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In Goa, India, the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the first Lithuanian – missionary Andrius Rudamina – was solemnly commemorated. On that occasion, an oak sculpture of Rudamina, carved by folk artist Juozas Kalinauskas, was unveiled in Se Cathedral in Old Goa, which dates back to Rudamina’s time. In addition, an illustrative book "Rudamina. The First Lithuanian in India" (by Laimonas Talat-Kelpša and Elzė Milašiūtė), published together with the Vilnius Academy of Arts, was presented at the Christian Art Museum, and a lecture on the parallels between Lithuanian and Indian Christian art and symbols was given by Lithuania's Ambassador to the Holy See Sigita Maslauskaitė-Mažylienė.

The sculpture was unveiled in the presence of H.E. Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão, Archbishop of Goa, who is also President of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India. Lithuania's honorary consuls, friends from all over India, and the local community gathered for the celebration.

“Andrius Rudamina opened a window to the world for Lithuania,” said Lithuania's Ambassador to India Diana Mickevičienė at the event. “His story is essential for Lithuanian-Indian ties, as he established the first personal connections with the Indian people and shared both his joys and sorrows with them.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, State Secretary of the Holy See, sent a letter with the greetings of Pope Leo XIV to the participants of the event. He conveyed the Pope's blessing to those gathered at Goa Cathedral to commemorate the anniversary of Rudamina's arrival in India. The Pope emphasized Rudamina's ability to bridge cultures and foster dialogue, noting his legacy inspires the local church to strengthen ecumenical and interreligious dialogue.

The celebration was organized at the initiative of the Lithuanian Embassy in India in cooperation with the Archdiocese of Goa. To commemorate the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the first Lithuanian in India and to mark 130 years from the visit to Lithuania of the first well-known Indian, Dr. J.J. Modi, Lithuania and India agreed to designate 2025-2026 as the years of People-to-People Relations between Lithuania and India. The celebration in Goa is one of the key events of the series of bilateral initiatives.

Andrius Rudamina, along with a group of other Jesuits, arrived in Goa, India, from Lisbon on 22 August 1625. He is also the first known Lithuanian to have reached India and the broader South and East Asia region.

Today, the Catholic Church in India, which traces its origins to Saint Thomas the Apostle, who arrived in India in 52 AD, has approximately 23 million members. In Goa, they make up 28% of the state's population.