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Built in neo-Gothic style, St. Philomena's church is a major tourist attraction
and a well known landmark of Mysore. Located about 3 kms from Mysore city
on Ashoka road (Mysore-Bangalore Road), it is one of the tallest churches
in India. Presently known as St. Joseph's Church, it is dedicated to a
3rd century saint, Philomena from Greece.
 Initially,
it was a small church stood on the grounds given by Maharaja Krishnaraja
Wodeyar III in 1840. Actually, he gave the plot to build a church when
a need for a Christian church was felt in 1799 when the capital of Mysore
state was moved from Srirangapatanam to Mysore city and many British officers
and soldiers came and settled here. In 1933, Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV (
the grandson of Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar III) laid the foundation
of a new larger church. It was designed by a French architect and was
again remodeled and completed under the Mysore Bishop, Rene Feuga's supervision.
The present Gothic structure with its high vaulted ceiling is said to
resemble St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York and Gothic Church Cologne
Cathedral in Germany. Built with light, fawn-coloured stone, the church
has two tapering spires with church bells rising to a height of 175 ft.
visible from miles around. In front of this beautiful church is a small
green patch with a tiny garden. The floor plan of the cathedral is in
the shape of a cross. The long part of the cross is the 'nave', which
is the tall and spacious prayer hall with a seating capacity of 800 people
with wooden benches arranged in queues. The two arms of the cross form
the transepts and the fourth part forms the altar.
The white walls of the church is endowed with pointed
arches and tined windows. The stained glass windows, made in France adds
to the artistic grandeur of the church. These beautiful glass-windows
depict scenes from the life of Christ -his Birth, the Last Supper, the
Crucifixion, the Resurrection and the Ascension.
Below the main marble altar, the church has an underground
chamber enclosing a statue of St. Philomena from France, in a sleeping
posture as well as a relic of the saint obtained from Peter Pisani, Apostolic
Delegate of the East Indies in 1926. The relic is preserved at the centre
of a beautiful shield. There is also a statue of Christ which lies beyond
the altar.
The church runs an orphanage in its premises. The Holy
Mass is held daily in Kannada, Tamil and English. Special prayers are
held on Sundays and during festivals. The annual Feast of the church
is held on August 11th. Photography inside the cathedral is strictly prohibited.
The church is open everyday from 5am to 6.30pm.
Mass Timings :
Weekdays : Morning - 5am to 9am; Evening - 6pm to 6.30pm
Sundays : Morning 5am - 6am, 6am - 7am; Evening 6am - 6.30pm
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Pilgrim Centers 
