St. Lucia's Cathedral image

St. Lucia's Cathedral

Tourist attraction Place of worship Catholic cathedral

This stately Roman Catholic cathedral completed in 1881 features many detailed statues of saints. People often mention Cathedral, church, cathedral, beautiful, Lanka, Colombo, Lucia, completed, Church, Catholic,


Address

WVX7+7P5, Colombo 01300, Sri Lanka

Website

www.facebook.com

Contact

+94 112 432 080

Rating on Google Maps

4.70 (630 reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Tuesday: 5 AM to 8 PM
  • Wednesday: 5 AM to 8 PM
  • Thursday: 5 AM to 8 PM
  • Friday: 5 AM to 8 PM
  • Saturday: 5 AM to 8 PM
  • Sunday: 5 AM to 8 PM
  • Monday: 5 AM to 8 PM

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: Cathedral (34) church (23) cathedral (20) beautiful (11) Lanka (11) Colombo (10) Lucia (10) completed (9) Church (9) Catholic (9)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Roshan Kalpa T. 2 years ago on Google • 210 reviews
    This was the dream of Mgr, Hilarian Sillani OSB who started the demolition of the old church on 8th August 1873. The New church was solemnly blessed and opened to the public on 5th August 1881 by Mgr. Clement Pagnani OSB. The building was completed only in 1902. Fr. Tabarrabi who designed and supervised its construction, tried to reproduce the Basilica of St. Peter in Rome. Fr. Tabarrani, although already a member of a Religious order, considered himself a Sylvestrine Tertiary and wore the Sylvestrine habit and recited the Monastic office. He left the island in 1880 on account of his health and died a few months later in Rome. After his departure the construction work was carried on by Fr. B. Baldoni OSB.
    9 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Priyantha A. 4 years ago on Google • 649 reviews
    This is the Cathedral of the archdiocese of Colombo. believed to be built by the Order of Sylvestro Benedictine Monks. the Boys School nereby hence, takes the title, St. Benedict's College. a landmark venue, standing on a busy neighbourhood. services are regular both on Sundays and weekdays. The Parish caters to Multi Lingual needs of the faithful, offering their service in English, Tamil and Sinhala
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Prashanth K. 4 years ago on Google
    St. Lucy of Sicily whose feast falls on December 13 is venerated the world over as the protectress against eye trouble. Legend has it that she had the most beautiful pair of eyes and that she pulled them out to present them to an unwelcome suitor who was enamoured by their beauty. However her eyes were miraculously restored to her more beautiful than before. Named after this virgin and martyr saint is St. Lucia’s Cathedral of Kotahena, the oldest and largest parish cathedral in Sri Lanka and the seat of the Archbishop of Colombo. The 110 year old cathedral had humble origins in a small chapel of wood and Cadjan built by the Oratorian fathers in 1760 when Ceylon was under Dutch occupation. This was replaced by a larger church of brick and mortar in 1782. When Ceylon was detached from the jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Goa in 1834, Rev. Fr. Vincenti Rosario was appointed the first Vicar-Apostolic of Ceylon and St. Lucia’s Cathedral became the first cathedral of Sri Lanka. Eventually the foundation stone for a new cathedral building was laid to replace the old one. In 1873 Bishop H D Sillani and Rev. Fr. S Tabarrani, men of great vision and talent designed and initiated the building of St. Lucia’s Cathedral thus planting the seeds of grandeur and Lnagnificence of what was to be.
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Kevin L. 5 years ago on Google • 82 reviews
    The construction did not go to plan, however, with work having to be halted in 1877 due to a lack of funds. The following years saw more problems, with Bishop Sillani dying in Rome in 1878, and Fr. Tabarrani leaving Ceylon in 1880 (and dying just two years later in Rome). Nevertheless, May 1880 saw Fr. Bonifiglio Baldoni take charge of the project, the four planned arches being completed by the end of August. Nearly a year later, "at 11.00, the last keystone was driven in place.” The work on most of the main portion of the cathedral, despite the many problems in funding, had been completed. The church celebrated "the Great Day", with Bishop Clement Pagnani (now Vicar Apostolic of Colombo) blessing the nave and the aisles of the new Cathedral and opening it for public worship. The highlight of the day was the first Holy Mass offered for the benefactors of the Cathedral. Construction was far from done, however, and in 1883 the new Vicar Apostolic, Bishop Bonjean, appointed Fr. Tanganelli to carry on the building of the cathedral. Less than a year later, both men had left Ceylon (Bonjean to Rome, and Tanganelli to China), leaving the project in the hands of Fr. Joseph Mary Louise Boisseau. Boisseau, by 1885, had completed work on the Sanctuary vault and the Southern vault, with the final one being completed in December of that year. It would not be until 1902, however, that the last of the work would be completed and the scaffolding removed. Pope Leo XIII, in his apostolic brief of 1885 conferred a number of privileges on St. Lucia’s Cathedral, one of which was it being declared the Cathedral Church of the 'Vicariate of Colombo’. Bishop Bonjean returned to the island soon after this, bringing with him an authentic portion of the bones of St. Lucy, which are preserved in the cathedral to this day. 6 January 1887 was a significant date for Catholicism in Ceylon: the Church's hierarchy was formally established, and the first Episcopal Synod was held in the country. A Papal Delegate and the Bishops of the Island were gathered in the Cathedral to witness this singular event in the history of the Church of Ceylon. On 12 December, the vigil for the feast of St. Lucy, the patroness of the newly completed Cathedral, was formally held. With construction still ongoing, September 1889 saw the crypt dedicated to the Sacred Passion of the Lord being declared open for public worship. The first Holy Mass was celebrated on the first Friday of that month. By the end of the construction project, the church had costed a total of Rs. 160,000- an enormous amount of money in the last century, provided by the Ceylonese Catholics of the time.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Lasitha P. 1 year ago on Google • 259 reviews
    St. Lucia's Cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Colombo in Sri Lanka.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 THE T. 9 months ago on Google • 76 reviews
    At a distance of 3 km from Colombo Fort Railway Station, St. Lucia's Cathedral is a Roman Catholic Church located Kotahena locality of Colombo. The cathedral is considered the oldest and largest parish cathedral in Sri Lanka and among the top places to visit in Colombo. St. Lucia's Cathedral is dedicated to saint martyr St. Lucia who is considered to be the protector against all kinds of eye trouble. This is the seat of the Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Colombo. The cathedral was first built as a small chapel of wood in 1760 when Ceylon was under Dutch occupation. This small structure was later replaced by a more massive shrine made of brick and mortar in the year 1782. St. Lucia's Cathedral became the first church of Sri Lanka after it was detached from the jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Goa. A plan was made in 1872, to build a new cathedral which took roughly 30 years and was fully completed in the year 1902. St Lucia's Cathedral is a massive structure built in the beautiful Gothic style of architecture. The facade of the church rests on massive ionic columns and it's adorned with seven statues. Silhouetted against the sky is the cross on the concrete lantern crowning the dome, the pinnacle of the cathedral. The interior consists of large statues of saints, beautiful wooden carvings and intricate glass stained windows. Rising above the main altar is a statue of Saint Lucy holding up her eyes on the palm of her hand. In front of the sanctuary, towards the left, one can see a dark-skinned statue of the Madonna referred to as 'Our Lady of Kotahena'. The highlight of the building is the 4300-pound bell named Anthony Thomas. The bell has intricate engravings of elaborate floral wreaths and holy figures and symbols of Christianity, and it is the largest of the four bells shipped from Marseilles and christened at the cathedral in 1903. It also has a unique pipe organ donated to the cathedral in 1934. This massive structure can easily host around 5000 worshippers. Timings: 5.30 AM - 12 PM & 2 PM - 7 PM Mass Timings: 6 AM, 7 AM and 6 PM from Monday to Friday & 5.30 AM (English), 7 AM (English), 8 AM (Sinhala), 9.15 AM (Tamil), 6 PM (English) on Sunday Entry: Free
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Rivin P. 11 months ago on Google • 354 reviews
    My favourite Church ❤️ love everything about it expect for the location 😬

  • 5/5 Anton 2 years ago on Google
    The St. Lucia's Cathedral is a Catholic church and has lovely and beautiful renaissance architecture. It is one of the beautiful churches in Sri Lanka. It has many statues inside and some on the top of front. Those are fine artwork. It is good for photography, and it is not a notable attraction. However, it is most notable to the Catholic congregation.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Barabas Z. 11 months ago on Google • 98 reviews
    It is a really big Chatolic church, even the pope of Vatican visited it in 2009

  • 5/5 Chrismal Appuhami (. 1 month ago on Google • 80 reviews New
    Very charming place. Very beautiful. All must visit ❤️❤️❤️🙏🙏🙏

  • 5/5 Deshan A. 1 year ago on Google • 54 reviews
    Beautiful church. Ample parking space. Good for weddings as the church is spacious.

  • 5/5 Rupert A. 7 months ago on Google • 18 reviews
    This place reminds of the cathedral in India (colaba). Like every church it is a very calm place to reflect and pray. However hot the weather is, your body temperature will automatically cool down. The church is undergoing renovation work and hopefully will have a new look soon.

  • 5/5 Paochieh C. 2 years ago on Google
    St Lucia’s Cathedral in Kotahena continues to shine its light as a beacon set on a hill. Kottanchina during the 19th century was a verdant jungle. Today, Kotahena is a bustling township, where many Catholic families have lived all their lives. It is crowded with residences and businesses, a transformed landscape far from the kottan groves that covered the area in the years gone by.  However, one thing has remained constant throughout in the urban Kotahena – St Lucia’s Cathedral. Stepping into this holy structure was a spiritual experience. The emphasis on the imposing entrance, the arches and majestic wooden door takes you to an interior of awe-inspiring silence. The magnificence of this Cathedral is a solemn declaration of the status of the Catholic Church, reflecting the supremacy that it retained throughout history. Dignified in all its ornamentation, the Cathedral is a blend of European Renaissance and opulent Baroque architecture. The grandeur of the Cathedral of St Lucia is in contrast to its humble beginnings. Set up as a small hut in 18th century during Dutch colonisation, it was later administered by Oratorian missionaries and has been described as the chapel of St Lucy in old documents. The Cathedral that stands today had taken 30 years to complete. Although construction was completed in 1902, the Cathedral was blessed and opened for worship on December 12, 1887, the day before the feast of St Lucia. It was the first time the sacred feast was celebrated in the island. The centre aisle along the nave has wooden pews on either side that were once owned by certain families in the area, and their names were even engraved on the benches. The two aisles on either side separated by large columns have larger than life statues of saints of the Catholic Church along with confessionals and the Stations of the Cross. The semi-circle vault over the centre nave, has been made of bricks, a marvel preserved amidst the moods of nature. Standing within one feels the dignity and glory of the sanctuary. The apse or half-dome ceiling, is impressive. As light came down streaming through the windows in the apse over the sanctuary, we could not resist but raise our eyes in wonderment. Four paintings of the Gospel writers, looked down upon the hallowed altar from where the message of salvation is proclaimed. The Eucharist Tabernacle at the sanctum is made of marble and has a large crucifix. The altar table of Burma teak installed in 1893 is a marvellous centrepiece of carvings. On one side of the main altar is the heavily carved ‘cathedra’ – the ‘Bishop’s Throne’ used for special occasions. It was used by Pope John Paul II when he visited the Cathedral in 1995. The light and colours of the stained glass windows were a reflection of ethereal beauty. Images of apostles Peter and Paul in nine foot windows, above which the circular stained glass window depicting the Assumption of Mary into heaven were like the light of heaven streaming through the church. More stained glass windows in the northern and southern transepts include paintings of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, the Holy Family and the eight foot pictures of St Anne as well as St Anthony. We were transfixed, yet were momentarily brought back to reality by the church bells ringing at midday calling believers to recite the ‘Lord’s Prayer’ and the ‘Angelus prayer’. And so our journey to see the bells of the Cathedral began. As we reached the upper deck along a stairway at the entrance to the church, we couldn’t stop admiring the pipe organ in the choir loft, which had been donated in 1934 by a French priest. The gigantic bells befitting the enormity of the Cathedral have their own names. Anthony Thomas, the biggest bell caught our attention. It weighs 4,300lbs. Its majesty is displayed in the intricate engravings of floral wreaths, the crucifixion, the images of the Sacred Heart, Mary, Joseph and the 12 apostles. This being no ordinary bell, is rung only on special occasions, and needs the strength of at least six men. The remaining three bells are equally elaborate.

  • 5/5 Romein N. 2 years ago on Google
    One of the biggest and most beautiful church buildings in Sri Lanka. This is the cathedral of Archdiocese of Colombo and the oldest cathedral in Sri Lanka. Dedicated to St.Lucy and celebrates her feast on 13th dec every year. Cathedral is also famous for Marian Statue called 'Our Lady of Kotahena'. Cathedral has around five big old bells. Cathedral building is nearly 150 years old.

  • 5/5 Lakshan 1. 9 months ago on Google
    It always brings peace to mind when visiting here. The architecture of the Cathedral is something quite special. The Cathedral contains the Holy Relics of St. Lucia.

  • 5/5 Avishka H. 1 year ago on Google
    One of Colombo's largest and most beautiful! Father Ronnie has made great changes since becoming the Parish priest, excited to see the church be made even more beautiful!

  • 5/5 Russel V. 2 years ago on Google
    One of the most beautiful Roman Catholic churches in Sri Lanka. The Cathedral is regarded as the archdiocesan Church with a breathtaking architecture. The location was known to be the tallest building in Sri Lanka in 1800s & early 1900s

  • 5/5 Louie P. 2 years ago on Google
    Love this Cathedral and the old English architecture. Grew up going to this church when I was a child.

  • 5/5 Sherine S. 11 months ago on Google
    A church with Beautiful architecture and history. Whenever I go there brings back lots of good old memories.

  • 5/5 Susantha D. 11 months ago on Google
    St. Lucia's cathedral 2023:04:07 21:10hrs

  • 5/5 sudhagar p. 1 year ago on Google
    Good place Sri Lanka most popular church in colombo

  • 5/5 Florin R. 1 year ago on Google
    Spacious Church and ample parking space. The church holds weddings too. I really love the calmness and peach in this church.

  • 5/5 Tony Thilagan F. 4 years ago on Google
    This reminds us St. Peter's Square - Apostles holy residence in Rome.

  • 5/5 Shantha K. 1 year ago on Google
    Very easy to find the Cathedral If you follow Google Map.

  • 5/5 Jimreeves S. 1 year ago on Google
    It's an ancient cathedral. Most of the details of colombo Catholics have been keeping here.

  • 4/5 Koculen V. 1 year ago on Google
    Magnificent picturesque cathedral

  • 5/5 Philomina F. 1 month ago on Google • 1 review New
    One of the most Elegant and A Unique Church in colombo


Call +94 112 432 080 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible entrance
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible parking lot

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