Church of Our Lady of Light, Chennai (LUZ CHURCH)

The historical background of this church is intertwined with the traditional history of Christianity in India. Arrival of Christianity to India is of two phases, where by traditional accounts, St. Thomas brought the religion in the first century and attained martyrdom in Chennai in 53 AD. The second phase is after the arrival of Portuguese in the 15th century. The legends of the Church of Our Lady of Light connects both.

The history of the Church is compounded with the history of the arrival of the Portuguese to India. Soon after Vasco da Gama discovered the sea-route to India, the legend states, that eight Jesuit priests left for India from Lisbon with the fleet of Pedro Alvares Cabral on the 9 March 1500 A.D. (If this is the story it is definitely a legend... The Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) was founded in 1540. It was therefore impossible for Jesuits to reach India in 1500.) They landed in Calicut, where three of the Friars were slain on the 16 November 1500. The others reached Cochin, and settled down of preach the good news. A few years later, they sailed down South to spread their message further. It is said, that the Friars were lost in the rough sea and started praying to Mother Mary for their safety. The legend states that they were miraculously guided by a mysterious bright light which guided them safe to land. The Friars that in honour of their safe arrival to the land, built the Church of Our Lady of Light (Portuguese: Nossa Senhora da Luz). Although some legends claim that it was common Portuguese sailors who were rescued and not missionaries. The church would later suffer damages inflicted from the fources of Golconda between 1662 and 1673. During the times of Haider Ali's invasion of the city forts between 1780 and 1782, the British East India Company Forces occupied the Luz Parish Residence for some years. Currently this church also governs the Stella Maris College, Chennai. It is located about 1.5 km from the Santhome Basilica where Apostle of Jesus Saint Thomas is believed to be buried. Although now a bustling locale, it is believed that this area could have been covered with mangroves in the early days. The road leading to the church is now named as Luz Church road after the church itself.