Mysuru: A grand procession in honour of St Philomena will mark the centenary celebrations of devotion to the saint, co-patroness of St Joseph’s Cathedral (St Philomena’s Shrine), on Aug 11. The celebration will take place under the guidance of Bishop of Mysore Rev Francis Serrao SJ.According to a release from the Diocese of Mysore, the iconic St Philomena’s Church, one of the largest churches in Asia, is in a festive mood as people gather to celebrate 100 years of special devotion to the saint.The history of devotion to St Philomena in Mysuru dates back to 1926, when Sir T Thumboo Chetty, Huzur secretary to Maharaja Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar, obtained the sacred relic of St Philomena from Rome through Archbishop Peter Pisani, apostolic delegate of the East Indies. The relic was entrusted to Rev. Fr. Cochet, who played a key role in spreading devotion to the young martyr. Within a short span, large numbers of pilgrims began visiting the shrine to seek her intercession. In 1927, a statue of St Philomena, specially brought from France, was installed near the relic, further strengthening the shrine’s identity as one of South India’s prominent pilgrimage centres.Tradition holds that Philomena was a young Greek princess who dedicated her life to Christ and vowed perpetual virginity. When Emperor Diocletian sought her hand in marriage, she refused. She endured imprisonment and torture before being beheaded on Aug 10, and is venerated as a virgin and martyr.On Oct 28, 1933, the then Maharaja laid the foundation stone for the cathedral. Built in the Neo-Gothic style and inspired by Europe’s great cathedrals, its twin spires rise nearly 187 feet above the Mysuru skyline. The cathedral was completed in 1942 under Bishop René Feuga. It was subsequently designated as the cathedral of the Diocese of Mysore and has since grown into an important pilgrimage destination for devotees from across India.
