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A shrine with a difference

Photo:G.Moorthy.

Century old All for wish fulfilment

It is not easy to identify the Paduvai St. Antony Church, popularly called the ‘Anthoniyar Kovil’ at Karimedu, hidden that it is in today’s concrete jungle of houses and numerous buildings.

But what is assuring and encouraging about this place is that you surely meet the Meenakshi’s and Abdullahs apart from Vincents and Carolines inside the holy shrine.

“The church is a long living co-habitation of people belonging to various faiths. This has been so for more than a century,” says 73-year-old A.Santhanam.

The Church was constructed here by the locals apparently after uprooting brinjal plants that were found in abundance here. Earlier the church was shaped like a hut.

The church’s history traces back to Murattampathri area, where Paintkara Arokiyam established the church.

Later when Christians of Murattampathri moved out and settled in Karimedu, Mr.Paintkara Arokiyam brought the Cross from Murattampathri and established the church here.

The street where the Christians first came as settlers in Karimedu was named the Vanniyar Street, where the Church is presently located and the pocket too is dominated by Christian population.

The church continued to remain in a thatched shed until 1973 when the Parish Priest T.A. Susai converted the shed into a concrete building.

No temple or church is free from festivals. And Paduvai St. Antony Church too celebrates a 13-day festival usually in June that starts with the hoisting of the church flag, says C.Arokiasami, who narrates a series of ‘miracles’ that happened due to St.Antony known to speak with Jesus on behalf of the common man.

The grand part of the festival is the church car known as ‘chapparam’ which is taken around the streets and the mammoth non-vegetarian feast that goes on from morning to evening, says R. Simsone.

Irrespective of their religion and beliefs, people get together during the festival. The church members are specific about celebrating the festival on the 13th day of June as it coincides with the death anniversary of St Antony.

“Tuesdays are considered auspicious as St.Antony was buried on that day,” says S. James Lourde Raj, a teacher. In 2008, the church celebrated its 112th festival. The first festival was organised by the family members of Michael Servai.

Briefing about the saint, Mr.James says that he was born as the only child of Martin and Theresa in Lisbon on August 15, 1195 A.D. and named Ferdinard. He became a saint in 1220 and after performing a series of miracles, he died on 13, June 1231.

The unique aspect of St.Antony is that he holds the baby Christ in his hands and it is believed that he grants all wishes of people if they visit the church for seven or nine Tuesdays continuously.

Earlier, the church was under St. Mary’s Church, Rosary Church, and Railway Colony Church and now it is under the aegis of Ganaolivupuram church.

The church is thronged by people for many obligations such as marriage, children and driving away bad spirits, says D.Gnanasekaran, who spends most of time in the church. People perform prayers with common salt and candles.

S.S. KAVITHA

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