Church of Our Lady of Springs

Church of Our Lady of Springs
Igreja de Nossa Senhora das Brotas (Portuguese)
The Church with its altar
Map
General information
Architectural stylePortuguese Baroque
Town or cityAnjediva Island, Goa
CountryIndia
Coordinates14°45′40″N 74°06′40″E / 14.761°N 74.111°E / 14.761; 74.111
Construction startedAD 1502
CompletedAD 1502, AD 1506, and AD 1729

The Church of Our Lady of Springs (Portuguese: Igreja de Nossa Senhora das Brotas) is located in the vicinity of the Fort Anjediva on the Anjadip Island, off the west Coast of India under the administrative control of Goa, India. Initially, in AD 1502, it was built as a small thatched chapel, but later, in AD 1506, was made into a more permanent structure. It was rebuilt in 1682 and subsequently refurbished in AD 1729. An Insignia awarded by Rome as the ‘Mother Church’ is seen in this church.[1][2][3]

This Church is stated to be the oldest Christian church in India, outside of Kerala and visited by devotees from Karwar, Binaga and other villages of Karnataka and Goa.[4]

The ancient church was under the control of the Vicar of the diocese of Karwar, facing the city of Goa. The Church is now under the ownership of the Government of Goa but is administered by the Indian Navy who are in possession of the island to build a strategic naval base.[5]

  1. ^ Team Herald (2 March 2016). "Faithful shocked over Parrikar's 'no' to feasts on Anjediva Island". OHeraldo. Margao. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
  2. ^ "The Travesty at Anjediva! (pg. 1)". Colaco.net. Archived from the original on 20 March 2014. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
  3. ^ "The Travesty at Anjediva! (pg. 2)". Colaco.net. Archived from the original on 5 January 2009. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
  4. ^ Team Herald (12 January 2009). "Not only politicians break promises". OHeraldo. Panaji. Retrieved 10 October 2010. [dead link]
  5. ^ Carvalho, Nirmala (2 February 2005). "Hindu fundamentalists prevent Catholic celebration on Anjediva Island". AsiaNews. Retrieved 6 September 2017.