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The Our Lady of Seven Dolours Church, Vellicode, was a stone church constructed using chisel or hammer dressed rubble. It was a fusion of Indian and European architecture. It stood on a big rock at Vellicode in the Tamil Nadu state in India.
As in many other churches, there were three doors in front. They represented Father, Son and Holy Spirit mentioned in the Bible. There were four side doors. They represented the four apostles who wrote the Bible. Ten pillars represented the ten commandments.
OUR LADY OF SEVEN DOLOURS CHURCH
The Our Lady of Seven Dolours Church, Vellicode, was a stone church constructed using chisel or hammer dressed rubble. It was a fusion of Indian and European architecture. It stood on a big rock at Vellicode in the Tamil Nadu state in India.
As in many other churches, there were three doors in front. They represented Father, Son and Holy Spirit mentioned in the Bible. There were four side doors. They represented the four apostles who wrote the Bible. Ten pillars represented the ten commandments.
The central portion of the church stood on 14 arches. There were two windows above every arch for lighting and ventilation.Because of big doors and windows, there was ample air circulation inside. It had tiled roof.
There were ten stone pillars in the middle. Besides, four pillars remained attached to the walls.
Each stone pillar stood on a big piece stone. The circumference of this base stone was 8 feet, and it was 2.5 feet thick. There were eight major faces and equal number of minor faces to each stone.
Further, each door frame was made of single piece of stone. Each step also was made of single piece of stone. No wonder -among the churches - it was the Taj Mahal of this region.
There were ten stone pillars in the middle. Besides, four pillars remained attached to the walls.
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| The base stone |
Further, each door frame was made of single piece of stone. Each step also was made of single piece of stone. No wonder -among the churches - it was the Taj Mahal of this region.
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| Statue of Mother Mary in the Our Lady of Seven Dolours church, Vellicode. |
There was a belief that the deity in the above church granted knowledge and education to the seekers of knowledge. In fact, the preponderance of the educated people in this village is greater than that in other catholic villages of the Kanyakumari District. There are many post-graduates, doctors, engineers and government employees. Late Rt. Rev. R.Anony Muthu, Bishop of Vellore, was a native of Vellicode. It generated four priests and several nuns.
A few members are blessed with money.
In 2010 , many members wanted to construct a concrete church after demolishing the present one. It did not materialize. Some believed it as a miracle of the deity.
A few members are blessed with money.
In 2010 , many members wanted to construct a concrete church after demolishing the present one. It did not materialize. Some believed it as a miracle of the deity.
Besides, many believers got relief from various ailments or fulfillment for their demands. As a token of gratitude they offered jewels or money to this deity.
The 10- day annual festival used to start on the second Friday of September.
The church cars – called chapparams- were taken in procession on the last day morning and on the night of the penultimate day.
The church cars – called chapparams- were taken in procession on the last day morning and on the night of the penultimate day.
Vellicode is situated about 50 km south of Trivandrum, or 22 km north of Nagercoil in the National Highway - 47 (NH-47).
However, the people of the village, in 2019, considered this church as a symbol of slavery. The reason was that the present writer's father- Mr. T. Vyakappan- constructed it. He received the subscription from the people for the construction. He, started the work in 1950 and completed 95 percent of the work, in 1960.
However, the people of the village, in 2019, considered this church as a symbol of slavery. The reason was that the present writer's father- Mr. T. Vyakappan- constructed it. He received the subscription from the people for the construction. He, started the work in 1950 and completed 95 percent of the work, in 1960.
However, everyone in the village used to say that Mr. Vyakappan constructed it. Some priests sowed the seeds of poison in the mind of the laity. This was the reason for considering the church as a symbol of slavery.
Mr. T. Vyakappan constructed this church on a public property - a big rock.
Therefore, the present writer requested the Government of Tamil Nadu and the Madras High Court to prevent its demolition.
However, the political work of the present writer made the Government and the High Court to give green signal to the villagers for its demolition. Otherwise, they might not have picked up courage to demolish it.
The present writer wrote letters to Bishop of Kuzhithurai, Bishop of Kottar, Arch Bishop of Madurai and the Catholic Bishop's Conference of India to protect it from demolition. However, all letters ended in vain.
The above church was pulled down on August 26, 2019.
A new concrete church is being constructed in such a way that about 50 per ccnt of it stands on church property and the rest stands on public property.
V. Sabarimuthu
25-12-2020.
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