Devasahayam Pillai, first Indian layman declared a saint by Vatican

Devasahayam Pillai and Pope Francis

Vatican City – Hindu Devasahayam Pillai from Tamil Nadu in India, converted in the 18^th Century, was declared Saint on 15^th May by Pope Francis. Along with him, another 9 were declared Saints, and 4 among them are ladies. Pillai is the first Indian layman to be declared a saint by the Vatican. Indian community expressed their joy by waving the tricolour flag.

Devasahayam Pillai, who embraced Christianity in the 18th century, was declared a saint by Pope Francis at the Vatican, becoming the first Indian layman to be canonised.https://t.co/V9ERGYNqKl

— Hindustan Times (@htTweets) May 15, 2022

Who is Devasahayam ?

Devasahayam was born on 23 April 1712 in a Hindu Nair family. He was the resident of Nattalam in Kanyakumari, the then division of Travancore. He was an officer in the court of Travancore’s King Marthand Varma. Dutch Naval Commander had initiated him as a Catholic Christian.