Birthplace of st alphonsa
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A revered church in Kottayam, housing the tomb of St. Alphonsa, India’s first woman saint, and attracting pilgrims worldwide for prayer and reflection.
St. Mary's Church, Bharananganam, nestled on the banks of Meenachil River, five kilometres east of Pala in Kottayam district, is a significant destination for pilgrims and travellers alike. Known as the final resting place of St. Alphonsa, the church exudes an aura of reverence and devotion, attracting thousands of devout visitors each year.
Historical Significance
St. Mary's Church, also known as Anakkallu (elephant stone) church, traces its history back to the late 19th century. Over the years, it has evolved into a revered pilgrimage site, especially after the beatification and canonization of St. Alphonsa. The church's historical and spiritual importance makes it a cornerstone of faith in the region.
Architecture
The church's architecture is a blend of traditional and modern styles, reflecting the
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Alphonsa of the Immaculate Conception (1910-1946)
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Blessed ALPHONSA OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION was born in Kudamalur, the Arpookara distrikt, in the diocese of Changanacherry, India, on the 19th of August 1910, of the ancient and noble family of Muttathupadathu.
From her birth, the life of the Blessed was marked bygd the cross, which would be progressively revealed to her as the royal way to conform herself to Christ. Her mother, Maria Puthukari, gave birth to her prematurely, in her eight month of pregnancy, as a result of a fright she received when, during the sleep, a snake wrapped itself around her waist. Eight days later, the 28 of August, the child was baptised according to the Syro-Malabar rite by the Fr. namn Chackalayil, and she received the name Annakutty, a diminutive of Anne. She was the last of five children.
Her mother died three months later. Annakutty passed her early infancy in the home of her grandparents in Elumparambil. There she lived a p
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St Alphonsa
She was born as Annakkutty (little Anna) in Kudamaloor, a village in the princely state of Travancore which was under the British Raj (now present day Kottayam district, Kerala, India) to Joseph and Mary Muttathupadathu. She was baptized on 27 August 1910 at Saint Mary's Church in Kudamaloor under the patronage of Saint Anna. Anna's mother died when she was young, so her maternal aunt raised her.
In 1916 Anna started her schooling in Arpookara. She received First Communion on 27 November 1917. In 1918 she was transferred to the school in Muttuchira. In 1923 Anna was badly burned on her feet when she fell into a pit of burning chaff. This accident left her permanently disabled.
When it became possible, Anna joined the Franciscan Clarist Congregation. She arrived at the Poor Clares convent at Bharananganam on Pentecost 1927. She received the postulant's veil on 2 August 1928 and took the name Alphonsa. In May 1929 she entered the Malayalam High School at Vazhappally.