Feast on Exaltation of Cross at Holy Cross Shrine, Mapranam

The Feast on Exaltation of Cross at Holy Cross Shrine,  Mapranam is celebrated during these days, the important day being 14th. Offering of human size candles is a rare function here and is performed on 13^th evening at St John Chapel or Kurisu Kappela,  near the main road.  This is known as Thiritheliyikkal.  Now a day over  500 huge candles and about 100 thousand ordinary candles are lighting every year on this day by devotees  from different religions.   Procession with Holy cross, cultural  programmes  and fire works are the other attraction during the festival days.

The Holy Cross Church in Mapranam is believed to be established in AD 928 and reconstructed  in 1989. During the year in 1887 and 1888, the church received three holy remnants from Vatican.   In 2008, the church has got the status of shrine under the Diocese and a Historical Pilgrim Centre by  Govt.of Kerala .

The Church is situated at Mapranam,  in Thrissur district.  On Thrissur – Irinjalakkuda road,  it is 8 km from Thrissur and 3.5 km from Irinjalakkuda  is  Mapranam St John Chapel.   It’s just  one kilometer from here to the Holy Cross Shrine.

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