Vailankanni

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Velankanni
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Tamil Nadu, India
District(s) Nagapattinam
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
Population 10,144 (2001)

Coordinates: ° N ° E

Vailankanni(Meaning:Virgin of Velai,the town), also known as Velankanni or "Velanganni", is a panchayat town in Nagapattinam district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a small town located on the shores of the Bay of Bengal 350 km south of Chennai (Madras) and 12 km south of Nagapattinam on the Coromandel Coast, in Tamil Nadu, India.

Once a port that traded with Rome and Greece, the tiny commercial center gradually lost its importance to the larger Nagapattinam. The canal built to link that city with Vedaranyam still lies to the west of Vailankanni. The Vellayar, a minor branch of the Cauvery River, runs on the south of the village and flows into the sea.

The site of an important Christian shrine, Vailankanni was one of the worst hit areas in the tsunami that followed the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake.

Contents

[edit] Shrine Vailankanni Basilica

Local tradition attests to apparitions of Mary, mother of Jesus, at Vailankanni.

Vailankanni church (Our Lady of Good Health) was built in the late 16th century CE with modifications by Portuguese and further expansions later on due to influx of pilgrimages.

The Gothic style of architecture is a unique feature of the church. The church itself is an imposing building with inspiring architecture. While the buildings have been painted white, roof of the church is made by the tiles with striking red in contrast to the colour of the walls. The environment around the shrine is spick and span radiating rays of hope and piety.

As a token of gratitude to Mother Mary, Portuguese sailors who escaped from a severe cyclone, built the chapel 24 feet to 12 feet with a dome overhead. In their possible subsequent visits, perhaps they brought porcelain plates, which could be seen even now illustrating bible scenes and other cultural arts of the time, to beautify the Church they had built earlier. The main statue that they had brought to the altar of the Shrine was Our Lady holding the Baby Jesus, standing majestically on the globe.

In the year 1771, Vailankanni acquired the status of a Parish with Fr. Antonio de Rozario as the First Parish Priest.

Vailankanni church was raised to the status of basilica in 1962 by His Holiness Pope John XXIII.

Festivals are celebrated here with all pomp and gaiety. Every year on August 29th the feast of our lady commences with the hoisting of the flag and on the 10th day it ends after the dismounting of the flag. A conservative estimate of the crowd is around 1.5 million on these days (Fifteen hundred thousands). Hotels and houses will be overcrowded during these days and people used to sleep in the open air. Holy masses are conducted in at least eight languages, Tamil, English, Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu, Konkani, Hindi and Marathi.

The Government, for security duty of the feast sends a contingent of 500 police officers, 10 DSPs, 25 Inspectors, 40 SISs and 60 women police. Over and above the Shrine spends enormous amount of money in deploying additional watchmen, sweepers and other work force. A sizable sum is also spent in supplying potable water, and keeping the place clean.

The shrine built a big hall of Museum to display the offerings. Periodically this is changed and the new ones are kept in the showcases.

[edit] Churches representing Vailankanni Mary

[edit] Demographics

As of 2001 India censusGRIndia, Velankanni had a population of 10,144. Males constitute 48% of the population and females 52%. Velankanni has an average literacy rate of 69%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 75%, and female literacy is 64%. In Velankanni, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.

[edit] External links

Coordinates: 10°40′N, 79°49′E

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The Growth of the Shrine As days passed on, the number of devout pilgrims visiting the Shrine increased. The fame of Vailankanni spread gradually. The wonderful but inexplicable events that occurred in the Shrine excited awe and wonder. People who witnessed the eventsGrowth of churchor heard first-hand information about them, and related them to their family and friends. Thus the fame and glory of the gracious Mother of Health of Vailankanni spread like wildfire throughout the land. Year by year the number of devout pilgrims increased. Many came with eager and earnest prayers for favors, and immediate help; many more came with hearts filled with gratitude to show thanks to the miraculous Mother for favors granted.

The numerous poor who came to Vailankanni on foot from afar, returned to their homes, singing from door to door the glories and favors of Our Lady, very much in the style and manner of the troubadours of the Middle Ages in Europe. These poor singers of Marian praise also helped in their own humble way, in spreading the devotion to "Our Lady of Health Vailankanni." In fact the press, did very little to spread the devotion of Our Lady.

In the meanwhile, by the introduction of quicker and more convenient means of transport, such as steamships, and trains, the number of pilgrims to the Shrine increased and the Shrine correspondingly expanded.

Fr. Rozario, a Franciscan priest, expanded the small church of 24 ft. x 12 ft. built by the Portuguese sailors, to 70 ft. x 22 ft. by extending the nave of the Church. But the ancient little sanctuary and the Altar were preserved intact. As the years passed by, the Catholic faith was strengthened by ardent missionaries working at Vailankanni.

Very soon, even this extension was found to be inadequate. In 1917 Fr. Sebastio Xavier de Noronha expanded the Church by an another 20 ft. from the nave of the Church.

In addition, two gothic domes of 82 ft. each on either side of the entrance facing the sea were also constructed. About the same time a two-story Parochial building with facility for pilgrims was also built. top

Southern Side of the Church Southern Side of the churchThis period was marked by rivalry between the Franciscans and the Jesuits and it had its influence on the missionaries in Vailankanni as well. From the beginning of this century, there was an another church in Vailankanni dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, which was under the jurisdiction of the diocese of Trichy. It was maintained by the Jesuits. In 1928 a solution was found to this problem. The church of Immaculate Heart of Mary was demolished and the statues were brought to the Shrine of Our Lady of Health.

By then, both the private and the public sectors began operating bus services to Our Lady's Shrine from all corners of the land. Hence the number of pilgrims pouring into Vailankanni further increased. In 1933 two new wings were constructed, to the right and to the left of the 'Main Altar', meeting the nave at right angles.

Northern Side of the Church A spacious vestry was also provided immediately behind the Altar. Thus the entire sacred edifice began to assume the shape of a Latin Cross. Right over the center of the ancient main altar was the miraculous image of Our Lady of Health, (the veryNorthern side of the churchbeauty of the whole magnificent edifice, which remained untouched and unaltered).

With this the Shrine of 'Our Lady' was blessed in 1933, on the feast day of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception. The moral pillar behind all these developments was the parish priest, the Very Rev. Fr. Sebastio Xavier Noronha, who attained eternal grace on August 21, 1942. He was laid to rest in front of Our Lady's Shrine.

In 1953, Thanjavur was separated from the Archdiocese of Madras-Mylapore and created as a separate diocese. Vailankanni came under the jurisdiction of Thanjavur Diocese. top

Shrine Altar To have constantVailankanni Shrine Altarcontact with the devotees, who may not be able to visit the Shrine often, in 1953, the Bishop started two monthly magazines, one in English (Vailankanni Calling) and another in Tamil (Vailankanni Kuraloli).

The celebration of the Marian Year all over the world in 1954 drew unprecedented numbers of pilgrims to the Shrine. The Most Reverend Bishop R. Arokiasamy Sundaram, the first bishop of Thanjavur, and Fr. M. V. Rodriguez, the parish priest made elaborate arrangements to celebrate the Marian Year meaningfully and propagate the Marian devotion at Vailankanni.

In 1956, a beautiful welcome arch was blessed and opened by His Excellency Most Reverend Bishop Sundaram. The illuminated arch stood imposingly to show the way to the eager pilgrims, who sought the protection of Mary at this beautiful Shrine. In January 1961, a beautiful central altar, delicately executed in spotless white marble was erected replacing the former one made of cement concrete.

Extension Basilica-Altar The marble altar adds exquisite splendor to the Shrine. The ancient porcelain plates and paintings have been carefully retained in their original beauty.Enlarging the church for active participation in the Liturgy for the influx of various language-speaking pilgrims became imperative. This warranted a two-storied extended Basilica.

So in 1974-75 during the time of late Very Rev. Fr. Maria Soosai the two story church was blessed and consecrated by Rt. Rev. R.A. Sundaram, then Bishop of Thanjavur.After all these renovations and the extensions, the present Church shows the triumph of classicism in structure, this magnificent edifice with its 93 ft. high dome and two 82 ft. high gothic spirals dominates the skyline of Vailankanni. top Extension Basilica' And there stands an inspiring octagonal, gothic dome, generous but strictly of geometrical and architectural propositions, the crowning glory of it all! Indeed this dome enhances the arresting grandeur of the glorious and majestic Shrine. '''' History of Vailankanni Parish The first person to refer to Vailankanni in historical documents is Fr. Paulo de Trinidad an OFM priest. In hisShrinechronicle in the year 1630, he writes:

"... And two leagues (about six miles) from Nagapattinam in the direction of Mannar (i.e. towards South), we have another Christian settlement, of which one of our Religious has charge and the Church is under the Patronage of our Lady of Health..." (Paulo de Trinidad, 111, 68). Vailankanni Parish In 1771 Fr. Antonio de Rozario, the last Parish Priest of the church of the Immaculate Conception, was appointed as the first Parish Priest of Vailankanni, which was then raised to the status of an independent parish. Till then, the parish of Vailankanni was a substation of the parish of Nagapattinam, and Nagapattinam had always been under the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Bishop of the Diocese of Mylapore. During that period the Diocese of Mylapore was administered under the Portuguese 'Padroado' (patronage). Under the Padroado system, the king of Portugal in Europe met all the expenses incurred by the Diocese of Mylapore, which remained under the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Roman Pontiffs.

Until 1847 the priests of St. Franciscan Missionaries who had looked after the province of Goa and Mylapore also looked after Nagapattinam and Vailankanni. The Franciscan origin and ownership of the Shrine was also perpetuated, by giving the place of honor to two Franciscan saints, St. Anthony of Lisbon and St. Francis of Assisi, on either side of the miraculous image of 'Our Lady', on the High Altar until 1961. Besides the last parish priest, Miguel Francisco Fernandez, who was of the Franciscan order, controlled the parish of Vailankanni till 1889.

In the year 1949 this dual system came to an end: the Portuguese patronage of the Diocese of Mylapore was ended and placed under the direct control of the Roman Pontiff.

The Diocese of Mylapore was in charge of the mission in this area until 1952. It was in that year that Thanjavur, a Cauvery-fed basin, became a new and independent Diocese called the "Diocese of Thanjavur." Thanjavur town was chosen to be the headquarters of the new Diocese. In November 1952, when the new Diocese of Thanjavur came into being, the Diocesan Priests of Thanjavur became the custodians of the Shrine Vailankanni. The administration of the new Diocese was temporarily placed under the apostolic administration of the Rt. Rev. Dr. Louis Mathias, S.D.B., who was then the Archbishop of the new Archdiocese of Madras-Mylapore.

On March 19, 1953, His Excellency the Rev. Dr. R. Arokiasamy Sundaram, DD., L. C. L., M. A., a priest of Mylapore Archdiocese was appointed as the first Bishop of the new Diocese of Thanjavur. He assumed charge of his Diocese on March 24, 1953.

Vailankanni being situated in the Thanjavur District came under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Thanjavur. The Rev. Dr. R. Arokiasamy Sundaram showed keen interest in the development of Vailankanni Shrine and granted special spiritual privileges. 'Our Lady of Health Vailankanni' became the second patroness of our newly erected Diocese. top

Chronological List of Parish Priests of Vailankanni: 1771 Sep. Fr. Antonio de Rozario 1774 Aug. Fr. Jose de Santa Roza de Viterbo 1777 Jul. Fr. Antonio de Rosario, Commissary 1779 Sep. Fr. Luis dos Remedios 1783 Jan. Fr. Antonio de Rosario, Commissary 1788 Dec. Fr. Antonio do Jesus Maria Jose 1789 Sep. Fr. Antonio de Rosario Commissary 1792 Sep. Fr. Jos. Roza de Giterbo Commissary &V. F. 1814 May Fr. Constantine de Jesus Maria Commissary 1819 May Fr. Thomas de Piedade 1822 Feb. Fr. Francisco Xavier Masearenhas 1822 Aug. Fr. Francisco Das Dores 1824 May Fr. Felipe de Jesus 1825 Sep. Fr. Francisco Dos Dores 1828 Jun. Fr. Felipe de Jesus 1829 May Fr. Clemente Das Dores 1847 Oct. Fr. Isidore Manuel Alimao 1858 Apr. Fr. Jose Felis Fernandes AG.PP 1863 Nov. Fr. Felipe Nery Joaquim Dias 1876 May Fr. Ignacio Antonio d' Andrade 1886 Aug. Fr. Miguel Francisco Fernandes 1890 Dec. Fr. Joaquim Jose Ag. P. Vic. Nagapattinam 1891 Feb. Fr. Cuilherme Jose Dias 1892 Dec. Fr. Joaquim Jose Luis Ag. P. Vic. Nagapattinam 1893 Mar. Fr. Martinho Valeriane de Sa 1899 Sep. Fr. Joaquim Francisco da Fiedade Dias 1900 Aug. Fr. Camilla Fernandes 1910 Jun. to 1942 Fr. Sebastio Xavier de Noronha 1942 Sep. to 1963 Fr. M. V. Rodriguez 1963 Jun. to 1980 Fr. S. Mariasoosai 1980 Sep. to 1982 Fr. Thomas Vaz 1982 Sep. to 1990 Fr. S. L. Gabriel 1990 May to 1998 Fr. M.M. Sammanasu 1998 Jun. till date Fr. G. Arul Iruthayam top

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