Maundy Thursday rituals took place in most Churches across the state when priests and bishops were seen washing the feet of devotees…reports Asian Lite News
After two years of Covid pandemic which brought normal life to a grinding halt, churches across Kerala appear to be back to normal, with most of them overflowing with devotees ahead of Easter Sunday.
According to the Census, of the 33.4 million population, 61.41 lakhs(29.94 lakhs males and 31.47 lakhs females) are Christians in the state.
Of these, the Catholics constitute around 50 per cent, followed by almost a dozen churches practising varied rituals which differ from each other slightly.
Passion Week or Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday, that was observed last Sunday and the next important day is Maundy Thursday and it signifies the Washing of the Feet and Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles, as described in the canonical gospels. It is the fifth day of Holy Week, preceded by Holy Wednesday and followed by Good Friday.
Maundy Thursday rituals took place in most Churches across the state when priests and bishops were seen washing the feet of devotees.
Devouts Christians observe a lent of a maximum of 50 days, when meat and fish are kept away from the daily menu. Some even avoid milk and milk products.
But the feature of the Passion Week is starting Thursday, many skip non-vegetarian dishes and on Good Friday churches are crowded and the most important event is the drinking of the Kanji (rice gruel, with pickle and a serving of pulses) from earthen pots.
Eighty-five-year-old Elssama Joseph is in high spirits as this is the first time after 2019, she could take part in the Passion Week rituals.
“The last two years were tough due to Covid and even though there were online service for the Holy Week, the feeling of fullness of attending the church was missing. This time so far I have had a very good time and was fully engrossed in our church and now I am preparing to attend the Good Friday service, which is a pretty long affair and it begins from 8 a.m. and by the time we drink the Kanji it would be close to 3 p.m. and then comes the Easter Sunday service. I am really happy,” said the elderly lady.
Covid now more prevalent than ever in England. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimated more than 4.1 million people had the virus on any given day over the week to March 26, equivalent to one in 13 being infected.
Thousands of Londoners were affected by the recent wave of Covid-19. The virus is now more rife in England than at any other time during the crisis, the biggest Covid surveillance scheme has suggested.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimated more than 4.1 million people had the virus on any given day over the week to March 26, equivalent to one in 13 being infected. Scores of airport workers were down with Covid and it unleashes chaos at airports at Heathrow, Birmingham, Manchester and Cardiff.
The figure is the highest ever recorded in England, topping the previous peak of 3.7 million at the height of the Omicron wave in January. It is also 18 per cent higher than last week. In the most Covid-ridden towns of Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch, as many as one in nine people were thought to have the virus. And infections have soared to pandemic highs in all over-35s.
Britain’s outbreak as a whole is also bigger than ever, with 4.9 million now thought to be infected — up from 4.3 million last week.
Statisticians said England’s surge was being driven by the more transmissible version of Omicron, scientifically named BA. Although, ministers admit that ditching the final Covid restrictions last month also fuelled the uptick. Despite the mass testing project warning that cases show no signs of slowing yet, top scientists are hopeful that the worst may be over.
Official numbers — reliant on people getting tested, as opposed to random swabbing — have been falling for a week, bolstering hopes that the virus was running out of steam, the report said.
EasyJet is planning to cancel more flights in the coming days due to high levels of staff absence due to Covid. Around 60 flights to and from the UK are likely to be grounded on Tuesday following 62 cancellations on Monday, BBC reported.
British Airways also cancelled 62 flights on Monday as travellers faced frustration on journeys ahead of Easter, the first holiday since the end of coronavirus travel restrictions. EasyJet said staff absences were double their normal levels due to Covid.
It said it had decided to cancel more flights in advance “in order to give customers notice”.
“We are contacting customers directly and providing them with their options,” it said. “We expect to make similar levels of pre-emptive cancellations over the coming days, due to the ongoing high level of sickness.”
Covid-related absences are compounding staff shortages at airports and airlines. The industry is struggling to recruit staff quickly enough to meet resurgent passenger demand, after thousands of jobs were lost and many workers left the industry during the pandemic. It’s led to long delays at security and check-in at some airports, with travellers at Birmingham Airport complaining of “chaos” on Monday.
The Easter terror attack by suicide bombers in April 2019 was one of the worst violent incidents recorded in Sri Lanka’s history….reports Asian Lite News
Sri Lankan police on Monday said security has been beefed up in all churches across the island nation ahead of the the second anniversary of the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, which killed over 250 people and injured at least 500 others.
Police spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana said authorities were informed that various religious masses, activities, and events were being planned to commemorate the victims , and as a result additional security personnel have been deployed in all churches islandwide, reports Xinhua news agency.
“The Police Headquarters has issued a special message to the officers-in-charge (OICs) of police stations and senior officers of territorial divisions including Senior DIGs, DIGs, SSPs and SPs to monitor the situation,” Rohana said.
“We have informed all stations to provide maximum security in respect of events,” he added.
The Easter terror attack by suicide bombers in April 2019 was one of the worst violent incidents recorded in Sri Lanka’s history.
Sri Lankan authorities have said probe into the blasts is still continuing and that they have identified and taken into custody masterminds behind the violence.
On April 21, 2019, three churches in Negombo, Batticaloa and Colombo and the hotels — Shangri-La, Cinnamon Grand, Kingsbury and Tropical Inn — in the capital city were targeted in the series of coordinated suicide bombings.
Sri Lankan authorities attributed the attacks to little-known local Islamist extremist groups, National Thowheeth Jama’ath and Jammiyathul Millathu Ibrahim.
However, the Islamic State terror group claimed the attacks.
Vallarpadam Church was built by the Portuguese missionaries who came to India to spread the word of God. It is believed to be one of the earliest European churches built in India…writes Siddhi Jain.
Every celebration brings happiness and unity among people. Easter which falls on the first Sunday of April every year is generally celebrated with midnight mass, family get-togethers, large lunches accompanied with an indulgence in timely sweets, including marzipan and easter egg chocolates.
With new lockdowns being announced on a daily basis across India, it may be difficult to celebrate Easter the traditional way this year, but to keep the celebrations alive, Booking.com has curated a list of some of India’s ancient churches and cathedrals that are perfect for an Easter-inspired getaway as and when it’s safe to do so.
Thiruvithamcode Arappally, Kanyakumari
Currently known as St. Mary’s Orthodox Church, Thiruvithamcode Arappally is known to be India’s oldest church. It is claimed to have been built in 57 A.D. by Thomas, one of Jesus’ 12 apostles. It was called Thomaiyar Kovil by the then Chera king Udayancheral. Located in Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu, this church is surrounded by beautiful coconut groves and a lotus pond. Despite its age, the church built from quarry stone is very well kept and captivates the viewer with its granite pillars that make up the door frame and lamps, tiled roof and latticed wooden foyer. An orthodox church with a rustic vibe is perfect for your next #wanderlust post.
Vallarpadam Church, Kochi
Vallarpadam Church was built by the Portuguese missionaries who came to India to spread the word of God. It is believed to be one of the earliest European churches built in India. The church was hit by a major flood in 1676, but was rebuilt on the land provided by the government. Pope John Paul II designated the church as a Basilica in 2004. The locals are a big patron of Mother Mary, or Vallarpadathamma as they call her; and the Basilica is considered to be the National Shrine of Our Lady. The Basilica holds an annual feast every 24th of September. So make a mental note of this and consider capturing the festivities for your next blog.
St. Paul’s Church, Diu
Diu’s one and only church, St. Paul is a large structure compared to most churches, with rich wood carvings, unique spiral scrolls dating back to the Corinthians and shell-like motifs that adorn the walls. The Church follows a Baroque-style architecture and the main altar has 101 burning candles offered to Our Lady. The Church is a major tribute to the Jesuits who came to India and have established churches and schools across the country. When it is safe to do so, one must go to this church to experience its grandeur and aesthetics.
San Thome Church, Chennai
Another renowned Basilica, San Thome Church is among one of the three across the globe that hosts the tombs of one of Christ’s original disciples. The interiors are rustic and stepping in is almost like taking a step back in time and entering a different century. What is even more interesting is that the church is also partly a museum that showcases some of the souvenirs that have been preserved over time. Remember to carry a camera along with you to capture moments from the past.
All Saints Cathedral, Prayagraj
Patthar Girja also known as All Saints Cathedral, an Anglican Christian Church constructed in 1871, and it is a must see if you have been on the lookout for Gothic-inspired churches. Walking through the main entrance, the carved glass panels allow natural light in that reflects across the room. The main altar is made of marble from the colonial era. If you look around the church, you will find plaques of British nationals who were martyred at the time. Vlogging a walkthrough of this church should be added to your to do list!
Medak Cathedral, Medak, Telangana
While its name may be simple, Medak Cathedral is one of the largest Diocese churches in Asia and amazingly, the second largest Cathedral in the world following the Vatican, being 200 ft long and 100 ft wide. The interiors are very vibrant and decorated with six different colours of imported mosaic tiles. The stained-glass windows are another highlight of the church. They depict the ways of the cross from the Ascension till the Crucifixion. If you have been looking for scenic light-through-the glass photographs, Medak Cathedral is one of the best locations to capture this.
