The St. Anthony’s Church located in Kochchikade, Colombo is one of the most renowned Roman Catholic churches of Sri Lanka. People from all over the country and of all faiths not only Catholics visit this church to pray to St Anthony in hope for blessings, miracles, solace and penance.
This church is dedicated to St. Anthony of Lisbon and Padua, he was the patron saint of sailors, fishermen and travellers; the elderly, the oppressed and pregnant women; harvests, horses and swineherds; but most significantly the seekers of things lost. Therefore this reverence had resulted in this church to be declared as a national shrine.
During the reign of the Dutch, Catholicism was banned and Fr. Antonia; a priest who disguised himself as a local merchant and sought refuge at a local fishing village named Mutwal. It has been stated that Father Antonia had placed a cross at the beach and prayed there, which in turn resulted in the sea receding and an extensive sand bank being exposed. The Dutch, who offered rewards for this favour done by him, granted permission to the priest to live and die near the Cross he had planted. Fr. Antonio built a mud Chapel in honour of his patron St. Anthony of Padua. He himself is said to have been buried there.
In the year 1806, the chapel was enlarged and in the year 1822, a member of the Congregation that went to Goa brought a statue of St. Anthony. This statue can be seen to date in one of the church’s altar. The church was completed in 1828. Since many devotees flock to this church, the structure was once again expanded. This church celebrated its 175th anniversary in the year 2010.
The first depiction of St. Anthony is portrayed through an elevated casing of wood placed at the entrance, where devotees touch the glass panes in honour of the saint marking a crucial act of prayer. Devotees also light up yellow candles, making their vows, seeking forgiveness or miracles and place them in a trench located within the church premises.
On the left side of the main altar, sits the most important yet oldest facet of the church, the miraculous statue of St Anthony. It is small but an extraordinary display that is over 200 years old. Many devotees line up to touch the glass covered statue, in total devotion and prayer seeking the saint’s assistance especially during calamities of life.
However, the spiritual ferocity that exists in this incredible shrine is phenomenal yet this church is a popular sacred place of worship for Catholics and all mankind seeking hope, peace and harmony.
The Church was damaged early in 2019, during the Easter Attacks that took place. It was later restored after 3 months and remains a symbol of hope and resurrection.
