Some Interesting Present & Past facts about Chapel of St.Stephan

 at Kombuthuari,(Santhe Estevan Kurusadi) near Virapandianpatnam

An article by Shri.Joyce Fernando

·                     1542. St.Francis Xavier baptized 'Kadiyar' community people, who lived next to Kayalpatnam in a place known as 'Komputhurai' with a population around 700 people.

·                     1544.May they started building a new chapel, in the name of St.Stefan(the first saint*), under the supervision of Manvel Cruz (a rich Portuguese trader)

·                     St Francis Xavier personally took keen interest on built the above chapel with the help of some donars of that period

·                     Santh Estheue stands for Saint Stephan  **

·                     1544.St.Francis Xavier wrote a letter to this village chief 'Patangatiyar' and collected funds to help Kanyakumari people, who suffered without food.***

·                     1544. While St.Francis Xavier was getting ready to say his regular mass at this chapel, somebody informed him about the death of a boy, who accidentally fall in a nearby water well.By reading bible, he gave life back to that boy.

·                     This well still exists just opposite to the chapel, near the flagpole.

·                      When the catholic Church intended to give Francis Xavier sainthood, initial investigations were made in Cochin (the religious head at that period).And the following people gave witness to the above said miracle,

Ø      Mr. Perdru (Paul) Fernandez, native of Virapandianpatnam

Ø      Mr. Anthony Serquiles native of Punnaikayal

Ø      Mr Theago Fernandez native of Tuticorin

Ø      Mr Paul Vaz native of Kombuthurai

·                     After this miracle this chapel (Kurusadi) became one of the very important place of worship by the nearby new catholics.

·                     There was another miracle of St.Francis Xavier, performed here.The relatives of a 'Hindu Karriyar' lady who was suffering for 3 days with labor pain, approached him for help.’Saveriyar’ went there and prayed loudly****.She willingly got baptism and then delivered safely.

·                     There was a ‘Paratha’r community village known as ‘Thaalampuli’ situated in between Kayalpatnam and Kombuthurai,which later lost its existence

·                     1600.Jesuit priests gathered the catholics of seashore villages (Tiruchendur, Alantalai and Thaalampuli) temporarily settled them in Virapandianpatnam to protect from Vadugar community troops of Vijayanagar King

·                     Reference:

Ø      Monumentus Xaveriane, Vol.11, Madrid. 1912,PP.534-576

Ø      Jesuit Society Minutes of the year 1600.( Ref. ARSJ.Goa 56,1.16)  

Ø      An article by Rev Fr. Vennatius Fernando,Chief editor- ‘Gannathoothan’ July 2005 issue: Page No 6

Ø       Annual feast leaflet issue by Virapandianpatnam St.Thomas Church Parish.

 

 

·                     Yester years this chapel was under Virapandianpatnam parish & a beautiful church was built with the donations of Patanathar.

·                     Now that chapel is not under the control of our Patnam church, and it has become a independent parish a few years ago.Another part of this area has become ’Singithurai’ parish

·                     Patanathar still use to visit this chapel on second day of each main function (beginning of each year, marriage or death) holds at home as 'Vadekke Poguthal’(Visit North) tradition.

·                     Each year here they hoist the feast flag by 24^th of December and celebrate feast on 2^nd of January.

·                     That day this tiny village use to get crowded with pilgrimers from Thothukudi, Punnaikayal & Arumuganeri and ‘Muslim’ spectators from neighboring town Kayalpatnam

·                     During this feast day there will be a special mass offered for the sake of Patnathar, as a token of thanks

·                     During this day all Patanathar used to visit this pilgrim center without fail and use to catch the remaining elders of family for missed blessings of the previous day.

·                     Normally and formally this day used to be the first picnic day(?) of the year for Patnathar,who use to sit below the ‘sappotta’ fruit trees around the chapel,and share the remaining snacks of the previous day(new years day)

·                     For more information please approach

Ø       'ValempuriNathem' library, which is functioning under the care of Rev.Fr.Stephan Gomez at Patnam.

Ø      Bishops House Library at Tuticorin

Ø       Rev.Fr.Venancius,who has collected maximum details from Vatican Library about ‘Paratha’community.