Our Lady of Ransom Church, Kanyakumari
Our Lady
of Ransom Church is a Catholic church located at Kanyakumari Town in
Kanyakumari District of Tamilnadu. The church belongs to catholic nomination
and it is one of the most historic religious sites where miracles are more
often a routine. The place is blessed by holiness of Virgin Mary and a
historical route does relate a fact that the church is instance testimonial
conglomeration as it has heritage to offer to believers and tourist. The beauty
of history dates to an era of St. Thomas as he is believed to hold the lineage
of Christianity as he preached and prosper the religion. With an advent of St.
Xavier, the Christianity became more dominant and during his venture he was
compassionate to see the grotto of our lady of delights which later became Our
Lady of Ransom Church.
History
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. 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. 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.
18th Century Old Church:
A small
thatched church was upgraded in to a big church of roman architecture was
constructed on 1700 AD. A statue of Mother Mary of made during 16th century
derived from Rome to Kanyakumari. An golden altar is developed and the statue
of Mother Mary was placed in the centre of the altar and venerated by the name
of Alangara matha. The statue of St. Joseph and St. Francis Xavier
were placed in the right side and left side respectively. There are wooden
carvings depicting the coronation of Mary as queen of heaven and earth.
Intricately
carved depictions of angels playing the musical instruments like violin, flute
and drums in the upper and side adorn the altar. Jesus Christ inviting his
disciples for ministries and forgiving Mary Magdalene were depicted in the side
of the altar. Cardinals, pope and the soldiers having foliage in their hand are
depicted. There are carvings of 12 disciples of Jesus Christ. A lamb lying on
the holy bible is depicted in the lower portion of the altar. The old church
remains part of the new church.
Flagstaff:
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 kattumarams
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 purpose. Despite 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.
New Church:
The
foundation stone for the new church was laid on 31 May 1900 by Fr. John
Consolvez. Mr. Pakiam Pillai of the Vadakkankulam was the architect of the new
church. The church has had several parish priests. 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.
The
Church
The
Church with its beautiful statue of the blessed Virgin Marry is one of the most
beautiful Church in India. The church is constructed by the model of ancient
Gothic Art and culture. Church of the Virgin Marry is a lovely structure of
graceful proportions, measuring height of 153 feet and width of 53 feet
representing the number of beads in the rosary, with a position of 53 feet
above land level. The Central Tower is crowned with a Cross of pure gold. There
are 12 towers in the church which depict 12 disciples of Jesus Christ.
The
porch ends with a pointed arch. The church contains totally 7 doors, 3 as porch
and 2 doors facing north and 2 doors facing south which depict the 7 fruits of
the Holy Spirit. Several clustered Gothic piers provide support to the main
tower. Inside the church, there are compound pillars which resemble vertical
shafts that provide support to the ceiling which is made with nave vault and
transverse arches.
Two side
towers attached with the main tower act as belfry containing the church bells
which have been imported from Italy in 1900 AD. The bell was used for several
decades to signal time. Gigantic statues of St. Thomas and St. Francis Xavier
are placed on the main tower. The veneration of Mother Mary is celebrated every
year from May 1–31.
When
entering to the church one can see a beautiful statue of Mother Mary got from
Italy and clad in a sari – like in most (South Indian) churches and a
little Cross on the altar. The beautiful paintings of four disciples of Jesus
Christ and writers of New Testament of the Bible namely Mark, Matthew, Luke and
John are exquisite on the main altar and the Mother Mary statue is in the
middle of the main altar.
The
colorful light patterns thrown by the stained
glass windows on side of the church
gives a rainbow appearance inside the church. The Mother Mary statue situated
in the old Church and is from Rome and is the main attraction of this church. The
parish has nearly 13,000 people organized into 86 Basic Christian Communities.
Mass
& Prayers
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Annual
Feast & 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 3 December. The first day of the feast begins with the flag
hoisting. During the festival, every day morning festival mass is celebrated
and in the evening, there will be benediction with special prayers and
preaching.
On the eight-day
evening Corpus Christi Procession is held. The ninth day evening has special
vespers and celebrations held. The culmination of the feast is the golden car
procession: two golden cars 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
1798. St. Joseph, the spouse of Mary is taken in procession in the 2nd car,
which was made in 1833.
Golden Cars:
Two
golden chariots dedicated to Our lady of Ransom and St. Joseph have been
constructed during 1798 AD and 1833 AD respectively. The Golden car procession
on the main street around the church is convened during the annual festival of
Our Lady of Ransom. During the golden car procession, the traditional Nadhaswaram music
and peculiar praising of Mother Mary by an art of pala padal. Pilgrims
from different places of the country and the state visit the church during the
annual feast.
Contact
Our lady
of Ransom Church,
Kanyakumari
– 629702
Phone: +91 4652 246323 / 246295
Email: ransomchurch@gmail.com
Connectivity
Kanyakumari
Town is well connected to major cities by road / rail / air across India. Kanyakumari
is located at about 20 Kms from Nagercoil, 13 Kms from Suchindrum, 47 Kms from Thiruvattaru,
33 Kms from Thuckalay, 47 Kms from Marthandam, 100 Kms from Thiruvananthapuram
and 245 Kms from Madurai.
By Road:
The
Church is located about 2 Kms from Kanyakumari State Transport Corporation Bus
Stand. The Church is well connected from Bus Stand by means of Buses, Taxis and
Autos.
By Train:
The
Church is located at about 1 Km from Kanyakumari Railway Station. The Church is
well connected from Railway Station by means of Buses, Taxis and Autos.
By Air:
The
Church is located at about 101 Kms from Trivandrum International Airport and
244 Kms from Madurai International Airport.
