St. Philomena’s Church is in Mysore.
It stands tall as the second-tallest church in Asia. The church was built to honor the Catholic Saint and martyr of Roman Catholic Church, Saint Philomena, and is one of the most important historical sites in Mysore.
Legend has it that St. Philomena was the daughter of a monarch of a small state in Greece who, after a lot of prayers, was blessed with a baby girl whom they named Philomena. The girl was devoted to God since birth, and when she was 13 years old, her father took her to Rome to seek help from Emperor Diocletian. The emperor was so enamored by her beauty that he offered to marry her. But Philomena, being a devout follower of God, refused the emperor’s proposal. The emperor, being a sore loser, ordered to torture and execute her. And so, the St. Philomena’s Church was built to honor this brave and pious young girl.
Now, let’s talk architecture. The church is a stunning example of the Victorian (Neo-Gothic) style of architecture, designed by French artist Daly. The cross-shaped design resembles the Cologne Cathedral in Germany, with the congregation hall being the longest end of the cross, the transepts being the two arms of the cross, the altar being the upper part of the cross, and the choir is the crossing of the cross. The church has twin spires which are 175 feet high and can be seen even from a mile away.
The church is also adorned with beautiful stained glass windows and paintings depicting events such as the birth, crucifixion, resurrection, and last supper of Jesus Christ. And guess what? These glasses were made in France! And to top it all off, the church has a statue of St. Philomena made of marble and her remains are kept in the catacomb beneath the altar.
So what are you waiting for? Visit St. Philomena’s Church and be mesmerized by its beauty and rich history.