By Verghese V Joseph –
Think of Agra… what comes to mind is the resplendent image of Taj Mahal and many other architectural grandeurs.
Come to think of it. Mughals had a great role to play in contributing to the growth of church in India. And none other than by Akbar the Great.
Legend has it that on February 18, 1580, a delegation of three Jesuit priests reached Agra for an audience with Emperor Akbar. Portuguese Fathers Rodolfe Aquauiua, Antoine de Monserrate and Francois Henriques had made the long and difficult journey from Goa to Agra. The priests were received with respect by the Emperor and he often held debates between them and indigenous religious scholars at court. The faith preached by these early Jesuits left behind its mark in Agra. Merchants and travellers from France, Portugal, Holland and Italy etc, flocked to the imperial capital. Conversion to Christianity among locals also began to take place.
Impressed with their dedication, the Emperor gave them land on the outskirts of Agra, near the Armenian settlement, and granted them permission to build a Church. What is touching is that the Emperor himself paid for the construction in 1598 as a gift. Today, the church is popularly known as Akbar’s Church (now known as Church of Pieta) . This was the first Catholic Church of Agra and it was the Cathedral of Agra till 1848. In this Church the Mughal Emperors came to pray, especially Prince Salim (Emperor) Jahangir. Emperor Jahangir finding the Church built by his father, Akbar too small, donated a large sum of money for a larger and more beautiful Church to be built.
During Christmas, Akbar visited the Church to see the crib. Church bells tolled and the choir sang joyous hymns. The priests received him outside the Church, ushering him with censes of incense. In the evening, the ladies of the harem and the younger princes also visited the church, sometimes carrying candles.
Easter festivities acquired local colour in Agra. The Christian community practised Lent rigidly and with great austerity. After eating the traditional lamb on Maunday Thursday, the church bells were muffled till Holy Saturday. On Good Friday, Christians took out an evening procession through the city to the Church. Elements of Mughal pageantry were incorporated, with caparisoned elephants, camels and horses.
Akbar’s follower Jahangir too enthusiastically supported Akbar’s Church. The emperor gave them a monthly stipend of first fifty, and later hundred rupees, with an additional thirty for the upkeep of their church. For a while, Jahangir wore a locket with a picture of Jesus, and sometimes attended the Mass.
Two eminent Catholics, Khwaja Martins and Mirza Sikandar Junior contributed generously towards the extension of this Church.
In 1632 Emperor Shah Jahan declared war on the Portuguese. He defeated them in 1634. He brought over 4000 prisoners to Agra, all Christians. They underwent persecution and so did the Jesuit Fathers. In 1635 Shah Jahan released the Jesuit Fathers on condition that they pull down their Church. This was done. However in 1636 the Emperor allowed the Fathers to rebuild the Church with the material of the ruined Church. On September 8, 1636 the first Holy Mass was celebrated in this reconstructed Church. It underwent great changes during the course of the next two centuries.
In 1758 the Persian invasion under Ahmed Shah Abdali shattered the Mughal supremacy. During the siege of Agra, the Church was ransacked by the Persian soldiers.
In 1769 Walter Reinhardt then Commander of Agra Fort helped Father Wendel S.J. to rebuild the Church and make an extension. In 1835 Bishop Pezzoni with the generous aid from Sir John Baptist Filose extended the Church westward.
This Church has witnessed many a historical event.
- In 1610 to this Church came the three Royal Princes, nephews of the Emperor Jahangir to be baptized by Rev. Fr. Corsi, S.J. and Fr. Xavier S.J.
- In this Cathedral was baptized the Begum Johana Sumroo, the Begum of Sardhana (Read ICM story on The Legend of India’s Only Catholic Queen!).
- It was in this Cathedral the Religious of Jesus and Mary from France were welcomed by Bishop Borghi in 1842.
- It was the proud privilege of Bishop Borghi to consecrate in this historic Church Msgr. Carli Bishop of Almira in 1843 and the Servant of God Bishop Anastasius Hartmann, Vicar Apostolic of Patna in 1846.
The next time you plan to visit to Agra, spare some time for Akbar’s Church!
Credits:
References and picture courtesy:
http://www.agraarchdiocese.com