Antonio


During the period of Dutch persecution Rev. Fr. Antonio who came from Kochin assigned to fulfill the spiritual needs and protect the faith of Catholics who lived in the area of Colombo. There was a disastrous sea erosin where the present St. Anthony’s Shrine is situated. Father Antonio placed his Cross on the sea shore and miraculously saved the area by his prayers. He lived among the miraculously saved the area by his prayers. He lived among the fishermen who were in that area where it was known as ‘Muhudu Bada Watte’. Father Antonio built a hut in the shape of a small boutique in the place where he placed his Cross and prayed. While he was living in it as a house of worship and dedicated it to his patron Saint, St. Anthony of Padua. This happened in the year of 1740.
Very much later in 1806, this small house of prayer converted into a bigger Church. In 1822 the Miraculous Statue of St. Anthony was bought from Goa, and enshrined on a special repository on which was the exact place where Father Antonio prayed placing his Cross and in that same place where his mortal remains, are buried.
Though the Shrine of St. Anthony, Kochchikade belongs to a long history of 270 years, the present magnificent Church had been consecrated and blessed in the year of 1834 after its completion.
By the year 2010 this Shrine completes the 175th year of its consecration. Some great significance with regard to this Shrine are that in 1893, the first Archbishop of Colombo,Archbishop Christopher Bonjean’s mortal remains had been buried on the right middle of the Sanctuary. The visitation of His Holiness Pope John Paul II to the Shrine in 1995. In 2010 the Holy Relics of St. Anthony of Padua was brought the Shrine from Padua.
This Church dedicated to St. Anthony at Kochchikade, Colombo had become a Shrine and a source of receiving Divine Grace for all people irrespective of casts and religion.

Technical Details

  • Date of Issue------------> 12th June, 2010
  • Denominations-----------> Rs. 5.00
  • Format-------------------> Vertical
  • Stamp size----------------> 30mm. * 41 mm.
  • Perforations---------------> 13 ½ * 14
  • Colours-------------------> 4 Process Colours

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