Offering (Arthunkal perunnal)

The main 'nercha' (offering) in this church is 'Ambum Villum' (Models of Bow and Arrow in gold, silver or rolled gold). Rolling oneself the whole distance from the beach to the church, which is more than a kilometre, carrying the nercha material in hands is an example of deep faith and dedication. To tread around the church in clockwise direction('Valathu') sometimes carrying a stone or brick on head for three times or more, to clean the church or its surroundings, to dedicate onelsef before the saint with priest's blessing and prayer('Samarpanam') are a few of other offerings. The practice of bringing the 'nercha' on elephants accompanied by martial dance which is known as 'Velakali' or 'Parichakali' and native drum band('Chenda melam') still continues.

People of all religions and castes come to pray to St Sebastian the protector against plague and small pox. A local tradition that links Lord Ayyappa of Sabarimala with St Sebastian swells the Hindu participation in the feast. The practice of pilgrims to Sabarima formally ending their pilgrimage in front of St Sebastian by taking off the chain they wear, continues to this day.

The church has been a symbol of communal harmony and good will down the centuries. The tradition enjoins upon those who go to Sabarimala to visit St Sebastian, Arthunkal Veluthachan as he was popularly called on the coast. The belief is that Loard Ayyappa and St Sebastian are brothers. How such a tradition got evolved, it is difficult to decipher; but it has definitely contributed to the communal harmony and mutual trust that has marked the relation between different communities.

St Sebastian's feast (Arthunkal feast)

St Andrew's Church, Arthunkal is one of the biggest pilgrimage centres of Kerala. Though the church is in the name of St Andrew, it is the St Sebastian's feast, that has brought fame to Arthunkal. The feast attracts tens of thousands of deists from all parts of Kerala and from the neighbouring states of Tamilnadu and Karnataka. Every year, the feast gets off to a colourful start on the 10th January to the accompaniment of native music and fireworks. The main feast is celebrated on the 20th January, when the statue of the saint is taken in procession. The octave is on the 27th January. It is for the main feast that most of the pilgrims come. The Octave is considered the feast of the local people

In good old days, most of the pilgrims used to come walking along the coast. Those from the eastern regions used to come in country boats up to Chertala or Alappuzha and walk from there. The people of Arthunkal used to arrange local accommodation for the pilgrims in their compounds, as most pilgrims used to spend one day or two in Arthunkal after their long journey. This used to give rise to a community life spread across the whole village.

Now, with modern means of communication, the pilgrim class that come walking has practically disappeared. But there are many who still choose to trek the whole distance to the church as an act of special deism.

St.Sebastian Statue Arthunkal

The statue which is placed inside the shrine behind an altar in the right wing of the new church is the miraculous one that came from Milan.

In 680 AD, there was a severe epidemic of small pox in Rome. The people took the arrow that hit on the forehead of the saint, in procession around the city, and there was a miraculous healing. Following this great incident, the people of the city embraced Christianity and there was a widespread popularity to the devotion to St Sebastian. As part of a vow, the people of Milan took the same statue in procession all around the world. When they came to Portugal, they came to know about India and turned their route that way. While they were travelling, the weather suddenly worsened and the ship got in danger. The captain had a vision while praying, to take the ship towards the east direction. The ship started moving safely when he tried to sail it to the eastern direction. Meanwhile, the parish priest of Arthunkal, Fr Fonsaco had a vision about a ship which was taken by storm and in trouble. He came with people to the beach and started to pray altogether. Suddenly the sea became calm and the ship landed safely. The sailors handed over the statue of St Sebastian to Fr Fonsaco. A small shrine was built up and the Statue was installed in it temporarily.

In 1647, the saint gave a vision to the parish priest and wanted him to install the statue appropriately in the church. On 10th January 1647, the statue was taken festively in procession into the church. So many sick people beside the way were miraculously healed. Witnessing this miracle, the non-Christians of Arthunkal, embraced Christianity. The statue was then installed in the church. When the new church was ready, the statue was transferred and installed inside a special shrine.

Video of Arthunkal Perunnal

http://keralavideos.invis.in/arthunkal-perunnal-22.php

St. Sebastian

St. Sebastian

St Sebastian is one of those martyrs who shed blood and suffered martyrdom for the Church of Christ, at the time of Emperor Diocletian who was of obscure origin. Diocletian rose up through a brilliant military career to the complete command of the Empire. His idea was to rule the people as a supreme despot after the example of the Persian kings.

St Sebastian was born of Christian parents who, though natives of Milan, lived at Norbonne in Languedoc. On account of his extraordinary talents, exemplary conduct and ardent love for his country, Sebastian was appointed the captain of the first company of the guard of Emperor Diocletian. Sebastian employed the emoluments of his office for the relief of the downtrodden Christians particularly those who languished in prison. He served the people not only with alms but also by encouraging them to suffer for Christ.

At this time it happened that two Roman knights, who bravely underwent tortures, were being led to death. When their father, Farquillinus, and their mother Maracia, accompanied by the wives and children of the two confessors, obtained from the judge, Cromatius, by tears and entreaties, that the sentence should be deferred for thirty days. Sebastian knowing them, ran instantly to their help and God's blessing so accompanied his words, that he induced them to receive with joy a most cruel death, for they were obliged to hang nailed by the feet to a gallows for a day and a night before they were transfixed with a lance. Nor was this all; the zealous captain likewise converted to the faith not only all the above named relatives of Marcus and Marcellianus, but also Nicostratue, an officer of Cromatius, Claudius, the provost of the prison, and sixty-four prisoners who were idolaters.

Fabian, the successor of Cromatius, having learned that Sebastian not only exhorted the Christians to remain steadfast in the faith, but procured also the conversion of the pagans, reported the fact to the emperor, who sent for our Sebastian, and upbraided him for the crime of perverting his subjects.

The emperor, though was very fond of Sebastian, due to his move and the act in favour of Christians, ordered that he should be instantly tied to a post and shot at with arrows. Irene, a widow happened to see him still alive and nursed him and saved. Then Sebastian presented himself to the emperor and said to him:

"How long O Prince, will thou believe the calumnies that have been spread against the Christians? I have returned to tell thee again that thou has not in the empire subjects more faithful than the Christians, who by their prayers obtain for thee all by prosperity."

Diocletian surprised to see Sebastian still living, exclaimed:

"How is it that thou art alive!"

Sebastian answered:

"The Lord has been pleased to preserve my life that I might admonish thee of thy enmity in persecuting the Christians"
The emperor, getting angry at the admonition, ordered that Sebastian should be scourged to death. The sentence being executed, Sebastian expired on 20th January, about the year 228.
The pagans threw the body of the martyr into a marsh, but a pious lady named Lucina happened to see the dead body of Sebastian. She buried him reverentially at the entrance of a cemetery which is now called the catacomb of St Sebastian. It is situated in Rome on the Appian way:
"If there are many persecutions, there are as many chances of proving ourselves; where there are many crowns to be won, there are many contests to be fought. It is then in your interest that there are many persecutions, so that through them you may find out more easily how to win the crown": St Ambrose.

Arthunkal

History
Arthunkal was the capital of Muthedath Kingdom, one of the pricipalities of Kerala, during the 16th century. Historians opine differently as to how Arthunkal got that name.

One among them is that it has evolved from 'Arthhikulangara', the name of the place at that time. Arthhikulangara, in course of time turned 'Arthhikulangal' and later, Arthunkal. According to historian George Schurhammer, the capital of Muthedath was known as 'Muthedathunkal' (at Muthedath) and it changed to 'Edathunkal' and then Arthunkal. Portuguese Missionaries landed in Kerala following the arrival of Vasco da Gamma. They visited Muthedath and found so many St Thomas Christians here. They were not baptized, but their ancestors were.

The Jesuit missionaries started their mission in Muthedath and Elayedath(the neighbouring principality). In 1579 A.D., the Jesuit priest Manuel Texeira from Goa visited Arthunkal on his way from Kochi to Kollam (Quilon). As on request by the Christians, he arranged Fr Gasper Pius to be appointed in Arthunkal for their spritual needs in 1581.

Since 1560 A.D., the Christians and missionaries had been requesting the Muthedath King for the permission of an oratory, though the king did not give much attention to. But following the incessant pestering from the Christians and considering the helps the king had from the missionaries, he granted permission in November, 1581 to construct a church using wood and coconut leaves. He also granted a few trees from his premises for the purpose.

The Christians installed a wooden cross and constructed, with the co-operation of the local Hindus, a church, where the king had given permission to. On 30th November, the church was consecrated in the name St Andrew the Apostle. The first vicar was Fr Gasper Pius S.J. On completion, the king of Muthedath came to visit the church and asked the vicar to maintain the church suitably to be the House of God. Since then, many Hindus from the neighboring regions came to the church, prayed to St Andrew and got their appeals fulfilled.

In November, 1582, Fr Gasper Pius died of exessive hardwork, hot climate and malnutrition. Another Jesuit priest took charge of the church, but stayed in Kochi.

On 30th November, 1583, on the feast day of St Andrew, 500 St Thomas Christians were baptized. They were later known as 'Anjootikkar' (The Five Hundred People). A nair knigt with his 20 soldiers received baptism on the same day, in presence of the King of Muthedath.

In 1584 A.D., Fr Jacomo Fenicio S.J. was appointed vicar of Arthunkal. He started construction of a new church in stone, with permission of the King, and completed it in 7 years. After Fr Fenicio was transferred to Kozhikode, eight priests took charge in succession.

Fr Fenicio was appointed again in 1619, and in the next year, he reconstructed the church. He was much loved and was considered a holy man by the people and the administrators. People called him saint and 'Veluthachan', meaning white father. 'Veluthachan' later became the popular name of St Sebastian. Fr Fenicio said to have performed lots of miracles while he was still alive. Even Hindus believed in the power of his prayers and approached him for his blessings. He was known as the second Apostle of the east and died in 1632. Huge was the crowd including kings flowed in, to pay him the final tribute. His body was buried inside the church and people used to pray and light candles there. The tomb is still preserved near the altar of the old church.

Fr Fonsaco, who took charge after Fr Fenicio, reconstructed the church in 1640 with the elevation facing west. It is during his time, that the Miraculous statue of St Sebastian reached from Milan. In the fall of 18th century, the church was taken charge by Carmelite missionaries. During their service or rather on 29 November, 1829, Blessed Chavara Kuriakose Elias was ordained by Rt Rev. Dr Staballini, the then bishop of Verapoly who was residing at Arthunkal Church.

In the second half of the 19th century, Fr Gasper Bylon de Mariatoris Kaithavalappil was appointed vicar, to be the first local priest to take charge of Arthunkal Church. During the vicarship of Fr Vincent Das Navis, in 1910, foundation stone for the present new church was laid.

Fr Sebastian Presentation who was considered a holy priest, Msgr Silvarius Jackson who later became the first Vicar General of the diocese of Alappuzha and Msgr Daniel Kurisunkal who completed the construction of the present church, were the successors. Msgr Daniel Kurisunkal was followed by Msgr Peter Karumancherry, Msgr Andrew P. Thekkeveedu, Rev. Dr Dominic Koilparambil, Rev. Fr Paul Arackal and Rev Fr Marian Jose Pereira.

The present Vicar Forane is Rev. Fr Pius Arattukulam assisted by Rev. Fr Nelson Arukulasseril, Rev. Fr Solomon Charanghattu, and Rev Fr Joseph Jenesius Saiza who is in charge of Little Flower Church, Ayiramthai.