St. Francis Xavier's Church

St. Xavier Church is a Roman Catholic shrine located at Kottar, Nagercoil in Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu state, India. While Saint Xavier was doing missionary work at Kottar and its neighbourhood, he averted an invasion of Padagas with the help of his cross alone and thus protected the people of Venad kingdom from that attack which was appreciated by the king, Unni Kerala Varma, who became closer to the Priest and befriended him then on. In recognition of Xavier’s services, the king allotted him a piece of land to construct a catholic church, as a gesture of goodwill, as per the church records. There was already a small church, in the same place where St. Xavier’s church stands at present, dedicated to Mother Mary since 1544 CE.[1] Church records show that St. Xavier Church was built in 1600CE. In 1865CE, the Shrine of Mother Mary was renovated and enlarged. In 1930CE, the church was raised to the status of a Cathedral. The annual festival is celebrated during November – December lasting for 10 days.