Matheus de Castro
Encyclopedia
Dom Matheus de Castro was a native of Divar
, Goa
, India
. He was the first Indian Bishop of the Catholic Church. Consecrated Bishop of Chrysopolis by the Vatican
and appointed Vicar Apostolic to the Kingdoms of Idalxa (Adil Shah), Pegu and Golconda
.
Goud Saraswat Brahmin family of Divar named Mahale. It is said that Matheus de Castro was kidnapped and sent to a seminary
to prepare for the pristhood (During the Christianisation of Goa in the early phase of the Goa Inquisition
, the Portugueses authorities used many ploys to convert the natives to Christianity. One of which was to kidnap boys from influential Hindu
families prior to their attaining puberty and enrol them in seminaries to prepare for the priesthood. Besides the families being influential, male children from the upper castes of Hindu society were by enlarge literate, hence the task of indoctrination was much easier). On being ordained a Catholic priest he was instrumental in converting his parents and members of his community to the new faith.
Dom Thomas de Castro
the Bishop of Fulsivelem was his nephew. Both uncle and nephew were at constant loggerheads with the Padroado
. They were vehemently against the Goa Inquisition
. Throughout using effort and influence to try and rid Goa of the same.
Bishop de Castro was held in great esteem at the courts of the Great Moghul Emperor Shah Jahan
and by the rulers of the Kingdom of Bijapur
who belonged to the Adil Shahi dynasty. They permitted him to erect dwelling houses and residences in their dominions for the accommodation and convenience of converts. He helped estabish commercial relations between the Catholics of Goa and the peoples of those Kingdoms. He founded the Apostolic Mission of Bombay which evolved from a village in the 17th century to India's premier Metropolis.
Divar
The island of Divar lies in the Mandovi river in the Indian state of Goa.-Location:...
, Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. He was the first Indian Bishop of the Catholic Church. Consecrated Bishop of Chrysopolis by the Vatican
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
and appointed Vicar Apostolic to the Kingdoms of Idalxa (Adil Shah), Pegu and Golconda
Golconda
Golconda may be:Places:* Golkonda, ruined city and fortress in India* Golconda, Illinois, town in the United States* Golconda, Nevada, former town in the United StatesOther:* Golconda...
.
Biography
Born into the influential HinduHindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
Goud Saraswat Brahmin family of Divar named Mahale. It is said that Matheus de Castro was kidnapped and sent to a seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
to prepare for the pristhood (During the Christianisation of Goa in the early phase of the Goa Inquisition
Goa Inquisition
The Goa Inquisition was the office of the Inquisition acting in the Indian state of Goa and the rest of the Portuguese empire in Asia. It was established in 1560, briefly suppressed from 1774–1778, and finally abolished in 1812. The Goan Inquisition is considered a blot on the history of...
, the Portugueses authorities used many ploys to convert the natives to Christianity. One of which was to kidnap boys from influential Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
families prior to their attaining puberty and enrol them in seminaries to prepare for the priesthood. Besides the families being influential, male children from the upper castes of Hindu society were by enlarge literate, hence the task of indoctrination was much easier). On being ordained a Catholic priest he was instrumental in converting his parents and members of his community to the new faith.
Dom Thomas de Castro
Thomas de Castro
Dom Thomas de Castro was a native of Divar in Goa. The Holy See appointed him Vicar Apostolic of Canara on 30th August 1675. He later founded the famous Milagres Church in Mangalore, South Canara , Karnataka state, India. He was the nephew of Dom Matheus de Castro , the first Indian Bishop of...
the Bishop of Fulsivelem was his nephew. Both uncle and nephew were at constant loggerheads with the Padroado
Padroado
The Padroado , was an arrangement between the Holy See and the kingdom of Portugal, affirmed by a series of treaties, by which the Vatican delegated to the kings of Spain and Portugal the administration of the local Churches...
. They were vehemently against the Goa Inquisition
Goa Inquisition
The Goa Inquisition was the office of the Inquisition acting in the Indian state of Goa and the rest of the Portuguese empire in Asia. It was established in 1560, briefly suppressed from 1774–1778, and finally abolished in 1812. The Goan Inquisition is considered a blot on the history of...
. Throughout using effort and influence to try and rid Goa of the same.
Bishop de Castro was held in great esteem at the courts of the Great Moghul Emperor Shah Jahan
Shah Jahan
Shah Jahan Shah Jahan (also spelled Shah Jehan, Shahjehan, , Persian: شاه جهان) (January 5, 1592 – January 22, 1666) Shah Jahan (also spelled Shah Jehan, Shahjehan, , Persian: شاه جهان) (January 5, 1592 – January 22, 1666) (Full title: His Imperial Majesty Al-Sultan al-'Azam wal Khaqan...
and by the rulers of the Kingdom of Bijapur
Bijapur, Karnataka
Bijapur Urdu:بیجاپور city is the district headquarters of Bijapur District of Karnataka state. Bijapur city is well known for its historical monuments of architectural importance built during the rule of Adil Shahi dynasty...
who belonged to the Adil Shahi dynasty. They permitted him to erect dwelling houses and residences in their dominions for the accommodation and convenience of converts. He helped estabish commercial relations between the Catholics of Goa and the peoples of those Kingdoms. He founded the Apostolic Mission of Bombay which evolved from a village in the 17th century to India's premier Metropolis.