Overview
Velankanni has been referred to as the “Mecca of South Asian Christianity.” Our Lady of Good Health is the patroness of the church. The Velankanni Church is also known as the Sacred Arockia Matha Church. Velankanni is located on the Coromandel Coast, about 350 kilometers south of Chennai, and 12 kilometers south of Nagapattinam. It is a popular pilgrimage site for Christians as well as people of other faiths. Velankanni is one of India’s most popular pilgrimage destinations.
Velankanni church was built in the late 16th century and later expanded to accommodate an increasing number of pilgrims. The feast of Our Lady is the main festival.
Three churches, Our Lady’s Tank, Church Museum, Priests’ Residence, Offering Center, Stations of the Cross, Stations of the Rosary, Shrine Mega Mahal, and Velankanni Beach comprise the Shrine Basilica. Accommodation is available in Nagapattinam. The church’s Gothic architecture distinguishes it.
