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.
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.
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
