Srinagar, Dec 23 (PTI) Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha urged people on Thursday to strengthen the values of brotherhood, peace and selfless service.

Addressing the re-opening ceremony of the historic St Luke's church here that has been fully renovated, conserved and opened for the public to offer prayers, the LG said the lost glory of the oldest church in Srinagar has been restored, which is historic.

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"Reopening of the St Luke's church in Srinagar after restoration is a historic occasion to celebrate and imbibe Jesus Christ's message of sacrifice, service, redemption, love and compassion," he said.

Sinha said the church, which was built in 1896 on the southwest slope of the Shankaracharya Hill, is a unique symbol of Jammu and Kashmir's composite culture.

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He congratulated the people of Jammu and Kashmir, especially the Christian community and all the artisans involved in the renovation and conservation of the church, besides the officials associated with the Smart City programme.

The restoration and conservation work of the St Luke's church was carried out under the Smart City project.

The surrounding landscape has also been upgraded, including access to the church, lighting and the allied components. The interiors of the church have been redone with the construction of the altar, wooden flooring, seating arrangements, window panes, the access gate and the porch.

India is home to diverse religions and cultures for centuries. But despite this diversity, the people of the country live in unity, without any discrimination, the LG said.

He urged people to inculcate the spirit of social harmony and strengthen the values of brotherhood, peace and selfless service.

"St Luke's message of peace and harmony to all human beings is more relevant today than ever before. Today, while facing the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the whole world is realising that no nation or society can survive in isolation. Our dependence on each other, our connect with each other have increased substantially," Sinha said.

He remembered Dr Arthur Neve, who served the people of Jammu and Kashmir for three decades by establishing the church as well as by saving lives as a doctor.

The LG also extended his warm wishes to the people for the upcoming Christmas festival.

"On the eve of Christmas, when we remember Jesus Christ, let us also reiterate our strong resolve to follow the path of truth, non-violence and universal brotherhood. Every person should sincerely play their part in promoting harmony in the society," he said.

Special prayers were held to mark the day, while a documentary on the history and restoration of the church was also shown on the occasion.

The Christian community of Srinagar has expressed happiness at the government's initiative to renovate and reopen the church ahead of Christmas.

The St Luke's church is a single-storey building constructed on a cruciform plan. It follows the Gothic style of architecture, which is distinct from the other important monuments dotted in the landscape of Srinagar. Attached to the porch, there is a bell tower that is three-story in height, mounted by a high-pitched CGI roof with dormer gables on each side.

Before its restoration, the church was lying in a dilapidated condition, with the structural members suffering major damage. The CGI roofing was completely damaged, the rainwater intrusion from the roof aggravated the decay of important components.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)