Vallarpadam Church

Vallarpadam Church
Vallarpadom Church

Vallarpadom Church

Country India
Denomination Catholic
Website Vallarpadathamma.org
Architecture
Status Church
Functional status Active
Specifications
Materials Brick
Old view of Vallarpadam Church,Kochi,Kerala,India
Vallarpadam Church lighted up for the Feast

The Basilica of Our Lady of Vallarpadam, Vallarpadam is a famous centre of pilgrimage. People from all parts of Kerala and outside, irrespective of caste or creed go to the church to seek the blessings of Mary, the mother of Jesus, popularly known as "Vallarpadathamma".

This is an ancient Christian Church which accepted Latin rite after the arrival of Portuguese. In 1524, Portuguese merchants headed by Vasco da Gama enthroned this miraculous picture of Our lady of Ransom at the shrine. The church was dedicated to the Holy Spirit, which was the first of its kind in Asia. The beautiful church was however destroyed by a heavy flood in 1676. The church was re-established in 1676 and the famous picture of the Blessed Virgin Mary was erected by Portuguese who brought it from their native land. The picture is believed to have miraculous powers. The Portuguese built the first church on the site of the present church in 1524. It was destroyed in a flood in the late 17th century and a new church was built on the same spot in 1676. It was declared a special church by Pope Leo XIII in 1888 and in 1951 the Union Government declared it a major pilgrim centre.

Contents

Myth

Vallarpadath Amma is believed to have miraculously saved her devotees several time from violent storms. The feast of Vallarpadath Amma is held every year on September 24 with much fanfare. The celebrations which last for more than a week are accompanied by an unusually big fair.

Change of status

The Roman Catholic Church has raised the historic Marian pilgrimage destination on the Vallarpadam Island to the status of a National Pilgrim Centre. The documents related to the raising of the status of the Our Lady of Ransom Church on the island was handed over recently to the Archbishop of Varappuzha Daniel Acharuparampil by the President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India, Telesphore P. Topo.

Location

Vallarpadam is situated next to Bolghatty Island on the west, and linked to the Ernakulam mainland via the new Goshree bridges. It is about 3.5 kilometers (2.2 mi) in length in the north-south direction and hosts a population of 10,000 people. Vallarpadam is about one kilometer (½ mile) away from the Ernakulam mainland.

History

A short history the magnificent and miraculous picture of Mary and Infant Jesus, installed at the top of the main altar of the Vallarpadam Church, was brought by Portuguese merchants under the leadership of Vasco Da Gama in 1524. In 1676 the old Church, which was known as the Church of the Holy Spirit, founded by the Portuguese missionaries, was destroyed by the heavy flood and the picture of Our Lady was found floating in the backwaters. Nobody except Paliyath Raman Valiyachan, the Prime Minister of Maharaja of Cochin, could recover it. The beautiful church at Vallarpadam which you see now is built on the land which was donated by Paliyath Raman Valiyachan. He is gratefully remembered in Vallarpadathamma and his generosity towards the church, by lighting the Sanctuary lamp, which he himself donated and which has been burning day and night from 1676 onwards.

In May 1752, there occurred a great miracle which made Vallarpadam a famous Pilgrim Centre. In Vallarpadam there was a young Nair Lady named Meenakshiyamma, who was a member of a noble family called Palliyilveedu. Together with her son, she was going to Mattancherry in a non-mechanised boat. There arose a storm and the boat capsized. Meenakshiyamma and her son went deep down into the backwater. While they were in danger Meenakshiyamma promised Vallarpadathamma that if they were rescued by her they would be her Adimas (servants) until their death. On the third day, as per instructions in a dream, the parish priest asked the fishermen to cast net in the river, and Meenakshiyamma and her son were rescued. This incident is depicted in the picture mentioned above. From that day onwards, people, especially those who travel by boats and ships, come to Vallarpadam and pray for their safe journey. Meenakshiyamma and her son received baptism and became Christians and were named Mary and Jesudas respectively. They were living in the Churchyard itself adoring the Lord and thanking Our Lady and proclaiming the "good news" to all those who came here. Her family is still living, which is quite near to the church. Due to its spiritual importance, His Holiness Pope Leo XIII elevated its main altar to the status of Altare Privilegiatum in Perpetuum Concessum in 1888.

Festival

The Feast of Vallarpadathamma is celebrated from 16 to 24 September every year. Pilgrims, thousands in number, come to Vallarpadam to participate in the Feast, especially on 24 September.

External links


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Vallarpadam — is one of the islands that make up the city of Kochi, Kerala, India. It is situated in the Vembanad lake and has a population of over 10,000. An international container transshipment terminal is under construction here. Vallarpadam is connected… …   Wikipedia

  • Liste der Basiliken der Römisch-katholischen Kirche — Das ist eine Liste der Basiliken der Römisch katholischen Kirche. Eine Basilika ist eine Kirche mit bestimmten Privilegien, die ihr der Papst eingeräumt hat. Nicht alle Kirchen mit der Bezeichnung Basilika in ihrem Titel haben diesen… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • The Town House — (Коччи,Индия) Категория отеля: 2 звездочный отель Адрес: Ettuparayil,Waxwall Lane,Chi …   Каталог отелей

  • Kochi — This article is about the city in India. For other uses, see Kochi (disambiguation). Cochin redirects here. For other uses, see Cochin (disambiguation). Kochi (Cochin) കൊച്ചി …   Wikipedia

  • Cheranallur —   village   …   Wikipedia

  • Port of Cochin — കൊച്ചി തുറമുഖം The International Container Trans shipment Terminal (ICTT) of the Kochi Port Location Country India …   Wikipedia

  • Shrines to the Virgin Mary — In the culture and practice of some Christian Churches mainly, but not solely, the Roman Catholic Church a Shrine to the Virgin Mary (or Marian shrine) is a shrine marking an apparition or other miracle ascribed to the Blessed Virgin Mary, or a… …   Wikipedia

  • Cherthala —   taluk   …   Wikipedia

  • North Paravur — This article is about a town in Ernakulam district. For other uses, see Paravur. Paravur   suburb   …   Wikipedia

  • Oommen Chandy — ഉമ്മന്‍ ചാണ്ടി Chief Minister of Kerala Incumbent Assumed office May 18, 2011 …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”