Holy Redeemer Basilica Trichi

Located in Palakkarai, Trichy is the Basilica of the Holy Redeemer completed in the year 1881. Built under the auspices of the Melaputhur Church, the Basilica of the Holy Redeemer was built during the British period under the control of Diwan Kanjamalai Mudaliyar in 1846.

The inner walls of the Holy Redeemer Church are adorned with paintings that depict the history of saints and the events leading to the capture of Jesus Christ. Significantly, these pictures were drawn by Brother D Irudhaya Raj who studied in the seminary of this church. Judge Woodroofe donated the 'Big Bell' to the church in 1881. The bell is the second biggest bell in Tamil Nadu.

The center of attraction is the 'Sagayamatha' - Mother of Perpetual Help Basilica which has a massive roofed hall divided by huge colonnades. Sagaya Madha - Mother of Perpetual Succor or Mother of Perpetual Help is always venerated with enthusiasm in South India.

Novena Prayer:

Oh , Holy Mother of Perpetual Help,
with the greatest confidence we kneel before you.
We implore your help in the problems of our daily lives.
Trials and sorrows often depress us;
misfortunes and privations bring misery into our lives;
everywhere we meet the cross.
Comforter of the Afflicted,
We beg your Son Jesus to strengthen us as we bear our burdens
and to free us from our sufferings.
Or if it be the will of God that we should suffer still longer,
help us endure all with love and patience.
May we follow the example of your Son, and through him, with him, and in him
We commend ourselves to the care of our heavenly Father.

You can find a raised dais and aisles and arcaded spaces flanking the sides. Sunlight pours in through the clerestory windows on account of the unique position of the central aisle vis-à-vis the flanking aisles. Over time, the church has been expanded to accommodate more worshipers.

Observe the east west orientation - an external emphasis on the west front and the long arcaded interiors. High vaulted roofs and windows with glass stained adorn the basilica. A sanctuary and an altar are found on the eastern end of the building.

This Holy Redeemer Church at Trichy is famous not only for its attractive architecture but also for its church foundation that provides food for the poor and runs various institutions and schools. You can participate in the Novena for the Mother of Perpetual Help every Sunday in July.

This highly revered image of Our Mother of Perpetual Help shows:

• A star on Our Lady's veil, representing Her as the 'Star of the Seas' who brought the Light of Christ to the darkened world - the star that leads us to the port of Heaven.
  
• The Archangel St.Michael on Her right with Greek inscription of Michael above
  
• The Archangel St.Gabriel on Her left with Greek inscription of Gabriel above
  
• Our Mother wears a red tunic indicating a Virgin (worn by Virgins at the time of Christ
  
• Our Mother wears a dark blue mantle indicating a Mother as well as a Virgin
  
• Golden Crown placed on the original picture by the order of the Holy See in 1867. It is a token of the many miracles wrought by Our Lady invoked under the name of 'Perpetual Help' - Nostra Mater de Perpetuo Succursu - in Latin
  
• Our Lady's eyes are large and always turned towards us - indicating that She will help us in all our troubles
  
• The little Christ's palms turned down into His Mother's hand indicates that the Graces of Redemption are with Her
  
• Our Mother's left hand supports the Child Christ indicating symbolically that Her hands will comfort anyone who calls on Her
  
• Christ's falling sandal represents Christ's Divine Nature - barely clinging to the Earth. His Human nature is represented by the other sandal firmly affixed to the foot.
  

Address: Holy Redeemer Church - Sagaya Madha Basilica, Palakkarai, Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu GPS Co-ordinates: 10.810375,78.698051