Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Kottar (Agenzia Fides) – Saint Lazarus Devasahayam (1712–1752) rejected the caste system and upheld the dignity of every human being. This was emphasized by the Apostolic Nuncio to India and Nepal, Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, in his address during the Mass of Thanksgiving during which Saint Devasahayam was officially declared the “Patron Saint of the Catholic Laity” in India. He is considered someone who “lived holiness in everyday life.” With a decision that has sparked great joy in the Catholic communities of India, the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) officially announced that Saint Devasahayam has been declared the “Patron Saint of the Laity” in India. The declaration, confirmed by the Holy See through a decree dated July 16, 2025, and signed by Pope Leo XIV, marks a significant moment for the Indian Church, as it recognizes the first Indian lay martyr as “a living example for millions of ordinary believers today,” as the bishops wrote. The formal proclamation took place on January 14, 2026, during a Eucharistic celebration presided over by the Archbishop of Madras-Mylapore, George Antonysamy, in the presence of Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, numerous bishops, priests, religious, and over ten thousand faithful. The assembly gathered at Mount Devasahayam in the Diocese of Kottar, Tamil Nadu, on the day and at the site of the martyrdom of the saint, who was executed for his faith on January 14, 1752.
“Saint Devasahayam courageously bore witness to Christ amidst persecution. He rejected caste distinctions and affirmed the dignity of every human being. He lived the values of the Gospel with courage and integrity,” the Nuncio recalled, adding that “holiness is also experienced in families and in public life.” “Holiness is simple and accessible to everyone. It is lived every day by seeing Jesus in others. Lay people are called to sanctify the Church and the world. Saint Devasahayam is a model of faith, courage, and commitment,” he explained.
To mark the occasion, the Diocese of Kottar officially launched the “Saint Devasahayam Lay Movement” to promote the spirituality of India’s first lay saint and to strengthen the apostolate of the laity.
Saint Lazarus Devasahayam (1712–1752) was a Hindu convert to Christianity. He was born in Neelakanda Pillai, Tamil Nadu, and served as a court official in the Kingdom of Travancore. Attracted to the Christian faith, he converted in 1745 and was baptized with the name Lazarus (Devasahayam means "God is my help" in Tamil). His conversion led to persecution, imprisonment, and torture because he refused to renounce his faith, and he was murdered in 1752.
He was beatified on December 2, 2012, in Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu, in a ceremony presided over by Cardinal Angelo Amato, then Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. Pope Francis canonized him on May 15, 2022, in St. Peter's Square, declaring him a model of courage, faith, and commitment to justice. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 17/1/2026)
