BASILICA OF OUR LADY OF SNOWS

 

Basilica is a Greek term signifying a Royal Hall, which in time has come to mean a large and beautiful hall. It is the greatest honour for a church to be raised to the status of a Basilica.

The 400th Anniversary of the Our Lady Of Snows Basilica, Tuticorin was marked by Paul John Paul Il raising it to the status of Basilica through his apostolic letter dated 30th July 1982.

Paniya Matha Church, also known as the Shrine Basilica of Our Lady of Snow is no doubt the most famous tourist attraction of Thoothukudi.

Its popularity among the tourists can be understood from the fact that it is believed to be visited by the great St. Francis in 1542. The church is located in Thoothukudi and is visited by many all around the year. The church is located at a mere distance of about 7 Km from Thoothukudi and takes around 10 minutes to reach the place.

The history of Our Lady Of Snows Basilica, Tuticorin is closely connected with the history of the conversion of the PARAVARS (Tuticorin), the indigenous people of the Pearl Fishery Coast. In fact, Our Lady of Snows, is fondly called in Portuguese senhora, Das Nevis which means

Our Lady of Snows.

She has been given the unique title of Yelu Kadalthurai, Yega Adikala Thai in Tamil which means the Mother of Refuge for the seven major coastal villages,

VIZ

Vembar,

Vaippar,

Thoothukudi Snows

Basilica, Tuticorin),

Punnaikayal, Virapandianpatinam, Thiruchendur and Manapad (Thoothukkudi District).

Our Lady of Snows Shrine Basilica (Snows Basilica) at Tuticorin, was built during 16th century in the Portuguese architecture. As a token of gratitude to their redeemers, the Portuguese, the people from about 22 villages numbering about 30,000 embraced Christianity in the year 1535-37. In 1542 St. Francis Xavier visited the shrine (Tuticorin) to catechize the paravars, the indigenous people of the Pearl Fishery Coast, and to strengthen them in Christian faith.