Kuriakose (Cyriac) Chavara was born in 1805, of pious and devout Catholic parents of Syro-Malabar Church, at Kainakary, Kerala, India. After his early schooling in the native village and priestly studies under Fr. Thomas Palackal at Pallippuram, he was ordained priest in 1829.

 

 

In 1831, co-operating with Fr. Thomas Palackal and Fr. Thomas Porukara, he founded the first indigenous religious congregation for men, now known as the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI). It was after the death of his senior companions in the foundation that Fr. Kuriakose, together with the first members, made the religious profession in 1855. In religion he took the name, Kuriakose Elias of the Holy Family. Starting seven religious houses, including the first one at Mannanam, in different parts of Kerala, the new Congregation made great strides in the spiritual renovation of the Syro-Malabar Church. Seminaries for the education and formation of the clergy, introduction of annual retreats for priests and people, a publishing house for the propagation of Catholic doctrine, a house for the dying and destitute, special attention to catechumens and schools for general education, were a few among the various activities of the Congregation under Fr. Kuriakose Elias' leadership. Fr. Chavara also introduced valuable improvements and reform in the Syro-Malabar liturgy. In 1866, with the co-operation of Fr. Leopold Boccaro OCD, he started the Congregation of the Mother of Carmel (CMC) for women. When a schism threatened the Church in 1861, Fr. Kuriakose Elias Chavara, the then Vicar General of the Syro-Malabar Church, took a strong stand and gave effective leadership in thwarting Thomas Roccos' intrusion and saving the Church in Kerala from schism.

 

Fr. Chavara has also written a number of books in pros as well as in verse with unique spiritual vision. His counsel to the Christian families given in the form of the 'Testament of a Loving Father' is applicable and relevant to this day. Essentially a man of prayer and intense charity, he lived in close communion with the Lord amidst his several religious and social activities. Owing to his deep spirituality that permeated all his actions, he was accepted and referred to as a man of God, from his early years. In 1871, on January 3rd, Fr. Kuriakose Elias Chavara, after a short but painful illness, passed away at Koonammavu preserving his baptismal innocence unto death. He was buried at St. Philominas Church first later his mortal remains were transferred from Koonammavu to Mannanam in 1889 and has been reinterred in St. Joseph's Monastery Church at Mannanam.

The diocesan process for his beatification was inaugurated by the Archbishop of Changanassery on 3 January 1958 on the request of the late Fr. Maurus CMI, the then Prior General. The Congregation for the Causes of Saints, after having scrutinised the writings of the Servant of God and other relevant documents, formally introduced the cause on 15 March 1980. On 7 April 1984, Pope John Paul II solemnly recognised the heroic virtues of the Servant of God and elevated him to the status of Venerable. On 8 February 1986, during his historic visit to Kottayam, Kerala, Pope John Paul II raised Venerable Kuriakose Elias Chavara to the honours of the altar declaring him 'Blessed'.

 

On 18 March, 2014 Pope Francis approved the miracle by signing the Decree prepared by the Assembly of plenary of Cardinals. On 12 June, 2014 Pope Francis announced the date of Canonization during the celebration of the Public Consistory at the Vatican on 23 November, 2014. Pope Francis will register Blessed Kuriakose Elias Chavara in the Book of Saints of the Universal Church on 23 November, 2014

 

The main structure of the church, which began to be known as St.Alphonsa Shrine Church following the canonization of Sr. Alphonsa on 12th October 2008 had been built in the year 1945 as a cemetery chapel of St. Mary’s Church Bharananganam. Sr.Alphonsa is the first nun ever to have been buried there. Her tomb now stands at the very place where her mortal remains were buried on 29 July 1946.

 

During the period 1963-64, a side wing with family tombs was added. With the completion of new tombs in the parish graveyard in 1985, burial in the cemetery chapel was discontinued and the mortal remains of the dead interred therein except those of St.Alphonsa were exhumed and inhumed in the newly built vaults/chambers.

 

The office of the postulator and the lodging for pilgrims were housed in the Alphonsa Bhavan situated close to the Forane Church.It was built in 1971 after demolishing the two-storied presbytery, the first ever of its kind in Kerala of the 17th century vintage. The living quarters for priests, accommodations for pilgrims, the Alphonsa Museum, an audio-visual gallery and a stall selling devotional objects are here.

 

The Papal Podium

A unique historical memorial, the papal podium stands adjacent to the Pilgrim Church. Gracing the dais at the Nagampadam stadium at Kottayam on 8th February 1986, Pope John Paul II of blessed memories beatified Sr.Alphonsa and Fr.Kuriakose Elias Chavara. The podium erected in sync with indigenous architectonics was bought by the Diocese of Palai and translocated at Bharananganam.

According to history, tradition and belief, the Christian Church in India was founded by St. Thomas, the Apostle of Jesus Christ. St. Thomas landed at Mazir (Kodungalloor) in Kerala, in 52 A.D. and established seven Churches in different parts of Kerala, viz. Maliankara, Palayur, Gokamangalam, Niranam, Chayal, Kurakkenikollam and Kottakkayil. St. Thomas also ordained priests from the families of Shankarapuri, Pakalomattom, Kally and Kaliankavu and entrusted them with the administration of the Church. Thomas into two, some of the faithfuls under the leadership of Big Bazar Tharakans, decided to build another Church and approached the Ruler of Paravur (ParavurThampuran) for sanction. As per the desire of the Big Bazar Tharakans, ParavurThampuran donated a plot of land in the cartier replica midst of the seven bazars of Paravur Town, tax free. The Church built here was consecrated in the name of St. Thomas, the Apostle, under the leadership of His Grace Mor Joseph Metropolitan, on the 29th November, 1566 A.D. This event has been inscribed in old Tamil script, in a plaque in granite stone and embedded in the wall near the front door of the church. ParavurThampuran, also donated a very big five tier oil lamp (AluVilakku) which is even now used in the Church. He had also donated some land tax free, for meeting the expenses to light this lamp perpetually.

The watches in the Piaget Polo S collection - unveiled at an event in New York City on July 14 - are notable for their "shape within a shape" design omega replica watches, which marries a cushion-shaped dial opening with a classically round 42-mm replica watches case. All have sapphire exhibition casebacks to showcase the in-house, automatic movements, both of which were developed specially to equip replica watches in this new collection. All are outfitted with steel bracelets with integrated folding clasps. Like the rolex replica watches automatics, both chronographs have Super-LumiNova on the hour appliques and hour and minute hands.