Arthunkal Church: In glory of St Sebastian

There are many iconic churches in Kerala & one such is the Arthunkal Church dedicated to St Andrew, the apostle which today is one of the famous pilgrim centres in South India. The church though is dedicated to the most revered apostle; the fame of the church is based on the feast of St Sebastian. The church celebrates the life of the Roman Martyr who was brutally killed by the emperor for having faith in Christ. The church also is a site of unique secular belief. The church is the place where Lord Ayyappa devotees who visit the Sabarimala shrine & come to pray to the church to finish the pilgrimage.  The church rose to the status of a Basilica when it was ordained in 2010 by the Roman Catholic Congregation. The belief in the Basilica is not just among the Christians but people from all faiths consider the place a spiritual & divine site.

The story of the church traces its origin back to the 16th century when people of Kerala along the coastal areas were getting attracted to the teachings of Christ preached by Jesuit missionaries. The missionaries used small houses to convene prayers as building of churches was not allowed. The Portuguese missionaries are said to have built the church with only a simple cross within the structure. The arrival of Fr Fenino who was also locally called Arthunkal Vellachan & is considered to be the Apostle of Arthungal; changed the fate of the church when the Kochi Raja Veera Kerala Varma gave permission to construct the church. The initial structure was built in wood & later it was reconstructed in stone. The church built by Fr Fenino was rebuilt again after his death but this time the whole structure was changed by constructing a new church which faced the sea shore. The church rose to its current importance with the arrival of the statue of St Sebastian by ship from Milan, Italy. The statue was a life-size image of the martyr with arrows all over his body similar to how he was after being brutally killed. The statue upon placement at the church in 1647 attracted more people as the Saint became known as a person who could cure illness upon praying to him. It is believed that most devotees who come to pray at the statue are those who have recovered from illness or escaped accidents in life to thank the Saint for having faith in them. The belief behind such a thought is the fact that St Sebastian himself felt all the tortures in life & can relate to others' difficulties. The main offering at the church is a Bow & Arrow called Ambunercha along with a painful physical offering of crawling to the shrine on knees called Urulunercha. The feast of St Sebastian which is the most important festival at the church is a grand occasion & extends to 2 weeks. During the feast celebration the most important event is when the statue of St Sebastian is taken outside the Basilica in a procession to the sea & back. This is a beautiful spectre where eagles are seen roaming the skies all around similar to how they kept a close watch on St Sebastian after his death.

The church one sees now has been reconstructed & renovated many times. The most important addition to the church was made in 1870 when the façade & bell tower were built. The church as one sees now adorned with granite took around 60 years to build. The latest renovation of this beautiful church was finished in 2017 with new wooden panels added to the altar. The altar of the basilica is one of the most majestic ones built in teak & is considered to be one of the largest among all churches in Kerala. The Last supper inside the church is a magnificent piece of craftsmanship & attracts many visitors. The inside of the church was built & arranged in such a manner that all devotees who came to pray found a seat for themselves. The church provides a peaceful atmosphere for all when they step inside. The Rosary Park inside the compound is also a place for visitors where the statues depicting the major Christ miracles are placed majestically for all to see. The Basilica more than its architecture is a place which celebrates the importance of human faith and so be it inside or outside the church, the divinity touches every devotee.

The actual grandeur of the church is only visible for any visitor when they come to the Basilica & be inside the sanctuary. The Perunnal every year is also another time one should come to the church & pray to St Sebastian. The relation of Ayyapans with the church also makes one understand why communal harmony is an important thread in the social fabric of Kerala.