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| Holy Cross ChurchMapranam Indian Philately |
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| Holy cross Church Mapranam,Kerala Tourism |
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| Holy cross Church Mapranam,Wikipedia |
It is also one among the few churches that
received the relic of the Holy Cross (21 September, 1887), part of the Holy blood of Jesus Christ and the bloodstained Holy Cloth used by Veronica to wipe the face of Jesus Christ, all donated from Vatican by the order of the Pope. Worshipers are allowed to experience the blessings of the Holy Cross on the 14th and 21 st of September and on Good Friday. Only a few churches across the globe have this unique distinction. In the history of Indian churches, in this respect, this church has an exalted status.
On the day of Exaltation of the Holy Cross -14th Sept. every year, Mapranam Church celebrates the main feast in the name of the Holy Cross.
This place of worship is quite popular and people from other faiths also visit this church for Christ's blessing. It is a part of Irinjalakuda diocese and historically and archaeologically it occupies an important place in Kerala. As at many churches, offering of candles is the main ritual here and the annual ceremony called Thirithelikkal (Candle Lighting) is quite popular It is attended by lots of devotees from Kerala and other states. The unique difference is the candles that are offered here are big, weighing between one to 300 kg. The offering is done on the 13 th of September. The custom has been that at least 500 worshippers should light big candles here. Recently around 100000 worshipers lit the big candles for receiving blessings from the Holy Cross. This tradition has been here for centuries. In the past, a 22 foot tall candle weighing 1,079 kg held the record in India in that year. The Exaltation of the Holy Cross falls on 14t Sept. every year, and on this day, Mapranam Church celebrates the main feast in the name of the Holy Cross.
The main attraction of this church is an old wooden Cross made in Persian style which is well polished and blackened by five metals - Panchaloka. Set in a beautiful place, north of this church lie Karuvannur River, the Arattupuzha Temple and the churches of Pallissery and Panamkulam.
https://www.keralatourism.org/destination/holy-cross-church-mapranam/534
