Indian Christianity

HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY IN INDIA : M. M. NINAN
Dom Francisco de Almeida also known as "the Great Dom Francisco" distinguished himself as a counsellor to King John II of
Portugal and later in the wars against the Moors and in the conquest of Granada in 1492. In 1503 he was appointed as the first
governor and viceroy of the Portuguese State of India (Estado da Índia). Almeida is credited with establishing Portuguese
hegemony in the Indian Ocean, with his victory at the naval Battle of Diu in 1509.
Dom Francisco de Almeida, the first Portuguese Viceroy got permission from the Kochi Raja to build two
church edifices - namely Santa Cruz Basilica (Founded : 1505) and St. Francis Church (Founded : 1506)
using stones and mortar which was unheard of at that time as the local prejudices were against such a
structure for any purpose other than a royal palace or a temple.
Santa Cruz Basilica (Founded : 1505) and St. Francis Church (Founded : 1506)
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