Pages

Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Our Lady of Ransom Church, Kanyakumari

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
Day
Time
  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
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.