India

First Indian Layman To Be Conferred Sainthood

By
OB Bureau

Thiruvananthapuram:  Devasahayam Pillai, a Hindu converted to Christianity in the 18th century, will become the first Indian layman to be conferred sainthood.

Pope Francis will canonise Blessed Devasahayam Pillai, together with six other Blesseds, during a Canonization Mass in St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican on May 15, 2022, Church officials said in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday.

The announcement was made by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in the Vatican on Tuesday, news agency PTI reported.

With the completion of the process, Pillai, who took the name “Lazarus” after embracing Christianity in 1745, will become the first layperson from India to become a saint, the church said.

“Lazarus” or “Devasahayam” in the local language, meaning “God is my help”.

“While preaching, he particularly insisted on the equality of all people, despite caste differences. This aroused the hatred of the higher classes, and he was arrested in 1749. After enduring increasing hardships, he received the crown of martyrdom when he was shot on 14 January 1752”, a note prepared by the Vatican said.

Sites linked with his life and martyrdom are in Kottar Diocese, in Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu.

Devasahayam was declared Blessed on December 2, 2012, in Kottar, 300 years after his birth.

He was born into a Hindu Nair family at Nattalam in Kanyakumari district, which was part of the erstwhile Travancore kingdom, on April 23, 1712.

OB Bureau

Recent Posts

India To Push Canada For Extradition Of Arrested Khalistani Terrorist Arsh Dalla

New Delhi: India will again ask Canada for the extradition of designated Khalistani terrorist Arshdeep Singh…

November 14, 2024

School Dropout From West Bengal Arrested For Practising As Ayurvedic Doctor In Odisha’s Berhampur

Berhampur: Police have arrested a man from West Bengal for allegedly claiming himself to be…

November 14, 2024

Manoj Bajpayee Recalls Staying In ‘Hell’, Experiencing Starvation

Mumbai: Carving a niche for himself in Bollywood was not a cakewalk for ‘The Family…

November 14, 2024

After Disapproving Of Ranveer, Mukesh Khanna Rejects Tiger Shroff For ‘Shakitmaan’

Mumbai: Mukesh Khanna’s Indian superhero series ‘Shaktimaan’ has been making headlines for quite some time…

November 14, 2024

2nd Tigress Arrives In Odisha’s Similipal Tiger Reserve From Maharashtra

Bhubaneswar: As part of Odisha government's tiger relocation project, second tigress from Maharashtra arrived at…

November 14, 2024

Severe Pollution: Central Panel Forced To Invoke GRAP 3 In Delhi From Tomorrow

New Delhi: Hours after Delhi’s Environment Minister Gopal Rai said that the third phase of…

November 14, 2024

After 7 Years, Allu Arjun Reveals The Story Behind His Viral Wine Shop Video

Mumbai: ‘Pushpa’ actor Allu Arjun is currently busy promoting his highly-anticipated film ‘Pushpa: The Rule’,…

November 14, 2024

Odisha CM Mohan Majhi To Inaugurate Bali Jatra In Cuttack Tomorrow

Cuttack: The Mahanadi river banks in Odisha's Cuttack city are all decked up for inauguration…

November 14, 2024