Porte della Misericordia

The first Catholic Church, in the name, Our Lady of Dolours, was founded in the year 1814. The ‘New Church’, now popularly known as ‘Puthenpally’, was blessed on 10th October 1925 by Bishop Mar Francis Vazhappilly. By the persistent and never-dying enthusiasm, the Catholic pioneers completed the construction of the Church as the most beautiful and decidedly the biggest church in India and the second biggest in Asia. Mar Francis Vazhappilly, the then Bishop of Trichur, the visionary and the founder of this magnificent church, consecrated it on 24th November 1940. The historic reception awarded to His Holiness, Pope John Paul II, on 7th Feb 1986 in the environs of this parish is a memorable event. His Eminence Cardinal, Lourduswamy inaugurated the Perpetual Adoration Centre on 23 rd August 1987 as a memorial of the centenary celebrations of the Eparchy of Trichur. On 25 th April 1992, Pope John Paul II, elevated this church to the status of a Basilica. The church was proclaimed as a Shrine by Archbishop Mar Jacob Thoomkuzhy on 15th September, 2001. His Beatitude Ignace Cardinal Moussa I Dauod, Prefect of the Congregation for Eastern Churches, blessed the Bible Tower on 7th January, 2004. It is a Marian Shine and special devotion to Mary on Fridays in this shrine is very popular throughout Kerala
Basilica at a Glance
1) Style : Gothic
2) Total plinth area : 25000 sq.ft
3) Height : 260 ft
4) Number of altars : 15