Manjinikkara is a small village near Omallur in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala. The place is noted for the tomb of St.Ignatius Elias III Patriarch and is a Christian pilgrim centre. It is believed that this saint visited this place in 1932 and passed away here on 13th February. He was entombed in the church known today as St.Ignatius Dayaro (meaning monastery). The feast of St.Ignatius Elias III is observed in his blessed memory on 13th February every year. Thousands of pilgrims come to the blessed tomb especially during February. Almost all Jacobite churches arrange fofr a pilgrimage to this place during this time.
It is a tradition among pilgrims to walk to Manjinikkara, during the feast of this saint. This walk can last from a minimum of a night to a maximum of five to six days depending on the location of the church from where people walk.People from the northern part of Kerala like Malabar, Wyanad, the High Range areas like Kothamangalam, Adimali, and the 'north-central' (sic) part of Kerala, Ernakulam, Thrissur and the surrounding regions take five to six days to walk to this tomb.
A specially decorated vehicle, the 'chariot' having a huge portrait of the saint, beautifully decorated and well lit, leads the procession. All the faithful walk behind this chariot, that also moves at walking pace, chanting hymns and prayers, holding lit candles, all the way upto Manjinikkara.A minimum of five vehicles from the respective churches accompany the procession. Except for the sick and the aged, who travel seated in vehicles, the rest of the group walk the distance. Priests of the respective churches accompany the faithful of their parish.
People from diverse faiths take part in this procession. All along the way, the pilgrims are treated with great hospitality by strangers. Locals residing in the areas through which the pilgrims walk through, offer all kinds of assistance and help. Serving of coffee/tea, lime water, breakfast, lunch to the weary pilgrims walking from long distances, offering of their homes for the pilgrims to rest for some time, are also the various ways in which people apart from the walking devotees offer their services to God during this season.
I had the blessed fortune of walking with the parishoners of my church, St.Peter's & St.Paul's Jacobite Church, Kunnamthanam, Tiruvalla, last year. The route covered by our group to Manjinikkara is around 45-50 kms, usually covered in one night. It was a unique experience for me, as one born and brought up outside Kerala, to join the thousands thronging the tomb at Manjinikkara.
God willing, I will be joining our parishioners in this walk, this time too. The group leaves the church after the evening prayer, by 7 pm on 10th February. I hope and pray, that I would be enriched by this years experience....MAY GOD BLESS ALL OF US
It is a tradition among pilgrims to walk to Manjinikkara, during the feast of this saint. This walk can last from a minimum of a night to a maximum of five to six days depending on the location of the church from where people walk.People from the northern part of Kerala like Malabar, Wyanad, the High Range areas like Kothamangalam, Adimali, and the 'north-central' (sic) part of Kerala, Ernakulam, Thrissur and the surrounding regions take five to six days to walk to this tomb.
A specially decorated vehicle, the 'chariot' having a huge portrait of the saint, beautifully decorated and well lit, leads the procession. All the faithful walk behind this chariot, that also moves at walking pace, chanting hymns and prayers, holding lit candles, all the way upto Manjinikkara.A minimum of five vehicles from the respective churches accompany the procession. Except for the sick and the aged, who travel seated in vehicles, the rest of the group walk the distance. Priests of the respective churches accompany the faithful of their parish.
People from diverse faiths take part in this procession. All along the way, the pilgrims are treated with great hospitality by strangers. Locals residing in the areas through which the pilgrims walk through, offer all kinds of assistance and help. Serving of coffee/tea, lime water, breakfast, lunch to the weary pilgrims walking from long distances, offering of their homes for the pilgrims to rest for some time, are also the various ways in which people apart from the walking devotees offer their services to God during this season.
I had the blessed fortune of walking with the parishoners of my church, St.Peter's & St.Paul's Jacobite Church, Kunnamthanam, Tiruvalla, last year. The route covered by our group to Manjinikkara is around 45-50 kms, usually covered in one night. It was a unique experience for me, as one born and brought up outside Kerala, to join the thousands thronging the tomb at Manjinikkara.
God willing, I will be joining our parishioners in this walk, this time too. The group leaves the church after the evening prayer, by 7 pm on 10th February. I hope and pray, that I would be enriched by this years experience....MAY GOD BLESS ALL OF US
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