This Church is also known as Annai Velankanni Church.  It is  one of the biggest Church in India.  Nearly 20 million pilgrims visit this Shrine every year from all nook and corner of the world. The ancestries of Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health dates back to the 16th Century. Initially this Shrine was just a small thatched Chapel.  Later it was developed to Parish Church and finally in the year 1962 this Church gained the status of Minor Basilica.  Fr.Antonio de Rozario was the first Parish Priest of Velankanni Church. This Velankanni town in which the Church is located  under the religious jurisdiction of the Bishop of the Diocese of Mylapore, along with the King of Portugal.  This Basilica is one of the renowned pilgrim centre for many Christians across India and draws huge number of Devotees from far and near during Christmas Festival.  This Church is so unique since Prayers are delivered in all major Indian languages on special occasion and festival days.  Inside this Church we can find  the Lady of Tank, Church's Museum, Priest’s Residence, Stations of the Cross, Offering Center, Shrine Megha Mahal and Rosary Stations.  This huge Church complex is painted white. There are 82 feet tall spires roof which are made up of tiles. The Lady of Tank is a dome-shaped Holy Tank with a golden inlay placed at the Center of this Church Complex. The Devotees visiting this Church are allowed to take a holy dip and it is believed that taking a holy dip in this Lady of Tank cures all ailments of the Devotees.  The Shrine of Our Lady of Good Health is built following the Gothic Style of Architecture. This Church was believed to be built by sailors from Portugal since they sought the help of the Blessed Virgin under her title "Star of the Sea", as they where caught by a severe cyclonic storm on their way back to Sri Lanka. The use of Flag Staff displays the influence of Hinduism on Catholicism, because of which this Basilica is considered to be a merging point of two of the major religions of the world. Here the Virgin Mary statue is depicted wearing a saree.  Many Devotees across India perform walking pilgrimages to this Sacred Church.  This Church is so unique since ear piercing and tonsuring the hair of Devotees are performed here.  A new Central Altar made out of White Marble was built in the year 1961.  Due to the huge number of Devotees visiting this Church, Indian Railways introduced Special Train Services to Velankanni.

Church Phone Number: 04365-263530, 04365-263530 

Church Timing: 5.00 A.M  to 6.00 P.M
 
Distance between Chennai and Annai Velankanni Church is 315 Kms.