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St. Francis Chruch
Situated at Parade Road, 2 Km west of Mattancherry in Fort Cochin, this church
was originally dedicated to Santo Antonio, the patron Saint of Portugal. It was
built by the Portuguese presumably by the Franciscan friars in 1503. It is the
first church to have been built in the new European influenced tradition. The
original structure in wood, was rebuilt in stone around the mid 6th century. Vasco
- Da - Gama the first European to reach India, died in Kochi in 1524 and was originally
buried in this church cemetery. After 14 years his remains were removed to Lisbon
in Portugal. The gravestone of Vasco - da - Gama can still be seen here. The
old rope operated fans in the church are still preserved.
In 1663, when the Dutch arrived in Kochi, they converted it
to a protestant church and substantially modified it. The church was under the
control of the Dutch until 1795. In 1804, they surrendered the church to the
Anglican Communion of the British. The congregation joined the Protestant Church
of South India in 1949. The Sunday service is at 0800 hrs, except the 3rd Sunday
of each month. Open from sunrise to sunset. Read
more details.
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Santa Cruz Cathedral, Fort Kochi
This Roman Catholic Cathedral close to St. Francis Church, was built
by the Portuguese and elevated to a Cathedral by Pope Paul IV in 1558. In 1795,
the British demolished the original building. Nearly a hundred years later in
1887, Bishop Dom Gomez Ferriera commissioned a new building which was proclaimed
as a Basilica in 1984 by Pope John Paul II. Built in the neo-classical style
the pulpit is carved on wood and has a fantastic pastel-coloured interior. This
church has some very beautiful paintings on the ceiling. Read
more details.
St.George Ferona Church
Located in Edappally, 10 km from Kochi, this Roman Catholic church is one of
the oldest churches in Kerala. It was built in 594 AD in the land donated by
the Raja of Edappally. In 1080, a new church was built adjacent to the old church.
The deity is popular known for his powers of get rid of snakes.
The annual nine day festival is celebrated in the month of
May. Vendors sell all kinds of wares mainly mud vessels during this festival.
The main offering here is chicken and devotees cook and eat food. This
festival which is commemorated every year on the 4th of May is famous all over
Kerala. The main offering here is chicken and eggs. These chickens are auctioned
during the festival season which the devotees buy as a 'nercha' (offering)
which they cook in the church premises. The festival begins on 23rd
of April with solemn High Mass and Litany and on 25th flag is hoisted solemnly
and ceremoniously. On 4th the idol of the deity is taken out in a grand procession
when people throw 'Pori and beetle leaves as an offering. Band orchestra, different
varieties of 'Panchavadyams' etc accompanied this procession along with the
devotees.
The whole compound converts into a commercial venue with shops. Vendors
sell all kinds of wares mainly mud vessels during this festival.
St. Mary's Church, Vallarpadam
A major pilgrim center for Christians, St. Mary's church 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. 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.
In 1951, the Union Government declared it a major pilgrim centre. The church
was declared the status of a basilica on February 12, 2005. The church has the
famous picture of the 'Blessed Virgin Mary' which the Portuguese brought from
their native land. Read
more
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