Devasahayam Pillai becomes first Indian layman to be declared saint by Pope Francis

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 1

• Devasahayam was recommended for the process of Beatification by the Vatican in 2004.
• With the completion of the process, Devasahayam Pillai, who took the name “Lazarus” after embracing Christianity in 1745, on may 15th became first Indian layman to be declared a saint by Pope Francis during an impressive canonisation ceremony at the Vatican.

 Where abouts of Devasahayam:

• Devasahayam was born on April 23, 1712, as Neelakanta Pillai into a Hindu Nair family, at Nattalam in Kanyakumari district, which was part of the erstwhile Travancore kingdom.
• He was an official in the court of Travancore’s Maharaja Marthanda Varma when he was instructed into the Catholic faith by a Dutch naval commander.
• “Lazarus” or “Devasahayam” in Malayalam, translates to “God is my help”.