Vettucaud Church: Palli of Christ the King

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When in Trivandrum one should always come to the Vettucaud church which is a beautiful architectural structure proudly facing the Arabian Sea. As the breeze flows along the façade of the church one needs to enter the large doors of the church which has woodwork showcasing the splendid craftsmanship. The church known as Madre De Deus which means Mother of God is over 5 centuries old. The current church is quite new but the history of the church is too long. 

It is believed that the place was visited by the revered missionary St Francis in the 16th century & he was surprised to see a small set of people praying at a small chapel, called the Japlayam with a small Granite cross. Before his arrival St Thomas had initiated missionary activities in the Cochin area & some of his people would have come to the southern coast here to start a small Parish. St Francis is said to have evangelized the faithful in the region during his stay of around 3 years at Vettucaud.

The present church one sees here was constructed in 1937 & the architecture is in Gothic style. The interior of the church is constructed in opulence with teakwood furniture & high ceilings which form a 3 dimensional model. The central dome over the Altar is designed as a replica of the Sistine chapel in Vatican & the design is done based on artwork of Michelangelo’s – Last Judgement. The windows and ceilings are also adorned with glass paintings. The altar is a beautiful piece of work which invites all to perform their prayers.

At this church Jesus is considered to be the King & is called Christ the King. The statue of Christ at the entrance of the church placed here in 1942 is revered by people of all faiths & they come to pray to him for solace. The statue of Christ the King was sculpted by Chambakulam carpenters who are known for their work. Though the church belongs to the Latin community, one can always see people from other faiths praying at the church, lighting candles outside or just sitting around the statue of The King. The annual 10 day festival here called “Feast of Christ the King '' is a time when people from everywhere congregate near the church to see their beloved Christ taken in a procession around the church. It is said that post the blessing of the statue, miracles have happened to people which makes all believe that His living presence can be experienced at Vettucaud.

The church is a place for not just praying to Christ, it’s a place which makes you free from all thoughts. Be it the white sands outside the church, the soothing breeze of the sea, the magnificence of the church inside or the silence of the altar; what one gets here is the blessing of the Lord in his wholeness. Light a candle outside the church once you have prayed to finish your visit.

 

Location: Vettukadu, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India

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