View source for Basilica of Our Lady of Snows, Pallippuram

{{other uses|Saint Mary of the Snow (disambiguation)}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox church
| name = Manjumatha Basilica
(Basilica of Our Lady of Snow)
| fullname = പരിശുദ്ധ മഞ്ഞുമാതാവിന്റെ ദേവാലയം
| image = Manjumathachurch.jpg
| imagesize =
| caption = Our Lady of Snow (Manjumatha)
| coordinates = {{coord|10.167483|76.182809|region:IN_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| location = [[Ernakulam]], [[Kerala]]
| country = [[India]]
| denomination = [[Catholic Church|Latin Catholic]]
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| website = https://www.manjumathabasilica.org
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| founded date = 1507
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| dedication = [[Holy Mary Mary (mother of Jesus)|Holy Mary]]
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| status = [[Basilica]]
| functional status = Active
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| designated date = 25 August 2012
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| style = [[Architecture of Portugal|Portuguese]]
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| parish = Pallipuram
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| archdiocese = [[Archdiocese of Verapoly|Verapoly (Varappuzha)]]
| diocese = [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Kottapuram|Kottapuram]]
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| district = [[Ernakulam]]
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| archbishop = His Grace Dr. Joseph Kalathiparambil
| bishop = His Excellency Dr. Joseph Karikkassery
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| rector = Rev.Fr. Benjamin Jaiju Elanjikkal
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The '''Basilica of Our Lady of Snow''', [[Pallippuram, Ernakulam]], [[Kerala]], is a [[minor basilica]]. The basilica decree was issued on 27 August 2012. The raising of the Pallippuram church was officially announced at the conclusion of the silver jubilee celebrations of the diocese on 7 October.
The history of the Our Lady of Snow Church goes back five centuries when the Portuguese built a fort at Pallippuram and immediately followed it up with a church dedicated to Our Lady. The church was established in 1503, renovated in 1931 and rebuilt in 2006. The church came under the diocese of Kochi in 1557 and became a parish in 1577. The Kottapuram diocese was formed by dividing the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Verapoly|Varappuzha diocese]].
[[File:An Overall View of the Basilica Complex.jpg|thumb|An Overall View of the Basilica Complex]]
==History==
[[File:Manjumatha Our Lady of Snow Basilica.jpg|left|thumb|323x323px|Church built by Dutch]]
In 52 AD, [[Thomas the Apostle|St. Thomas]], the apostle landed in India at [[Maliankara]] near the port of [[Muziris]]. This Port was also called Muchiri because the River Periyar's branches out into three (In [Malayalam] these three branches were called Muchiri or three broken lips) before it joins the [[Arabian Sea]]. This was one of the oldest and busiest port on the West Coast of [[India]] known to the world by more than twenty different names. In the biggest ever flood known in the history of [[Kerala]], this Port was washed off in 1341 AD and a new Island known as [[Vypin]] was formed near [[Kochi]] or [[Cochin]] in the [[Vembanad]] Lake. People from various places migrated to the new island.
The [[Portugal|Portuguese]] built a fort at Pallipuram as a watchtower in 1503. It is the oldest existing [[Europe]]an fort in India. At the same time, the Portuguese built a church for the believers of the surrounding area and dedicated it to Our Lady. It was the church at that time where Christians in that area gathered together for worship.
During the [[Mysorean invasion of Kerala]] in the 18th century, [[Tipu Sultan]] was camped near the [[Chalakudy River|River Chalakkudy]] in order to attack parts of [[Travancore]]. He destroyed most of the Christian and Hindu places of worship. The local people gathered together in the church and prayed to Our Lady for her help. At that time, there was a mist (snow) spread around the church and Tipu and his military could not see the church or the surrounding areas. They thought it was part of the Arabian Sea. There was also a high flood in the [[Periyar (river)|River Periyar]] and Tipu lost a huge part of his military and returned to [[Mysore]]. It was the miracle that changed the name of Our Lady to Manjumatha (Our Lady of Snow).
In 2007, the Church celebrated its 500th anniversary.
The church was renovated in 1931 and 2006.
[[File:Pallippuram Basilica Altar Painiting 1509.jpg|500-year-old Portuguese painting that adorns the altar of the Basilica of Our Lady of Snows, Pallippuram|thumb]]
[[File:Basilica of Our Lady of Snows - DURING EVENING TIME.jpg|thumb|Basilica of Our Lady of Snows – DURING EVENING TIME]]
==Basilica==
On 27 August 2012, [[Pope Benedict XVI]] issued a decree and raised its status to that of minor [[basilica]]. It is the 20th Basilica in India and the eighth in Kerala (as of August 2012). At the time of the jubilee of the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Kottapuram|Kottapuram Diocese]], the papal nuncio to India, His Excellency [[Salvatore Pennacchio|Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio]] officially declared the decree.
==Annual Feast==
The annual feast of Our Lady of Snow is celebrated on 5 August every year. The feast starts on the evening of 30 July. The eight-day feast is celebrated on 15 August, the [[Assumption of Mary|Assumption of Our Lady]] and the independence day of India.
==See also==
Other Catholic pilgrimage centres
*[[Vallarpadam Church|National Shrine & Basilica of Our Lady of Ransom]], [[Ernakulam]], [[Kerala]], [[India]].
*[[Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health]], [[Velankanni Town|Velankanni]], Tamil Nadu, India.
*[[Poondi Matha Basilica]] (''Our Lady of Lourdes Basilica, Poondi''), [[Tamil Nadu]], India.
==References==
* [http://gcatholic.org/churches/asia/5483.htm Giga-Catholic]
* [http://www.come2india.org/manjumatha.html Come2India]
==External links==
{{Commons category|Basilica of Our Lady of Snows, Pallippuram}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20180806223925/http://ourladyofsnowbasilica.com/ ourladyofsnowbasilica.com] Official Site
*[http://manjumatha.wordpress.com manjumatha.wordpress.com] Unofficial Blog
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20171027195010/https://www.manjumatha.org/ www.manjumatha.org] Unofficial Website
*[http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/kottapuram-dioceses-jubilee-fete-concludes/article3976529.ece] The Hindu News
{{Basilicas in India}}
{{Christianity in Kerala}}
{{Churches of Kerala}}
[[Category:Basilica churches in Kerala|Our Lady of Snows, Pallippuram]]
[[Category:Churches in Ernakulam district]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic churches completed in 1507]]
[[Category:1507 establishments in India]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic churches in Kochi]]
[[Category:16th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in India]]