St. Michael's Shrine

Tenkasi is considered one of the most Sacred places in South India. Christianity was already there in the 17th century. It is mentioned in the Annual letters of 1662-1665. Fr. Antony De Proenca in 1662 and Fr. Balthazar De Costa in 1663 preached there the Gospel. There was briefly among the people about the angels' apparition. In the town of Polegam, the chief town of the Southern Province, and Adi-Dravida called Valente, equally Valiant by name and faith, converted a yogi who at baptism took the name of Rayappan. Now here is what happened to Rayappan still in the town of Tenkasi. In that town, there was a Christian couple. They had two children. One died and the other was seriously ill. The parents had just been baptized. The grief at the loss of their children and the persecution from their relatives gradually began to shake then faith. At that moment, Rayappan came up and hearing of their sad plight consoled and comforted then. But the little child was stalking to his death. Without losing sight of his parents, Rayappan watched over the child, gave his sweets and stayed with them still midnight. He thought he could take some rest before the death of the child and went to the house of another Christian called Chrysostom. There is the courtyard of the house a 'Panthal' (Shed) had been created in which the fathers used say mass when passing through the town. Rayappan went to sleep under this 'Panthal'. Scarcely did he shut his eyes when he wakes up with fright. He saw himself surrounded with a bright light and first thought that the house was on fire. He hostily got up and called for help, but as soon as he got up the noticed that this light was much brighter than fire. As he sought the reason for it he caught right under a free of the courtyard of two young men of extraordinary and heavenly beauty. The bodies seemed mad like of the first gold. One lad had in his hand a musical instrument like a zither, and the other a banner. Both bent some steps southwards; then one of them bent down and traced out a cross on the ground. Finally, both came near Rayappan. The latter asked them who they were. But they beckoning him to hold his tongue went to the door of the dying child called him by his name. Then he saw the child coming four inside smiling and joyful. The Youngman took him in their midst set two lighted candles in his hands and each one taking him by the arm the three of them rose up heavenwards in an extraordinary glitter. Rayappan followed them with his eyes with mixed feelings of joy and admiration. When he was recalled to this senses by the wails, coming from the child’s house. He ran up and told that the child had just breathed his last. Then Rayappan begged the parents to listen to him and in the presence of Chrysostom and other Christians related the vision he had seen. Chrysostom wishing to see the spot where the angel had made a cross, recognized that it was the place where an innocent child, his own son had been buried. As these marvellous things were being told tears dried and wails turned into songs of thanksgiving. The parents of the blessed child were confirmed in the faith. As for Rayappan, determined to become a herald of the Gospel, he was baptized and began to study to become a catechist. He served as a catechist there (extract from a letter of Antony Paoenca 15th August 1666). The old Altar cross was made by angles is still there is the new church. As people of all religion come here this church was known by name ‘Sarveswaran Koil’. Before becoming a distinct parish, Tenkasi was the part of the huge south-west district visited in turn by the new mission arias. Later it was visited by a father residing at Kamanayakkanpatti. Then it belonged to Andipatti. Finally from 1878 to 1902, it was a part of the parish of Sendamaram entrusted to father Ignacy who went all over its territory. From 1902 to 1906 Fr. Marie Louis administered both Viravanallur and Tenkasi. It 1906 Fr. Caussanel was alone entrusted Tenkasi which in 1907 was again attached to Viravanallur. Finally, in 1908 Fr. Adaikalam a diocesan priest newly ordained was exclusively in charge of it. People possessed by Evil Spirit, many other disorders get cured. People of all religion come here for worship Pope Pius X has come and worshipped in this church. Substations With Churches: Vallam Shenkottai Puliarai Kattalai Kudiyiruppu Kottakulam Kudiyiruppu Kuthukkal Valasai Melameignanapuram Madathur Pulichikulam Sundarapandiyapuram Sengole Nagar Mathalamparai Substations Without Churches: Melagaram Keezhapuliyur Coutrallam Vetaikarankulam Kelakudiyiruppu Asathnagar Kasimajorpuram Ilanchi Alagapapuram Thiruchittaambalam Ilathur Housing Board Ayyapuram The Succession of the Priests 1. Rev. Fr. Causanel SJ. 2. Rev. Fr. A. Adaikalam 3. Rev. Fr. J. Michaelnathar 4. Rev. Fr. M. Pappaya SJ. 5. Rev. Fr. A. Deur SJ. 6. Rev. Fr. S. Iruthayam 7. Rev. Fr. J.S. Jeyapathy SJ. 8. Rev. Fr. V.M. Joseph SJ. 9. Rev. Fr. M.S. Salette 10. Rev. Fr. T.A. Berchmans 11. Rev. Fr. S.L. Josephraj 12. Rev. Fr. S. Arulraj 13. Rev. Fr. A. Amirtharaja Sundar 14. Rev. Fr. Antonyraj, 15. Rev. Fr. Viagapparaj N. 16. Rev. Fr. Sahaya Chinnappan

Melapuliyur - Tenkasi Tk. Tirunelveli Dt. - Tamil Nadu 627 811 - India