Our Lady Of Ransom Church

A perfect example of impressive Gothic architecture is Our Lady of Ransom Church of Mother Mary located in the city of Kanyakumari. This pristine church traces its history to the 15th century and is one of the most visited historic religious sites in Tamil Nadu.

Inside the church, there is a golden altar in which the idol of Mother Mary (revered as Alangara Matha) is placed right in the center. Also, there are wooden carvings that depict the coronation of Mother Mary as a queen of earth and heaven. Moreover, the altar is also adorned with carvings of angels playing drums, flutes, and violin along with the idol of Jesus Christ. There are other carvings also which include 12 disciplines of Jesus Christ and a lamb lying on the holy bible.

Furthermore, the colorful glass windows of the church give a sparkling reflection of multi-hued lights inside the main building of the church which is worth seeing. However, in the evening, this beautiful shrine gets all glitz up with marvelous lights making it a sight to behold. This all gives you a reason to visit this pristine attraction in Kanyakumari.

History of Our Lady of Ransom Church

When St. Francis Xavier arrived in Cape Comorin (Kanyakumari) in India in 1542, he found 'Our Lady of Delights Grotto' there. Following this, the place became a center for missionary activities of the Jesuits from Thoothoor to Ramanathapuram, and it is believed that it is this Our Lady of Delights Grotto in which St. Francis Xavier prayed, that later on became the present church of Our Lady of Ransom. The original small and thatched church that existed developed into a significant church in 1700 AD.

Built-in the Roman style of architecture, the statue of Mother Mary was brought from Rome to the church. This statue was placed in the center of a golden altar in the church and was venerated by the name of Alangara Matha. To the right and left sides of this statue, the statues of St. Joseph and St. Francis Xavier were placed. This old church is a part of the new church, the foundation stone for which was laid on 31 May 1900 by Fr. John Consolvez.

The charge of the construction of the church was put under Mr. Pakiam Pillai, under whose guidance, the church is now the model of ancient Gothic Art and culture and is renowned all around the globe. The two side towers that are attached to the main tower act as a belfry and comprise the church bells which were imported from Italy in 1900 AD.

Architecture of Our Lady of Ransom Church

One can find numerous Gothic piers supporting the central tower of the church. The compound pillars inside the church resemble vertical shafts and provide support to the ceiling. The seven doors of the church are said to represent the seven fruits of the Holy Spirit, and the wooden carvings depict the coronation of Mary as the Queen of Heaven and Earth.

The intricately carved depictions of angels playing musical instruments also leave visitors awestruck with their exquisite detailing and beauty, and one can also find carvings of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ. The lower portion of the altar of the church depicts a lamb lying on the Holy Bible.