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HAI

This is calicut Bus Station

The History of the Matre de Deo’s Church of Calicut affords an example of vicissitudes of the early Catholics of the Region, emerged as a result of evangelization work done by Portuguese Missionaries, in their struggle to build suitable accommodation for their spiritual gatherings. In 1513 A.D., a treaty was concluded between the Portuguese and the Zamorine of Calicut by which the Raja allowed the Portuguese to erect a Factory (Feitoria) at Calicut. To this Factory was attached a Chapel dedicated to Matre de Deo. It is believed to have housed a stone Cross struck in bas relief on granite with a Portuguese inscription. This stone Cross, worshiped by the thousands everyday, was installed in the Holy Cross Chapel, attached to the Matre de Deo’s Church, established more than hundred years ago. The visit of Archbishop of Goa, Dom Alexis de Menezes, to Calicut Jesuit Mission in 1599 on his return to Goa from Cochin after the successful conclusion of the Synod of Diamper was a turning point in the progress of Christian Faith at Calicut. Dom Menezes met Zamorin and had long discussions with him in the presence of Fr. Francis Roz S.J., the future Archbishop of Cranganore, and agreed to send more Jesuits to Calicut and rebuild the Matre de Deo’s church to a larger dimension with the help of Zamorin. Archbishop Dom Menezes also conferred the Sacrament of Confirmation to Unare Cherare (alias Adoidi), a cousine of Zamorin, who was converted earlier by Francis Roz. Fr. Ferroli S.J., asserts that the new Church was built and handed over to the Fathers of the Jesuit Society in the beginning of 17th Century. The 17th Century was a period of turmoil in the West-Cost of India. The Dutch arrived before Calicut and blockaded Goa in 1639. Most of the Portuguese Churches on the Costal Western India were looted. Their ornaments were robbed, statues burned with Crucifixes, Holy pictures and Missals. Under the circumstances there was little church building activity by the Portuguese Missionaries but rebuilding and repairing was in progress in the 17th Century. After all in Malabar church buildings, even the finest, do not last for 300 or 400 years and call for complete renovation thereafter owning to the poor quality of materials and the climatic extremes. It was the Portuguese who introduced the use of Lime-Mortar in building structure in Kerala and earlier Churches were meant only for smaller congregations. As per the information gathered from the Jesuit letters (1627 – 1642) it is clear that the Matre de Deo’s Church was renovated with the whole hearted support of Zamorin some time after 1635. A Portrait of Calicut Port Town depicted in an old print found in Lendas da India, suggests the existence of Matre de Deo Church with the present façade and architectural details was in existence in 17th Century. It is also reported that during the period (1627 – 1642) there had been 20 baptisms of adults adding to the Catholic population of Calicut including the Portuguese. The beginning of 18th Century shows great political changes in Malabar. The congregation of Matre de Deo’s Church was swelled as a result of vigorous evangelization work by Jesuits and the Zamorin maintained good relation with the Jesuits and the Portuguese stationed in Calicut. On the basis of a treaty concluded between the Portuguese and the Zamorin in 1724, the Calicut Ruler granted further support to the Matre de Deo’s Church and thoroughly renovated the Church with stone and mortar by adding a parochial house, vestry, porch and belfry having a bell weighing 150 lbs. The infrastructure of the Church building was ready in 1725. Matre de Deo’s Church was under the jurisdiction of the Padroado diocese of Cranganore and the Archbishop took keen interest in the completion of the Church as per the new Treaty of Peace and Co-operation. Zamorin also granted a Horta (garden) in perpetuity for the support of the Church in the port town of Calicut. This property was originally belonged to the hereditary Chief Minister (Talaichennor) of Zamorin. (C.A. Innes, Malabar and Angengao, Vol.1, Madras, 1915, p. 387). In local parlance, the Mare de Deo’s Church was known as Parangi Palli (Church of the Franks or the Portuguese) till recently. Being a modest, un-pretentious structure, it is of no particular architectural distinction, but it stands as a landmark of history and Church architecture of Malabar. It is a lofty edifice with a gabled timber framed roof covered with tiles having an excellent slope to enable the Monsoon rains to slide off instantaneously and no attempt was made to conceal the barn-like appearance with elevations on the side of the Church. The Italian Jesuits who were also good architects endowed the Matre de Deo’s Church with Romanesque appearance studded with baroque idioms. Distinct from other Church architectural types of Kerala, Matre de Deo’s Church is unique because it is the only Latin cross – domed Church of neo-Roman style built by the Portuguese in Kerala.

RAKESH LIKES THIS GIRL V.MUCH

Hi Prajula You are Prajula kamalesh? Is this Kamalesh who is working in Asianet as a correspondent? If so yor lucky to have such a handsome and gentle man like him. May God Bless you.

Dear Prajula are you married If u are not married my brother is interested with you and if u are interested inform me. He is working in Indian army 28 Madrass Rgt He is achess player and graduate in commerce. rajeevck@hotmail.com

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my house.........

Mashallah, Nice to see this. May Allah fill the whole World with Ahmadiyya Mosques. Khilafat-E-Ahmadiyya Zindabad. Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) Ki Jai. Muhammad (saw) Ki Jai. Allah-Hu-Akbar

hai rineesh i am shynoj from ksa

hey tinto are you in there

purayil

hai

OUR TEMPLE

BUS STAND

rubbish bar with non sense management... the managing director is an idiot....

Please rename as VALAPPIL HOUSE

moulana suhaib salafi student of zubair mankada,haneef cochin&sirajulislam balussery

i am the student of class 6