Basilica of Our Lady of Snow, Pallipuram, Kochi, Kerala, India

Basilica of Our Lady of Snow

Pallipuram, Kochi, Kerala, India

Text and Photos by Viswas Menon

Mob: 09449825583

This Basilica is also know as Pallipuram Manjumatha Church, Kochi, Kerala, India

Preface
Basilica of our lady of Snow at Palli port is one of the most famous Marian Pilgrimage center in Kerala. It is frequented by a large number of devotees belonging to different religions and caste. 

The fort situated on the northern side, the Little Flower Convent on the southern side, the Kadalattu Chapel on the western side, are also famous centers of historic , religious and cultural importance. 


Origin of Pallipuram
The Vypeen Island was formed as a result of an unprecedented flood in Periyar in 1341. Pallipuram is situated on the northern end of the Island, which lies 25 kilometers long extending from Kochi Harbor to Kodungallur harbor. 

The place Pallipuram was uninhabited for a long time, filled with creepers and bushes. Later people came to inhabit the place, mainly from Kodungallur. They built a church and the area around got the name Pallipuram meaning 'place around the church'. ( In Malayalam "Palli" means church and "Puram" means surrounding area.) 

The legend associated with the church is that when Tipu Sultan attacked Kochi and tried to destroy the church, a miraculous mist came down and enveloped the church and hid it from him. 

The church was built by Portuguese in 1577. It has the exquisite picture of Ave Mary on top of the Altar which was brought to India by the Portuguese. 

The church is located near Cherai Beach.

The Arrival of the Portuguese
After quarreling with the king of Kozhikode (Calicut), the Portuguese came to Kochi in the year 1500. They constructed a hexagon shaped fort with the permission of the Mahararaja of Kochi on the banks of the tributary of Periyar that flows along Pallipuram. This fort came to be known as Vattakotta (round fort). It is believed to be the oldest of the existing European monuments in India. 

The History of the church 
When the Portuguese arrived at Pallipuram they found that the majority of the people residing here were following Christian faith and they had their own place of worship. 

The Portuguese who settled in Pallipuram were ardent devotees of Mother Mary. Soon after building the fort in 1503, they founded a church and dedicated it to Mother Mary. When the diocese of Kochi was formed in 1557, this church came under its jurisdiction. 

The Dutch confiscated the church and the fort from the Portuguese in 1602. But they could not hold on for long. Later the Portuguese themselves took the initiative to build a more beautiful church in the place of the earlier one. There are records, which show that it was renovated in 1823. The present church of Our Lady of Snow was erected near the old one. The main alter was shifted to the new one, which recalls a glorious history of 500 years. 

Painting of Our Lady in the churchThe painting of Our Lady in this church is very unique. It is supposed to be a copy of the wonderful picture by St.Luke, who was the first one to paint St,Mary's portrait. It was donated by the Portuguese, on the request of the devotees of Pallipuram and it was consecrated solemnly in the main alter. The peculiar picture in the chapel on the river bank was painted by a missionary on the above model. 

The Legend of Our Lady of Snow 

It is believed that when the army of Tipu Sultan of Mysore came to invade Pallipuram in the 18th century, a cloud of mist descended on the church and its premises were covered in it, by a miraculous intervention of the Holy Mother. The army retreated thinking they had come to the dead end of the land. The Mother of God, who rescued the place from invasion with the veil of snow came to be revered as Our Lady of Snow. 





The Feast of Our Lady of Snow 
The feast of Our Lady of Snow, which is celebrated on August 5th starts on July 30th. August 5th is the day on which two devotees of Mary, Mrs. & Mr. John and the then Holy Father had a vision of St.Mary on the Esquilene Mount in Rome, where the Basilica of Maria Majora is constructed. A huge crowd reaches here on the feast days. The procession of devotees, the procession of fishing boats and fire works display are some of the attraction of the feast. The trade melas on the feast days is also very popular. The sale of fishing nets is a major attraction on this occasion. Fishermen believe that the nets brought here will give good catches. The feast ends on August 15th. 


Little Flower Convent
The Portuguese had a seminary named Vyppikotta. The Dutch confiscated the seminary in 1602 and turned it into a leprosy asylum. It came into the hands of the British in 1795. Since 1925, a convent School is functioning here under the patronage of Carmelite Sisters of St. Teresa. 

Declaration of Basilica
Considering the antiquity and the reputation of the church, after due process, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI granted Basilica status to the Church of Our Lady of Snow, Pallipuram on 25th July 2012. The official declaration of this honor was on 7th October 2012 during the concluding ceremony of the Silver Jubilee Celebration of the diocese of Kottapuram. Pontifical Mass was presided over by his grace most revered Dr.Salvatore Pennacchio, the Apostolic Nuncio to India, in the presence of Rt.Rev.Dr.Joseph Karikkassery, Bishop of Kottapuram. 

The Belfry 
The belfry was erected in memory of sacerdotal golden and episcopal silver jubilee of H.H.Pope Pius X, under the patronage of St. Ignatius Loyola in the year 1908.

By Viswas Menon

Fort Kochi Ferry

Fort Kochi Ferry 
Text and Photos By Viswas Menon
Mob: 09449825583

Waiting to Dock 

Fort Kochi is located around 13 kms from Ernakulam city, is one among the three main urban regions that constitute the Cochin Corporation. 

The other two regions are Ernakulam and Mattancherry. 

Going Fishing

This important trade center in Southern India was formed after a major flood in AD 1341 and became the first European township in India when the Portuguese settled here in the 15th century. 

In AD 1663, the town was captured by the Dutch and the British took over in 1795. 

Ferry Approaching the Pier

Fort Kochi is a haven for seafaring visitors, dotted with attractive sites like Vasco Da Gama Square, Santa Cruz Basilica, St.Francis Church, VOC Gate, Bastion Bungalow etc. It has been declared a heritage destination with its colonial buildings against the backdrop of the sea.

This vibrant cultural center can be easily assess-able by bus from Ernakulam which takes nearly an hour or by ferry that takes about 20 minutes.

The Container Cranes of Port Kochi

The Ferry connects the islands of Vypeen and Fort Kochi. The beach here is very dirty. 

The ferry area water is polluted with water hyacinths, plastic bottles, thermocol sheets, non degradable waste etc. 

Lined up in Ferry

The Ferry Carries Vehicles and passengers

Herons 

The concerned authorities must take steps to clean up the place and to prevent pollution. Utter confusion and traffic jams are common in the jetty area. The service however is cheap.

Basilica of Our Lady of Vallarpadam (St. Mary's Church) , Kochi,

Basilica of Our Lady of Vallarpadam (St. Mary's Church) 

Photos and Text By Viswas Menon, 

Mob: 09449825583

Mother Mary 

Basilica of Our Lady of Vallarpadam (St. Mary's Church) 2.5 km from Kochi Sea Port Hotel, Vypeen, Kochi, Kerala, India.

The Cross on the tower

A major pilgrim center for Christians, St. Mary's church (The Basilica of Our Lady of Ransom) is located in the middle of Vallarpadam Island across the backwaters from the mainland Ernakulam This popular shrine was built by the Portuguese missionaries in 1524. 

Dome ceiling above the altar

History has it that the old church, which was then known as the Church of the Holy Spirit, was destroyed in floods in the 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. 

Mother Mary and Infant Jesus Statue

In 1951, the Union Government declared it a major pilgrim center. The church was declared the status of a basilica on February 12, 2005. It is believed to be the first church in Asia dedicated to the Holy Spirit.

The View from the Top of the tower

It is believed that Paliyath Raman Valiyachan, the Diwan of the Maharaja of Cochin recovered the image from the flood waters. He handed over the image to the then parish vicar and it was installed in a temporary shed which was known as 'Panampu Pally'. 

The Cross in the church compound 

A wooden flag staff (160 ft) was also installed at the place where he exchanged the holy picture, which was replaced much later in 2002, by a steel flag staff (102 ft). 

Paintings on the wall of the belfry

' Palermo Annunciation : Mary, absorbed in reading
Painting by Antonello da Messina
in the stairwell of the belfry tower

A beautiful church was then built in the land donated by the Diwan in 1676. Subsequent renovations were made to the church in 1888, 1931 and 1947. The church alter is adorned with the miraculous image of the Holy Mary and Infant Jesus, and the 'Kedavilikkku' (sanctuary lamp) which he donated on the day the new church opened, burns at the altar even today. 

The Church Facade

Paliyath Valiachan also promised to supply the oil for burning the lamp from his palace and this practice continued till 1947. In 1994, the Paliyath family, visited the shrine and rekindled the sanctuary lamp.

The church has the famous picture of the 'Blessed Virgin Mary' which the Portuguese brought from their native land. The picture is believed to have miraculous powers. Portuguese merchants headed by Vasco da Gama enthroned this miraculous picture of this shrine.

The Miraculous picture of Blessed Virgin Mary

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".

There are many legends associated with this church, the most famous was in 1752, a Nair lady Meenakshiamma hailing from a noble Nair family of Palliveetil who along with her infant son, were believed to have been rescued miraculously from the bottom of the backwaters near the church after they went missing for three days. The then parish priest, Fr. Miguel Correa had a dream where the Lady of Ransom appeared and gave him instructions to rescue the drowning mother and son. After this miracle, Vallarpadam became a famous pilgrim center. In gratitude, all the members of the Palliveetil family vowed to remain loyal servants of Our Lady forever and Meenakshiamma and her son spend the rest of their lives in and around the church.

Designs on the tower

Prayers in name of relatives

'Adima' a ritual practice - submitting one's lives to the protection of Our Lady of Vallarpadam was thus established and now this ritual is the popular offering in Vallarpadam Church. During this ritual, the priest lays his hands on the head of the devotee, says a prayer and sprinkles holy water. It is believed that once the ritual is performed Our Lady protects the person from all dangers and grant favors in abundance. 

The Altar 

In memory of this miracle, the picture of Meenakshiamma and her son seeking blessings was added to the original holy picture of the Blessed Mary and Infant Jesus. 

Devotees do Adima Service by sweeping the church compound

Even today, the members of the Palliveetil family, the house of the Nair lady, bring their children to perform the practice of 'Adima' and also supply curd water to devotees during the festivities of the church.