STOCK MARKET LIVE BSE NSE

Devasahayam Pillai, a Hindu converted to Christianity will be conferred sainthood

KOCHI: Devasahayam Pillai who was born in the 18th century as a Hindu but later converted to Christianity and took the name Lazarus and was killed a few years after that will be conferred sainthood by Pope Francis in May next year. 

On 21 February 2020, Pope Francis recognized a miracle attributed to the intercession of Devasahayam, clearing his way to canonization (sainthood) and an announcement by the Vatican today said that Devasahayam Pillai, along with six others will be elevated as saints during a canonisation mass in St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican on May 15, 2022.

Devasahayam was declared 'blessed' 300 years after his birth on December 2, 2012, in Kottar in Nagercoil, near the place of his burial in a grand ceremony which was attended by an estimated 1 lakh Catholics. Being declared 'blessed' is the first step towards attaining sainthood according to the Vatican rules. 

Devasahayam was born on 23 April 1712 as Neelakanta Pillai in a Hindu Nair family at Palliyadi which was under the Kingdom of Travancore and is now in the Kanniyakumari district of Tamil Nadu and who later converted into Christianity and died at the age of 39 when he was shot on 14 January 1752. He took the Christian name 'Lazarus' which is along with 'Devasahayam' in the local language, meaning 'God is my help.'

Interestingly with his elevation as a saint, Devasahayam will become the first Indian layman to be conferred sainthood by the catholic church. 

It will be worth mentioning that on October 30, 2021, when he was in Italy to attend the G20 Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Pope Francis and discussed a wide range of issues, including the Covid-19 pandemic and the challenge posed by climate change.

Reporter

  • EP News Service
    EP News Service

    Crisp, and to the point news coverage from India and around the world.

    View Reporter News

Related News