The shrine of St. Teresa of Avila at Mahe, is one of the oldest shrines in India and probably the oldest in Malabar. Revered Father Dominic of St. Jone of the Cross, O.C.D, an Italian, came to Mahe and established the Mahe Mission in 1723 when King Bayanor, the raja of kadathanad near Badakara was the ruler. 1760 this Shrine seems to have suffered some damage owing to the wars between the French and the British but in march 1779 this ancient Shrine was to a greater extent damage or perhaps destroyed. But later about the year 1788 the Shrine was thoroughly renovated or perhaps reconstructed and given the form in which it is seen today by Abbe Duchenin A Government record dating back to 1874 referring to this renovation of shrine by Abbe Duchenin ius preserved in the revenue officer sat mahe. The roof however was a thatched one at that time and only in 1874 it was covered over with Manglore tiles. The tower of the church was renovated in 1855 and the clock on the tower which gives correct time even no to the whole town of mahe was fixed up there in that year. The clock is said to have been presented by some french marines to the Church. The string has been again in 1956 renovated and eletrified on July 15 , 1956 thew renoveted sahirne was opened for divine services In 1958 the flooring of the Church and the plastering of the tower was renovated During subsequent years Avila Pilgrim Centre, Avila Bhavan St. teressa nursery and primary school , Parish Hall and new presbytery were constructed. A small wooden statue of St.Terassa of Avila which is said to be miraculous is exposed for public veneration at this Shrine once a year about the time of the feast, that is from the 5th to the 22nd October every year. Document do not speak about the origin of this miraculous statue, but two traditions are existing in the place about it. 1. This miraculous statue was supposed to have been carried in a ship along the West Coast and the ship is said to have stopped at Mahe and would not move, whereupon the crew understood that it was the will of St. Teresa of Avila that this particular statue was to be enshrined at Mahe. 2. Anotyher tradition has it that miraculous statue was caught in a fisherman’s net in the sea near Mahe Whichever it may be this miraculous statue is a very very ancient one and is unlike in appearances to the statgues of Teresa of Avila of recent origin that we see today . It is to this miraculous statue that the devotion devotion of chrisztians hindus and muslims is directed Ever since the establishment of the shrine in 1736, a strange devotion as grown up here to this great saint of god and his specially fostered by the non-Christians Hindus and others of Mahe, surrounding places and other parts of malabar. All the people of Mahe and around have been considering St.teressa of Avila has their common mother and her shrine has a common not merely of Catholics but of all Hindus Muslims and Christians . Countless favors are being granted at this shrine early . Some extra ordinary and wonderful graces are also reported to have been granted. It is piously believed that whatever is trade for with confidents at this shrine will obtained through the intersection of St .teressa of Avila is related that no more than one occasion when epidemics where ranging around the town, mahe was saved through the intercession of its holy patroness. It is the experience of all who visited the shrine and invoke the protection of this great wonder worker that they written from this place with great peace of conscience a greate peace of mind , and an intense desire for a fervent life and interior perfection.