Five most famous churches in India

New Delhi: India has always been known for its unity in diversity. It is the only country in the world where people belonging to all religions reside together.One such religion in India is Christianity. Christianity came into existence around first century AD but it was established in India by the 6th century AD.Christians believe that Jesus was the Son of God, fully divine and the Savior of humanity whose coming was prophesied in the Old Testament.Christians go to worship on Sundays which is also considered a ‘Holy day'. Christianity has two sects - Roman Catholics and Protestants. India has numerous Churches where one can see the statute of Christ being crucified and of Mother Mary, while there are churches that just have an empty cross on the alter which too gives sense of eloquence and sanctity.Christianity is the third largest religion in India.India has got many churches throughout the length and breadth of the country.Here we have compiled a list of five most popular churches in India:1. Sé CathedralLocated in Old Goa, Sé Cathedral is the largest church in India. It is one of the oldest churches in Goa and is dedicated to Catherine of Alexandria.The church was built to memorialize the victory of Portuguese over Muslim army, which led to the capture of the city of Goa in 1510.Since the day of the victory happened to be on the feast of Saint Catherine, the cathedral was dedicated to her.While the actual construction of the church began in 1562, it was finally completed in 1619.The Se Cathedral's tower houses the largest bell in Goa. on account It is known as the “Golden Bell” because of its rich tone . It is also one the best in the world.While the main altar has several paintings on either side and is dedicated to Catherine of Alexandria, there is chapel on the right side, where Christ is believed to have appeared in 1919. This chapel is known as the Chapel of the Cross of Miracles.2. Malayatoor ChurchBuilt by St. Thomas the Apostle, Malayatoor Church is one of the most prominent Christian pilgrimages, and is situated atop the 609 m high Malayatoor Hill in Kerala. It is believed that it was St. Thomas the Apostle, who introduced christianity to Kerala.This is one of the oldest churches and dates back to 52 AD.The church has been declared as an international pilgrimage by the Vatican and also attracts a large number of pilgrims from all over India. It is believed that during prayers, St. Thomas touched a rock after which blood secreted from it.The church has a life-size statue of St. Thomas and the imprint of the feet of the Apostle is said to be there on a rock.3. Parumala ChurchNamed after the great Saint, Saint Gregorious Geevarghese also known as Parumala Thirumeni, Parumala Church is located at Mannar in Kerala.A parish church of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, Parumala Church is the tomb church of Saint Gregorious Geevarghese who died on 2 November 1902.Mar Gregorios was declared a saint by the then Catholicos of the church in 1947.Many people from all parts visit the divine church to pray as it is believed that the church has great powers.The church is in a circular design with a diameter of 39 meters, it can presently accommodate around 2000 believers.4. Basilica of Bom JesusBasilica of Bom Jesus, is a 300 years old church, situated in the beach city of Goa.The church is said to hold the remains of St. Francis Xavier.The body of St. Francis Xavier is opened for public display at a particular time of the year, during which thousands of pilgrims visit the church from across the world.Basilica of Bom Jesus, which is considered to be one of the best examples of baroque architecture in India, has been declared as a world heritage site by UNESCO.5. Velankanni ChurchSituated in the Velankanni town in Tamil Nadu, Velankanni Church is famous for its Basilica, which is dedicated to ‘Lady of Health'.While the church was originated in the 16th century, the chapel was finally built by Portuguese sailors.The Basilica, which is also popularly known as the "Lourdes of the East", is built in the Gothic style of architecture.It is believed that when worshipers offer candles to the Mother in the church, their illness is cured.Based on the ailment a person has, the candles are in different shapes like heart, lungs etc.