Varapuzha Basilica

This church was the seat of the metropolitans until 1904. The headquarters was then shifted to the town of Ernakulam, for easier administration. As the original seat of the Latin bishop, the church holds a unique place in the history of Latin Catholics in the area. Presently the church offers solace to the faithful who gather there for the powerful intercessions of Our Lady and Saint Joseph.

In 1653 Mathew of Saint Joseph reached Goa as a missionary. The old Varapuzha Church was built in 1673. On 20 February 1700 Pope Clement appointed the Carmelite missionary Angelus Francis as the Vicar Apostolic Malabar. All those who guided the life and activities of the Church from 1700 AD to 1886 AD were known as Apostolic vicars. On 13 March 1709 the Holy See suppressed the Malabar Vicariate, and the Varapuzha Vicariate was erected officially. In 1886 the Varapuzha Vicariate was raised to the status of archdiocese. Until 1904, Varapuzha was the official residence of the Archbishops of Varapuzha. From 1886 onwards the bishops took charge and care of the diocese of Varapuzha from this place named "Varapuzha".

On 1 September 1886 the Varapuzha Vicariate was officially raised to the status of archdiocese, and Rev. Dr. Leonardo Mellano OCD was consecrated as the first archbishop of the Archdiocese of Varapuzha.

In those years the Varapuzha Church was the only Catholic Church of this locality. At that time this was the home to all the Syrian Catholics of this locality.

The Carmelite missionary Paulinus (from 1744 to 1780) describes this church in his book India Orientalis Christiana as the "Church of Latin and Chaldean rites". The church has two patron saints, Saint Joseph resulted from the special devotion of its founder, Mathew of Saint Joseph.

The old church underwent a major uplift and reconstruction in 1927 when its old front doom collapsed in 1919.

In 1886 the Archdiocese of Varapuzha was established, and the church became the cathedral church of the archdiocese. This status remained with the church until 1936, when Saint Francis Cathedral was built in Ernakulam. The church is the final resting place of 28 Carmelite missionaries, including eight bishops of the Diocese of Varapuzha.

When Tipu Sultan (1750–1799), the Muslim conqueror, attacked, plundered and killed many, Varapuzha was providentially left out being an island, but it became the place of refuge for all from all religions and castes. The Carmelite missionaries took care of all of them.{{fact|date=June 2023}}

In 1682 the Carmelite missionaries of Varapuzha requested the Propaganda Fidei for the construction of a seminary for the formation of the indigenous clergy.{{fact|date=June 2023}}

In 1685 the seminary was closed down. A new seminary was built in 1766 in Varapuzha. At that time it accepted candidates from both Latin and Syrian rites.{{fact|date=June 2023}}

In 1790 this seminary was closed following the attack of Tipu Sultan. The seminary was reopened in 1832. In 1866 the Syrians were shifted to the Puthenpally Seminary.{{fact|date=June 2023}}

From 1659 to 1904, sixteen bishops and two archbishops guided the diocese from this place. In those days all travels and transportation were through water.{{fact|date=June 2023}}

In a letter dated 11 December 2020, the office of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments approved the application of the Archdiocese of Verapoly to elevate the status of the former cathedral of Varapuzha to a minor basilica. As a minor basilica, it will be one of only 28 nationwide and 10th in Kerala, and the first one in the country to be named after St Joseph.{{cite web |url=http://www.gcatholic.org/churches/asia/5468.htm |website=gcatholic|title=Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St. Joseph }}

The tomb of Venerable Eliswa Vakayil (1831–1913), the foundress of the first indigenous Carmelite congregations (CTC and CMC) in Saint Joseph's convent, Varapuzha, is here.

IMAG3510 BURST010.jpg|Miraculous image of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Salve statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.jpg|Salve statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Varapuzhathamma, Varapuzha Church.jpg|Varapuzhathamma

Miraculous Image of St Joseph, Varapuzha Church.jpg|Miraculous image of Saint Joseph

Statues of Saint Joseph and Jesus Christ, Varapuzha Basilica, Kochi, Kerala, 2017.jpg|Saint Joseph

Altar of Varapuzha Church.jpg|Old Altar of Varapuzha Basilica

Churchfeast 2019, Varapuzha Basilica, Kerala.jpg|Churchfeast 2019

Santo Entierro, Varapuzha Basilica.jpg|Santo Entierro

Risen Lord, Varapuzha Basilica.jpg|Risen Lord

St.Sebastian, Varapuzha Basilica, Kerala, 2017.jpg|St Sebastian

St.Sebastian Karikattuthuruth, Varapuzha Basilica, Kerala, 2017.jpg|St Sebastian Karikattuthuruth

Church Feast, Varapuzha Basilica.jpg| Church Feast

Fatima, Varapuzha Basilica, Kerala, 2017.jpg|Fatima@Varapuzha

Gesu Bambino, Varapuzha Basilica, Kerala, 2016.jpg|Gesu Bambino

Rosary month celebrations, Varapuzha Basilica, Kerala, 2016.jpg|Rosary month Celebrations

Ancient Statue of Our Lady of Dolours.jpg|Ancient Statue of Our Lady of Dolours

Tomb of Servant of God Mother Eliswa Vakayil of BVM CTC.jpg|Tomb of Venerable Eliswa Vakayil

• Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Verapoly
• Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health, Velankanni
• Basilica of Our Lady of Ransom, Vallarpadam
• St. Philomena's Forane Church & St. Chavara Pilgrimage Centre

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.varapuzhabasilica.org www.varapuzhabasilica.org]

{{Christianity in Kerala}}

{{Churches of Kerala}}

{{Basilicas in India}}

{{coord missing|Kerala}}

Category:Roman Catholic churches in Kochi

Category:Roman Catholic shrines in India

Category:Roman Catholic churches completed in 1673