St. Mary's Forane Church, Thankey

St. Mary's Forane Church, commonly known as Thankey Church, is a historic Catholic pilgrimage centre in the village of Thankey, near Cherthala in the Alappuzha district of Kerala, India. It is dedicated to Our Lady of Purification and is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cochin. The church is renowned for its life-size statue of the Passion of Christ, which attracts thousands of pilgrims annually, particularly during the Holy Week.

History

The etymology of the name "Thankey" is believed by some to be derived from the Tamil word thanghi, meaning a stopover or night halt, suggesting its historical role as a resting point on the coastal route between southern and northern Kerala.

Christian communities are traditionally believed to have existed in the region since the arrival of St. Thomas the Apostle in the 1st century AD. The area's Christian community gained more structure with the arrival of the Jesuits, who established the Sant Andre Mission at Arthunkal, about five kilometres south of Thankey, in 1579. Following the arrival of the Portuguese in Kerala in 1498, missionary activities intensified. The first chapel in Thankey was established in 1583.

In 1709, the chapel was expanded with financial assistance from Kochumareekka Muthy of the Aarkatty family. The church was elevated to the status of an independent parish in 1832 by The Bishop of Cochin, João da Santa Rita Botelho. The current facade of the church was constructed in 1930.

The Miraculous Statue

The primary reason for Thankey's prominence as a pilgrimage site is a life-size statue of Jesus Christ depicting his suffering and crucifixion. The statue, which shows Christ with a crown of thorns and wounds from the crucifixion, was commissioned in 1936 by the then parish priest, Fr. George Karott, as a means to unite a deeply divided parish community.

Funds for the statue were raised by the women of the parish through a practice that came to be known as the 'Pidiyari' (fistfuls of rice) movement. Women saved small quantities of rice from their daily meals, which was then sold to accumulate the required money. The statue was sculpted in Edakochi and blessed by Msgr. Pullianath of St. Lawrence Church, Edakochi.

Local tradition holds that the statue's journey from Edakochi to Thankey was marked by miraculous events. It is said that a British tax officer who attempted to levy a tax on the catamaran transporting the statue was thwarted by a sudden gust of wind that destroyed his booth. The sculptor is also believed to have died a holy death shortly after the statue was completed. Upon its arrival in Thankey, several miracles were reportedly attributed to the statue, a belief that continues to draw pilgrims.

Pilgrimage and Traditions

The church becomes a major pilgrimage centre during the Holy Week, with the number of faithful increasing from Palm Sunday onwards and peaking on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. Thousands of pilgrims visit to venerate the statue of the suffering Christ. A central act of devotion is kissing the statue, which is considered a means of obtaining prayers and blessings.

A key practice is the offering of prayers at the 'Kallarajapam' (the tomb of the Lord), a structure where the statue is kept for veneration. This practice has become so popular that in the past, bookings for prayers extended well into the future.

Another significant tradition is the offering of votive gifts, particularly rice and oil. The rice collected is cooked into a gruel and distributed to pilgrims on Good Friday, with the belief that consuming it can lead to cures and well-being. The oil is taken by pilgrims as a holy reminder of their visit and for use as a remedy. Some pilgrims also fulfill vows by rolling in the sand around the church or approaching the statue on their knees as an act of penance and solidarity with the sufferings of Christ.

On the night of Maundy Thursday, the church observes 'Deepakazhcha' (offering of lights), where believers bring traditional brass lamps (Nilavilakku) to the church premises and keep a vigil through the night.

The church's significance is also reflected in its inclusion as a stop on regional pilgrimage tours organised by the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC).

Location and Transport

Thankey Church is located in the village of Kadakkarappally, in the Cherthala taluk of Alappuzha district. During the annual Holy Week observances, the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) operates additional bus services to accommodate the large number of pilgrims, and temporary first-aid facilities are set up by the Health department.

Gallery

File:Thankey church altar 02.jpg|The main altar of the church File:Thankey church interior 02.jpg|Interior view of the church ceiling File:Virgin Mary with Christ, Thankey church.jpg|Side altar and interior File:Thankey church 13.jpg|Back side of the church File:Building inside Thankey church complex 01.jpg| Parochial House File:Thankey church - north side view.jpg|Side view of the church

Images are from Wikimedia Commons.

Bibliography

External links

• "Thankiyile Athbutha Thiru Swaroopam" (Archived video) – A documentary about the church's statue (in Malayalam)