Christu Jyothi church recreates Holy Land

Hyderabad: The devout who cannot visit Israel can now get a feel of the holy land at Christu Jyothi church, considered the largest church in Asia, as it can house a congregation of 40, 000 in one go. Since its inauguration in the first week of this month, the church, situated 120 km from Hyderabad in Karunapuram, Warangal, is witnessing an impressive turnout from the city every week.

According to Rev. Dr Jayaprakesh Gopu, the edifice has been designed on the lines of structures in Israel, after a delegation of priests and architects visited Israel in 2011.

A sculptor from Chennai moulded the main entrances with brass elements of lamps and olive tree, the crown of thorns and bible. The imposing 60-feet tall (120-feet diameter) geodesic aluminum dome, has been imported from CST Domes in Texas while the stage flooring is made of Italian marble from Vietnam. Stained glasses with biblical fruits on windows, along with holy places of Jesus, have been created by craftsmen from Kerala.  

The huge wooden door engraved with a lampstand, olive tree and angels and flooring were commissioned to a team from Sivakasi, while the sound system is from France.

The founder of the church told Deccan Chronicle, “Christhu Jyothi church started in a small hut in 1992. Its healings powers spread far and wide and now up to 40, 000 visit us on weekends. I came to Karunapuram in 1991. I was an ice-cream vendor and used to preach gospel in Hanamkonda. When my leg broke and it was not getting healed, people mocked at me. My faith in the divine healing powers remained intact.”