Our Lady of Life Church,natively known as Jeeva matha( ജീവമാത ചർച്ച്)in Portuguese IGREJA DA NOSSA SENHORA DA VIDA, Mattancherry. situated in the heart of Mattancherry, Kerala, India, is a historical Catholic church.[1] The first church on the site was built in 9th century. The oldest parish belongs to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cochin, and the Coonan Cross Oath took place under the boundary of this parish.[2]
Brief History edit
The Church of Our Lady of Life at Mattancherry was one of the first churches built by the Portuguese in the suburbs of the city of Santa Cruz de Cochin. Built in the second half of the 16th century, the original church was constructed in wood and had a roof of vegetal matter. It underwent several transformations until it was finally built in stone and mortar, following a general tendency of the churches in this area. At first, the church mainly served the community of Saint Thomas Christians living in the area who dedicated themselves to the pepper trade. In 1622, a large group of Saint Thomas Christians held a meeting in the churchyard, where they took a solemn oath before the cross at the entrance which led to a complex process of opposition between this community and the Portuguese religious authorities. The church was once more the stage for confrontations in the 19th century, this time between supporters of the Portuguese Padroado in the Orient and the Propaganda Fide, and it had to be repaired after the conflict. Although it has been profoundly transformed, the age of the construction can be verified through the chancel, which has thick Tuscan columns that go back to the original 16th century building. The main portal, which shows signs of being standard Manueline style from the first decades of the 16th century, is also from this time. Its design is similar to that of the portal of the Church of Our Lady of Hope at Vypeen and translates an archaism that attempts to perpetuate the memory of the Manueline period and the Portuguese military hegemony in the Orient. The church corresponds to the original model of a Mannerist church in its architectural plan, a model disseminated in the middle of the 16th century and which was characterised by an interior of a simple nave with no lateral galleries. It is almost identical to the Church of Our Lady of Hope at Vypeen. The façade has three storeys separated by wide friezes. The central body is higher than the lateral ones, the frontispiece being flanked by back-curved wing panels and topped by a cross. The three bodies of the façade are separated by double columns, which follow the Mannerist style in vogue in the second half of the 16th century. A small exterior staircase leading to the bell tower adjoins the main façade, which was a continuation of very old solution that is found in the churches of Vypeen and Njarackal. Showing a clear influence of Hindu temples, the church stands in a square surrounded by high walls and with a portal as an entrance. A large, beautiful cross on a pedestal of Mannerist design stands in the middle of the square in front of the church. A very old parochial house of gracious proportions completes the ensemble.[3]
Historical Highlights edit
IGREJA DA NOSSA SENHORA DA VIDA, MATTANCHERY
Church of Our Lady of Life (ജീവമാത പള്ളി)
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| AD 342 | Marthoma Christians under the leadership of Mathan came to Mattancherry (Goshree)with a sacred cross and begins its veneration here |
| AD 800 | First Mathancherry Church in the name of Blessed Virgin-known as Thoma Palli. |
| 1503 | Liturgical palebrations beyn attan atas so known |
| 1542 | St Francis Xavierat Codive |
| May-1550- | Chapel of the Holy Cross established 1 |
| 557 | -Second Church in the rames Our Lady of Life (Nossa Senhora ita Vivity the Portuguese |
| 1557 Feb 4 | -Etection of Cochin Diocese |
| 1559 June 20- | Synod at Damper, delegaten the Latin choir from Mattanchery |
| 1652 Dec 24- | Marthama Christians assedile t Mattancherry church weitome the sporous Patriarch Ahatallah |
| 1653 Jan 3- | Faseruntour Portugaise killed Anatallah, crowd nish 13 the church Touching Bible and, those who could not holding rope lied to crops in front of the church take outh, never traubmit to Jeste or other authonties Crestilled BoLeaming Cross (Koonan Kush |
| 658 | Fr Matheus OCO begim lamous Hortus Malabaricus at Mattanghory presbytery |
| 1863.Jan 3- | The Dutch destroyed the chonch |
| 1665- | Atemperary church bolt at Mallanchery |
| 1769 Aug 10- | Third Church cobanchan by Bistop-of Cochin Clement Jose Clo |
| 1808 Deo-Churit buntdowndang until pa | |
| 1890-8 Vicar | |
| 1911 Jun 22 Fourth Church (the present completed by Bishop al Cacher eee Bento Martin Rabon, Daniel Avenge | |
| 2017 Nep 30-nghe |
Significance and Pilgrimage edit
Architecture edit
Coonan Cross Oath edit
Holy Cross Church Mattancherry (Coonan Kurisu Palli) edit
Location edit
Gallery edit
-
Front View
See Also edit
References edit
- ^ "Church of Our Lady of Life". Kerala Tourism: Kochi. Retrieved 2024-03-06.
- ^ "Our Lady of Life Church, Mattanchery | Diocese". www.dioceseofcochin.org. Retrieved 2024-03-06.
- ^ Cartia, Helder. "Church of Our Lady of Life (Mattanchery)".
9°57′41″N 76°15′29″E / 9.9613°N 76.2581°E
 | This article about a church building or other Christian place of worship in India is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |