CSI Medak Cathedral to Celebrate Centenary This Christmas

HYDERABAD: This Christmas eve will mark a momentous milestone for the CSI Medak Cathedral, acknowledged as the second largest cathedral after the Vatican, will complete its centenary since inception.

Works on the 173-foot-tall tower with four beams projections and 100-foot-wide, began in 1914 under the stewardship of Rev Charles Walker Posnett, at a time when several villages across Medak were reeling under famine and drought and people were succumbing to cholera and other deadly diseases.

The cathedral become a world marvel and shot to global prominence in 1924 on the completion of 10 years of painstaking efforts.

During the Christmas season the surroundings turn into a ‘jatara’ with makeshift shops coming up all around. Right now the cathedral is being decked up for the celebrations.

Vimal Sukumar, treasurer of the CSI Medak Diocese, points out “We will have a mega thanksgiving celebration to commemorate 100 of existence. The centenary celebrations began last December.”

Rev Dr T. Shanthaiah, presbytery in-charge of this cathedral, said, “A congregation of over 25, 000 is expected on the big day. Bishop Ruben Mark will be preaching along with several others drawn from CSIs from all over the country.”