St. Mary’s Forane Church Athirampuzha
The Church of Athirampuzha, dedicated to Our Lady, the Blessed Mary, has been the spring of living waters for the faithful since its instigation in the 9th century. The history of the church, though allied with the famous Ettonnussery Illickal yarn, traces its existence back to 835AD. The Church of Athirampuzha, though originated as a shrine of Kuravilangad Church, was elevated to the status of Forane Church on January 1st, 1929. The mesmerizing memory of the 1150th anniversary of the church was celebrated in an exuberant and alluring manner with all pomp and splendor for about a month in the year 1985. The exquisitely engraved altar, the exotic gothic structure, the three huge glockenspiels in the belfry, famed Kalkuris and the renowned feast of St. Sebastian with all its traditional celebrations and magnificent pyrotechnics - all these specifics precede her name.
Athirampuzha is one of the biggest parishes of the Archeparchy of Changanassery. It consists of almost 2500 families and comprises more than 10000 faithful. The parish is divided into 9 wards and they are further divided in to Kootaymas each consisting around 25 families. There are 60 such Koottayma in the church. They meet once in every month.
Festival
As per the record the feast of St.Sebastian started the celebration at Athirampuzha church from the year 1647. Now the principal festal week is from19th to 26th of January every year. Athiarmpuzha and the surrounding places are in an excited festive mood during these days. Special Holy Mass and Novena for nine days are offered during these days. The flag hoisting ceremony marking the beginning of the festival is on 19th. The annual eight-day feast attracts a large number of devotees from all over South India. The dazzling display of fireworks in connection with the festival is a sight to behold. The procession is a spiritual experience for the devotees. Band set including school-bands, flags, gold-brass-silver wooden crosses, allavattom, venchamaram, thazahakkuda and beaded ornate umbrellas etc makes the procession very attractive and regal. Devotee offerings of gold and silver arrows set this event apart from the other festivals. Read more VIDEO