Panchayath/ Municipality/ Vyttila Block Panchayat Corporation LOCATION District Ernakulam Nearest Town/ Vyttila Junction – 1.4 km Landmark/ Junction Nearest Bus statio Mobility Hub K S R T C Bus Stand – 1.7 km Nearest Railway Ernakulam South Railway Station - 4.6 km statio ACCESSIBILITY Nearest Airport Cochin International Airport – 29.3 km St. Raphel's Church Thykoodam Vyttila - 682019 Phone: +91-484-2304669 Email : [email protected] CONTACT Website : www.straphaelschurchthykoodam.org DATES FREQUENCY DURATION TIME December Annual 5 days ABOUT THE FESTIVAL (Legend/History/Myth) The parish has a long history reading almost two centuries back. One of the biggest parishes of the Archdiocese of Verapoly, St.Raphael's Church, Thykoodam was established in 1844. On June 2, 1872, during the pontificate of Pope Pius IX,it was elevated to the status of a Parish Church. This Church was renovated in 1970. The foundation stone for the renovated Church was laid by Archbishop Joseph Attipetty on June 28, 1970. Today this Church serves as the beacon light for the spiritual and social needs of over 1600 families in this area. The name of this archangel (Raphael = "God has healed") does not appear in the Hebrew Scriptures and in the Septuagint it appears only in the Book of Tobit. Here he first appears disguised in human form as the travelling companion of the younger Tobias, calling himself "Azarias the son of the great Ananias". The story of the adventurous journey during which the protective influence of the angel is shown in many ways including the binding "in the desert of upper Egypt" of the demon who had previously slain seven husbands of Sara, daughter of Raguel, is picturesquely related in Tobit 5-11, to which the reader is referred. After the return and the healing of the blindness of the elder Tobit, Azarias makes himself known as "the angel Raphael, one of the seven, who stand before the Lord" (Tobit 12:15. Cf. Revelation 8:2). Of these seven "archangels" who appear in the angelology of post-Exilic Judaism, only three, Gabriel, Michael and Raphael, are mentioned in the canonical Scriptures. The others, according to the Book of Enoch (cf. xxi) are Uriel, Raguel, Sariel, and Jerahmeel, while from other apocryphal sources we get the variant names Izidkiel, Hanael, and Kepharel instead of the last three in the other list. The Feast of the Immaculate Conception celebrates the solemn belief in the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is universally celebrated on December 8, nine months before the feast of the Nativity of Mary, which is celebrated on September 8. It is one of the most important Marian feasts in the liturgical calendar of the Roman Catholic Church, celebrated worldwide. Local Approximately 2000 RELEVANCE- NO. OF PEOPLE (Local / National / International) PARTICIPATED EVENTS/PROGRAMS DESCRIPTION (How festival is celebrated) The Feast of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception falls on December 8th. This Combreria feast is celebrated with great solemnity on 5 days, concluding on the Sunday after 8th Combreria feast December. One member each from 53 Family units of the Procession Parish volunteers preside the festival celebration. This Special Prayers committee organizes various arrangements for the feast. The festival includes an hour long procession with the divine idol of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception. The festival also comprises of Special prayers and offerings. .