Akbar's Church
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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}}
{{Infobox church
| denomination = Roman Catholic
| name = Akbar's Church
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| image = Agra - Église d'Akbar - 5.jpg
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| caption = Akbar's Church, Agra
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| country = India
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| location = Kamla Nagar, Civil Lines, Agra, Uttar Pradesh 282003
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| website = www.agraarchdiocese.com
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| founded date = {{start date and age|1600}}
| founder = Society of Jesus
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| status = Catholic Church
| functional status = Active
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| archdiocese = Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Agra
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| diocese = Diocese of Agra
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| archbishop = Raphy Manjaly
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Akbar's Church{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZtFbBAAAQBAJ&q=akbar+church&pg=PT266|title=Agra: The Architectural Heritage|last=Peck|first=Lucy|date=2011-04-06|publisher=Roli Books Private Limited|isbn=9788174369420|language=en}} also known as Church of Akbar{{Cite web|url=http://agrarising.co.in/?p=2039|title=Agrarising » Historical 'Akbar Church': Surviving the ravages of time|website=agrarising.co.in|language=en-US|access-date=2017-06-25|archive-date=8 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170908153652/http://agrarising.co.in/?p=2039|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=http://indiahistoryspeaks.blogspot.com/2007/12/catholic-mughals-agra.html|title=History Speaks: CATHOLIC MUGHALS - AGRA|last=Speaks|first=History|date=2007-12-12|website=History Speaks|access-date=2017-06-25}} is a Roman Catholic Church, built in 1600 by Jesuit Fathers, situated in Agra, India.{{Cite web|url=https://eventseeker.com/venue/723150-akbar-s-church-agra|title=Akbar's Church {{!}} Agra {{!}} Tourist Attractions & Sightseeing {{!}} eventseeker|website=eventseeker.com|language=en|access-date=2017-09-29}}
History
Mughal Emperor Akbar the Great invited Jesuit priests from Portuguese Goa so that he could learn more about Christianity. So, Father Rodolfe Aquauiua, the Father {{Interlanguage link|Anthony Monserrate|qid=Q534142}} and the Father Francois Henriques reached Agra on 18 February 1580. Akbar learnt about Christianity and gave land to Jesuit fathers to build a church in Agra. This was the first Roman Catholic Church in the Mughal Empire. After Akbar it was his son Jahangir who donated for further expansion of the Church.{{Cite web|url=http://indiahistoryspeaks.blogspot.com/2007/12/catholic-mughals-agra.html|title=History Speaks: CATHOLIC MUGHALS - AGRA|last=Speaks|first=History|date=2007-12-12|website=History Speaks|access-date=2017-09-29}} Khwaja Martins and Mirza Sikandar Junior too contributed for the expansion. The church was demolished by Emperor Shah Jahan in 1635, after he captured Jesuit Priests crossing religious limits of Islam and agreed to release them only if they demolish the Church. The Church was rebuilt in 1636 by the permission of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan after the pardon of Jesuits.
First Holy Mass was celebrated in the Church on 8 September 1636. In 1761, in the aftermath of the Third Battle of Panipat the church was looted by Afghan Invaders under Ahmed Shah Abdali.{{Cite news|url=http://www.livehistoryindia.com/amazing-india/2017/06/29/akbars-church|title=Akbar's Church|access-date=2017-09-29|archive-date=29 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929231251/https://www.livehistoryindia.com/amazing-india/2017/06/29/akbars-church|url-status=dead}}
In 1769, the church was rebuilt by Father Wendel S.J. with the help of Walter Reinhardt, Commander of Agra Fort. Bishop Antonino Pezzoni, O.F.M. Cap. extended the church westward with the contribution from Jean Baptiste Filose in 1835.
Historic events
- In 1610, three Royal Princes, nephews of Emperor Jahangir, Tahmuras (Don Felipe), Baisanghar (Don Carlos) and Hoshang (Don Henrique),{{Cite book|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/154688731|title=In the shadow of the Taj : a portrait of Agra|last=Grewal, Royina.|date=2007|publisher=Penguin Books|isbn=978-0-14-310265-6|location=New Delhi|pages=117|oclc=154688731}} having been catechized by Fr. Corsi, S.J.,{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sXqkDAAAQBAJ&q=corsi|title=The Key to Power?: The Culture of Access in Princely Courts, 1400-1750|last1=Raeymaekers|first1=Dries|last2=Derks|first2=Sebastiaan|publisher=Brill|year=2016|isbn=9789004304246|series=Rulers and Elites: Comparative Studies in Governance|location=Leiden|pages=74–75}} were baptized by Fr. Jerome Xavier S.J. in this Church.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q6cgiklMFlMC|title=Christian Missions Their Agents, Their Methods, and Their Results|last=Marshall|first=T. W. M.|publisher=Burns and Lambert|year=1862|volume=1|location=London|pages=358}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CqqUVp8fqMgC|title=The History of the Popes, Their Church and State, in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries|last=Ranke|first=Leopold|publisher=George Routledge and Company|year=1852|location=London|pages=254|translator-last=Kelly|translator-first=Walter Keating}}
- Begum Johana Sumroo, the Begum of Sardhana was baptized in this Church.{{Cite news|url=http://www.livehistoryindia.com/amazing-india/2017/06/29/akbars-church|title=Akbar's Church|access-date=2017-09-29|archive-date=29 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929231251/https://www.livehistoryindia.com/amazing-india/2017/06/29/akbars-church|url-status=dead}}
- Akbar's Church was the Cathedral of Agra until 1848.
- In 1842, Religious of Jesus and Mary from France were welcomed by Bishop Borghi in the same Church.
- In 1843, Bishop Borghi consecrated Msgr. Carli Bishop of Almira.
- In 1846, Servant of God Bishop Anastasius Hartmann was consecrated Vicar Apostolic of Patna.{{Cite web|url=http://www.jeasa.org/revisiting-jesuit-legacy-agra-memorable-visit-akbars-church|title=Revisiting Jesuit Legacy at Agra: A memorable visit to "Akbar's Church" {{!}} JEASA|website=www.jeasa.org|language=en|access-date=2017-06-25}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.agraarchdiocese.com/akbar-church.aspx|title=Archdiocese of Agra|website=www.agraarchdiocese.com|access-date=2017-06-25}}{{Cite news|url=http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/HiddenHeritage/the-story-of-akbars-church/|title=The story of Akbar's church|work=Times of India Blog|access-date=2017-06-25|language=en-US}}
