Our lady of Ransom Church

The Kanyakumari Parish almost coincides with the civil village of Kanyakumari. Archeological evidences suggest that St. Thomas, a disciple of Jesus Christ visited this soil. In 1542 St. Francis Xavier came here. In 1862, Kanyakumari became a separate parish. In 1914 the church was constructed. The length of the Church is 153 feet, breath 53 feet and height is 153 feet. All these depict the breads of the Holy Rosary. The parish has nearly 13,000 people organized into 86 Basic Christian Communities.

History of Kanyakumari Parish

Kanyakumari village is situated in the District of Kanyakumari which is the southern most part of the Indian subcontinent. The Kanyakumari Parish almost coincides with the civil village of Kanyakumari. It is closely associated with the mainstream Catholic faith in India.

There were archeological evidences suggesting that St. Thomas, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ visited this soil. The tomb stones unearthed at Kumari Muttom, near Kanyakumari contain evidences to show that Catholics were living there for many centuries. The tomb stones dated 1496 contain the edict of the local ruler granting tax exemptions to the residents of Kumari Muttom and authorizing levy of a cess from the fishermen in Kumari Muttom. The aggregate income thus generated had to be used to keep the lights of the church burning.

The second inscription dated 1526 AD reads “on the twentieth day of the moth of Panguni king Siraval Muttambiranar was pleased to order Muttakangan and Illayakangan and others among the subjects living at the place of Muttom. We having been pleased to put a stop to riots, quarrels, injustice, tyranny, blackmail and confiscations of fish, they shall here after live here as in an asylum for the oppressed”.

In 1542 when St. Francis Xavier came to Cape Comerin (Kanyakumari) he was delighted to find ‘Our Lady of Delights Grotto’, at Kanyakumari. Then it became a center for mission activities of the Jesuits from Thoothoor to Ramanathapuram. It is believed that Our Lady of Delights Grotto, in which St. Francis Xavier worshiped, later became the church of Our Lady of Ransom. Our Lady of Ransom is the Patron of the congregation in Spain which redeemed the Christians from the Muslim invasion in the year 1218. The people of Kanyakumari were delighted to combine the name Ransom with Delight and call their patron as Alangara Upakara Matha. The wooden alter elegantly depicts the artistic Roman Art. This church remains part and parcel of the new church. The foundation stone for the new church was laid on 31st May 1900 by Rev. Fr. John Consolvez. Mr. Pakiam Pillai of the Vadakkankulam was the architect of the new church. It is the model of ancient Gothic Art and culture. The length of the new Church is 153 feet, breath 53 feet and height is 153 feet. All these depict the breads of the Holy Rosary.

In 1862 Kanyakumari was established as a separate parish and many eminent priests have served as parish priests of the church. In 1914 Msgr. Vincent Fdo celebrated the First Mass in the newly built Church. In 1956 Rev. Fr. Josaphath Maria completed the front elevation and the pinnacles. In 2006 the parish celebrated the golden jubilee of the erection of the golden cross and 106th year of laying foundation of the church.

At present Kanyakumari parish has 2,850 Catholic families, which are organised into 88 Basic Christian Communities. The total Number of the Catholics amounts to 12,839. There are 21 pious associations. The parish established an elementary school in the year 1882 and now 540 children are studying in the vernacular language. The parish has a Higher Secondary School established in the year 1921, where 1350 students are studying.

The spiritual life of the parishioners is well attended too under the able leadership of the parish priest. The co-pastors and a few guest priests constantly render spiritual services to the people. The Sunday Catechism is well organized, nearly 800 children attend the Sunday Catechism.

Tsunami which struck the coastal villages of Tamil Nadu on 26th December 2004 had great impact on Kanyakumari village too. Thanks to the Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Religious Organizations, other establishments and philanthropists for their great yeomen services in relief and rehabilitation of the tsunami affected people. A remarkable achievement is nearly 750 houses for the poor fishermen of Kanyakumari were established in addition to the support extended to reestablish their sources of livelihood.

The local catholic church at Kanyakumari is growing day by day in the love of Christ and ever pray for the blessings of our Lord Jesus Christ through the interceding of Alangara Upakara Matha.

History of the Flag Mast:

In 1917 a foreign merchant ship got struck to the sand shore of Leepuram, Kanyakumari. The strenuous efforts of the crew and other experts to restore it did not help them. Hence they decided to abandon the ship and went in for an auction.

One Mr. Kayathan Villavarayan a merchant from Tuticorin paid the highest bid and assumed the ownership of the abandoned ship. He had donated the iron mast to Our Lady of Ransom Church, Kanyakumari. The kattumarams of Kanyakumari were brought to Leepuram to take the mast to Kanyakumari. It is said that as soon as the mast was loaded on the kattumarams, the mast together with the kattaumarams sunk into the sea water. After a few minutes, the kattumarams and the mast began to float. The bye standers were astonished to see the grace of Our Lady of Ransom. Then they took the mast to Kanyakumari by road.

When the mast was taken to the church yard, another major difficulty was faced regarding the erection of the mast. They consulted the experts and engineers and came to the decision of inserting it into a hole cut out of a large stone. The stone cutters were approached and they searched for such a huge stone that could serve this particular purpose. In spite of rigorous search, they could not find out any suitable stone. It is believed that Our Lady of Ransom appeared to a stone cutter in dream and indicated the location of a suitable stone. The stone cutter accompanied by the people of Kanyakumari reached the location indicated and they were surprised to see a big stone, befitting the purpose.

They took the stone, made a bore hole and inserted the mast into it. To make the fitting more concrete and long lasting, they poured molted led and erected the mast.

Feast of Our Lady and the Golden Car Procession

Every year the feast of our Lady of Ransom is celebrated for 10 days in the month of December. The feast of Our Lady of Ransom begins with the flag hoisting on the following Friday immediately after the feast of St. Francis Xavier, Kottar which falls on 3rd of December. The first day of the feast begins with the flag hoisting. During the festivals, every day morning festival mass is celebrated and in the evening there will be benediction with special prayers and preaching. The eight day evening Corpus Christi Procession is held with due decorum. The ninth day evening special vespers and celebrations are held. The culmination of the feast is the golden car procession. There are two golden cars which are taken on the 9th and 10th days of the feasts. Our Lady of delight is taken in procession in the 1st car, which was made in the year 1798. St. Joseph, the spouse of Mary is taken in procession in the 2nd car, which was made in the year 1833. Like any other coastal village of Kottar diocese, the festival is celebrated with full spirit and all pomp and glory.

Mass & Prayer

Sunday: Holy Mass 5.30 am, 7.00 am and 4.00 pm

Week days: Holy Mass 6.15 am

First Friday: 
Rosary 6.30 pm
One hour Adoration from 7.00 to 8.00 pm

First Saturday:
Rosary 6 pm
Holy Mass 6.30 pm
Healing Prayers 7.30 pm
Benediction 8 pm

All other Saturdays:
Rosary 6 pm
Holy Mass 6.30 pm
Healing Prayers 7.30 pm

Contact:
Our lady of Ransom church
Kanyakumari 629702
Tel: 04652-246323, 246295

For more information please visit: www.ransomchurchkanyakumari.org

Source: http://ransomchurchkanyakumari.org/

Keyword: Ransom church Kanyakumari, Our lady of Ransom church, Kanyakumari Church, Catholic Churches, Roman Catholic Churches, RC Churches, Churches in Madurai, Churches in Tamilnadu, Churches in India

Holy family Chruch,
Ettamadai, Nagercoil, Kanyakumari District.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Chruch,
Ramapuram, Nagercoil, Kanyakumari District.

THE HISTORY OF ST.XAVIER’S CHURCH

St. Francis Xavier’s Cathedral at Kottar is one of the Christian pilgrimage centers in India. Next to Goa, Kottar is the second important place where people from all walks of life, irrespective of caste and creed, language and religion worship St.Xavier. It is one of the oldest churches in Tamilnadu.
St. Xavier was canonized in 1622 while the church at Kottar was dedicated to St. Xavier even as early as 1605 itself seventeen years before he attained sainthood. So the historians say the church at Kottar is the first one dedicated to St. Xavier in the whole world.

THE EARLY IMPORTANT EVENTS AT KOTTAR CHURCH

Christians lived at Kottar even before the arrival of St. Xavier. Those people became Christians due to the influence of St. Thomas who came to Kanyakumari District in the first century itself. It is said that St. Xavier was the first foreign missionary who visited Kottar.Until 1602, the construction of Christian churches was not allowed by the then Travancore maharajas. The Christians were allowed to build small temporary churches only at the coastal areas of the fishermen villages of paravas and mukkuvas in thatched sheds with bamboos, palm leaves and mud.

In 1602, the South Travancore maharaja donated his own garden at Kottar to the Italian priest Fr. Pucchario to construct a church at Kottar. Fr. Andreas Pucchario S.J. constructed the first church at Kottar in 1603 with mud and wood at the place where St. Xavier performed prayers and masses. The church was called Trinity Church. Since the people of Kottar had great faith in St. Xavier they used to call the church “Saveriyar Koil” . The name “Xavier” was pronounced as “Saveriyar” by the local people at that time.

In 1605, Fr. Pucchario dedicated the church to St. Francis Xavier. From that day onwards people called the church “Saveriyar Koil”

THE HISTORY OF THE GROWTH OF ST. XAVIER’S CHURCH AT KOTTAR

In 1603, a small church was built with mud and wood.

In 1640, the church was reconstructed with stones (Report of the Society of Jesus, 1644). In 1640, the church constructed with mud and wood, was reconstructed into a new church with stones and in 1643 the sacred relics of St. Ignatius Loyola and St. Francis Xavier were safeguarded there.

In 1752, the mortal remains of Devasagayam Pillai was buried at St. Xavier’s Church.

According to the report (1698) sent by Fr. Gomes Andreas, head of the Society of Jesus, Cochin to Fr. Gonzales, head of the S.J. at Rome, a big church at Kottar was built near the small church with stones.According to the report of the Society of Jesus (1733), “Kottar was a big town. It was the headquarters of all Christian Churches of that area. A big church was there and it was dedicated to St. Francis Xavier, the first foreign missionary to visit Kottar.

EXTENTION OF CHURCH

In 1865, the new church was extended on the western, northern and southern sides. So the church looked like a cross. Tiles on the roof were removed and a high dome was constructed above the main altar. A dome was also constructed at the small church (St. Mary’s). Mt. Rev. T.R. Agnisamy, the second bishop of Kottar Diocese was buried in St. Mary’s church on 7th May 1974.

WOODEN ALTAR

In 1876, an architect from Kollam, Jokin Fernandes designed the main altar in wood. The wooden statue of St. Francis Xavier kept in the altar was brought from Goa.

CONSTRUCTION OF A MANDAP

During the end of the 19th century a mandap was constructed in front of the church with big stone pillars. The stone pillar mandap represents Indian culture. This mandap was designed and constructed by the architect John Louis Fernandes. Later on when he died he was buried in the mandap itself.

TOWER

In memory of the 400th year of St. Xavier’s arrival in India, a tower and the statue of St. Xavier on the top of it and a grotto of St.Lourdes nearby were constructed at the northeastern side of the church campus. That was donated by J.A.D. Victoria of Manapad of Tuticorin Diocese.

Kottar Diocese was formed on May 30th 1930. St. Xavier’s Church, at Kottar was declared cathedral. Mt. Rev. Lawrence Pereira, the first Bishop of the Kottar Diocese was buried in the church on 05.01.1938. Mt. Rev. Leon Dharmaraj, the fourth bishop of Kottar Diocese was also buried in the main altar of the church.

When Fr. Barnabas was the priest of St. Xavier’s Cathedral in 1956, the western, southern and northern sides of the church were extended further. The St. Mary’s Church was annexed and became a part of the main church. In memory of the silver jubilee celebration of Kottar Diocese a tall tower was erected on the northern side of the church and blessed by Mt. Rev. T.R. Agnisamy, Bishop of the Diocese on November 24th, 1956.

When Fr. Berchmans was the parish priest of the cathedral, the church compound wall was extended further on the northwestern side and a new exit gate was opened for the convenience of the people during the festival seasons. Fr. Berchmans in 2009 constructed a new flag post covered with bronze in typical Travencore style. This type of flag post is unique in churches of Tamilnadu. After seeing the beauty of the flag post, many churches in Kottar, Palayamkottai and Tuticorin Dioceses started to convert their flag posts in the model of St. Xavier’s Church at Kottar. In 2009 a new tall statue of St. Xavier was erected at the entrance of the church.

RENOVATION OF THE ALTAR

In 2010, Fr. Berchmans brought artisans from Goa to renovate the main altar of the church. At present the wooden portions of the main altar, the statue of St. Xavier and wooden portion of St. Mary’s Church were covered with gold. Now the main altar and the St. Xavier’s Statue glitter brightly. Nowhere in Tamilnadu can we see such a beautifully glittering altar and the statue of St. Xavier.

In 2011, parish priest Fr. Robert Julius and the co-priest Fr. Amuthavalan are taking tremendous efforts to change the colour of the outer walls of the spacious church into milky white. To give this new color to the church and for other renovation works, the church needs nearly Rs.3 million. The parish priest is collecting the money from people as donations. People, who have great faith in St. Xavier, are contributing for this work.
The Mt. Rev. Peter Remigius, the fifth and the present Bishop of the Kottar Diocese and the parish priest of the Cathedral are taking steps to upgrade the St. Xavier’s Cathedral to the status of Basilica.The glory, fame, reputation and miracles of this ancient St. Francis Xavier’s Church at Kottar shall grow in the centuries to come.

Contact:
ST. XAVIER’S CATHEDRAL
Kottar, Nagercoil, Kanyakumari district,
Tamil Nadu, India

For more information, please visit:
http://stxavierscathedralkottar.com/
http://www.francisxaviers.com/
http://www.francisxaviers.com/web2012/
http://www.kottardiocese.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devasahayam_Pillai

Courtesy: http://stxavierscathedralkottar.com/history.html

During the pontificate of Pope Liberius, (352-366 A.D) the Roman Patrician John and his wife, who were without heirs, made a vow to donate their possessions to Our Lady. They prayed to her that she might make known to them in what manner they were to dispose of their property in her honour. It was the summer time on August 5, during the night, snow fell on the summit of Esquiline Hill and, in obedience to a vision which they had the same night, they built a basilica, in honour of Our Lady on the spot which was covered with snow. The church was originally built by Pope Liberius and was called after him Basilica Liberii or Liberiana.

Some sects were averse to this development so they raised an issue to argue that no importance shall be given to Our Lady.

In 428 AD, Nestorius the newly consecrated Bishop of Constantinople, from the pulpit, he attacked that Mary’s Title as Theotokos that is Mother of God and claimed that even though Mary is Christokos that is “Mother of Christ”, She cannot be the Mother of God. Shortly afterwards, the Bishop of Alexandria, Cyril, wrote a letter to Nestorius in order to correct the said error.
After receiving his reply, Cyril wrote a letter to Pope Celestine and forwarded Nestorius response. Cyril submitted both his writings and Nestorius response for papal judgement.

After examining the documents, Pope Celestine condemned Nestorius’ teaching and ordered him to recant in ten days. The pope also authorized Cyril to receive the recantation or else condemn and depose Nestorius from his See. Nestorius refused to recant and published a clearer condemnation against the title Theotokos. He wrote: A mother cannot bear a Son older than herself. If Mary is called Mother of God, she is made a Goddess. The man Jesus… is the temple, the vesture of the word…. God did not die. and so on. Nestorius refused to submit to Cyril and requested a General Council to discuss this issue.

A General Council in Ephesus was called and organized. It opened on 22nd June 429, but Nestorius refused to personally attend. The Council condemned Nestorius and his followers. The council’s decrees and definitions were approved by Pope Sixtus III in 431 since Pope Celestine had already died. Nestorius fled to Persia.

Pope sixtus III in 432 it was extended to celebrate on 5th August to commemorate the dedication of the church “Sancta Maria Maggiore” on the Esquiline Hill in Rome and dedicated to Our Lady that is Dedicatio Sanctae Mariae and it was extended to all the churches of Rome and finally it was made a universal feast. Sancta Maria Maggiore means that the church is the Major Church of all Marian churches in the world.

“Thasnavis’ means “snow falling“ in Portuguese Language
so it is called as “Sancta Maria Thasnavis” that is
‘Sancta’ means ‘Holy’,
‘Maria’ means ‘Mary’ and
‘Thasnavis’ means ‘Snow falling’.

St.Thasnavis Matha Church (Our Lady of Snows Church),
Kottar Diocese,
Maravankudieruppu Nagercoil,
Nagercoil Town 629002,
Kanyakumari District,
Tamil Nadu, INDIA.

Courtesy/Source: http://maravankudieruppu.com/stthasanavis.htm