St. Anthony's Feast, Kochchikade
On 13 June, St. Anthony's Shrine in Kochchikade holds its annual feast, with masses from dawn and an evening procession that draws people of every faith.
St. Anthony's Shrine in Kochchikade, on the edge of Colombo's port, is one of the most visited churches in Sri Lanka, and not only by Catholics. Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims also come here to light candles and pray to St. Anthony, and the shrine is one of the clearest examples of how faiths mix in everyday life in Colombo.
The feast of St. Anthony is on 13 June, and the shrine has celebrated it for more than 190 years. The run up starts with nine evenings of novena prayers from 3 June, followed by vespers on the evening of 12 June. On the feast day itself, masses begin before dawn and continue through the morning, with festive high masses in Tamil, Sinhala and English. In the evening, the statue of St. Anthony is carried in procession through the streets around the church, followed by thousands of people.
The shrine was badly damaged in the Easter Sunday attacks of 2019 and was restored and reopened, which makes the feast an especially meaningful day for many families.
Expect very large crowds, and road closures and a special traffic plan around Kochchikade on the feast day. Arrive early, dress modestly, and keep your belongings close. Pettah Market and the old Wolvendaal Church are both close by.
The shrine's story begins with a legend. During Dutch rule, a priest named Antonio is said to have planted a cross on the beach here and prayed for days until the sea, which was eating away the shore, drew back. In return he was allowed to stay, and a small mud chapel to St. Anthony grew up on the spot. The statue venerated today is said to have been brought from Goa in 1822, and the shrine was blessed in 1834.
Outside the feast, Tuesday is St. Anthony's day, when the shrine fills with people lighting candles and leaving offerings, so a Tuesday visit gives you a real feel for the place without the feast day crowds.
At a glance
- When: Usually in June
- Duration: Novena from 3 June; feast day on 13 June
- Venue: St. Anthony's Shrine, Kochchikade, Colombo 13
- Organizer: St. Anthony's Shrine, Kochchikade
- Entry: Free