St. Antony's Church, Chemmanvilai, Kanyakumari
St.
Antony's Church is a Roman Catholic Church located at Chemmanvilai Village in Kanyakumari district of Tamil
Nadu. The Church is located right in the middle of the Chemmanvilai village, is an important worship center that plays
an important role in the lives of the local people. The church is under the
control of the Roman Catholic Diocese of
Kuzhithurai. On December 25, 1942,
Rev Fr. Mathias of Madathattuvilai Parish helped to establish the small church
and hold the first mass there.
The
first annual festival was held on April 11, 1943. A second church was
established by Bishop Agniswami T.R. on December 20, 1970. Bishop Peter
Remigius of Kottar Diocese announced the church as a new parish on June 22,
2011 and the first priest was Rev Fr. Joakins. A. St. Antony's Church is an
ancient church which is mentioned in ancient Indian history of Travancore Kingdom.
In the little church in Chemmanvilai martyr Devasahayam Pillai came to
pray in his last days of life.
St.
Antony Church Festival is celebrated for ten days with grand events with
prayer, music, drama and fireworks that add color to this religious event. The
festival dates are based on the St. Antony Feast, in last weeks of May every
year. And, the feast of St. Antony will be celebrated on June 13. People from
various places come here and pray with St. Antony. It is near to the Nagercoil–Thiruvananthapuram Highway.
The
Church is located at about 4 Kms from Padmanabhapuram, 4 Kms from Eraniel, 19
Kms from Thiruvattaru, 18 Kms from Marthandam, 22 Kms from Kuzhithurai, 12 Kms
from Nagercoil, 32 Kms from Kanyakumari and 63 Kms from Thiruvananthapuram. The
nearest railway station is located in Eraniel at a distance of 6 Kms from Church. (3.7 mi).
The nearest airport to Chemmanvilai is the Trivandrum International
Airport, which is approximately 63 Kms
from Church.
