MALAYATTOOR:Thousands of devotees have been trudging through the paths that wind up through Kurisumudy hill in Malayattoor following the footsteps of Christ in his sorrowful journey individually and in groups, carrying wooden crosses on their shoulders in a series of 14 meditations, as part of the Malayattoor pilgrimage.
Though the main feast of the Malayattoor parish church falls on the first Sunday after Easter, majority of pilgrims undertake this devotional exercise through the hilly terrain, carrying the cross on their shoulders on the days of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday to cleanse their soul and sins, said Fr John Thekkanathu, vicar of St Thomas Church, Malayattoor.
Around 50-60 lakh pilgrims have undertaken the pious practice of the Way of the Cross through the hill on Thursday and Friday alone and it would be around one crore with the feast of the Malayattoor parish church on the first Sunday after Easter, which would mark the conclusion of the Lenten season and Easter day celebrations at the famous centre of Christian pilgrimage, he said. Special holy masses and ceremonial rituals like ‘Nagarikanickal’ were held on Friday under the aegis of assistant provincial Fr John Thekkanath. On Thursday, special masses and holy rites were held in connection with the Maundy Thursday observation at the hill shrine, which recently shot to international fame, with the authorities declaring the shrine as an international pilgrim shrine in 2005.
The Malayattoor shrine, an international pilgrim centre of the Catholic Church, is built around the belief of St Thomas, one of the Apostles of Jesus, who spent his time here in prayer during his mission in Kerala.The church authorities have made elaborate arrangements to receive hordes of pilgrims from various parts of the state and neighbouring states in this season.
Arrangements like volunteer groups for the care of the pilgrims, medical help for the needy including ambulance services have been made this time as well, said Fr John Thekkanathu.
