akbar-church.aspx|title=Archdiocese of Agra|website=www.agraarchdiocese.com|access-date=2017-06-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/HiddenHeritage/the-story-of-akbars-church/|title=The story of Akbar's church|work=Times of India Blog|access-date=2017-06-25|language=en-US}}</ref>

<br />
[[File:Church_of_Akbar_1.jpg|thumb|Church of Akbar]]
[[File:Church_of_Akbar_5.jpg|thumb|Inscription at the church showing the time in history that this church went through]]

==See also==
* [[List of Jesuit sites]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{coord missing|Uttar Pradesh}}

[[Category:Roman Catholic cathedrals in India]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic churches in Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Church buildings with domes]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Agra]]
[[Category:Cathedrals in Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:17th-century Roman Catholic bishops in India]]

Akbar's Church - Revision history

>Jeromeenriquez at 13:04, 23 June 2021