Graha María Annai Velangcanni de Medan

Marian Advocation of Medan (North Sumatra)

# # Tradition and legend (origin of the advocation)

Main data

Origin and history

# # Tradition and legend (origin of the advocation)

La advocación de Our Lady of Health of Velankanni from the Marian shrine of Velankanni, Tamil Nadu (India), popularly known as the "Lourdes de Oriente." According to the tradition there venerated, the Virgin Mary appeared to some children in the 17th century in the village of Velankanni, performing cures that spread her fame of Mother who heals the sick. These accounts belong to the devotional traditionwithout detailed historical documentation on the apparitions.

Through the migrant Tamil workers and the Catholic presence of Indian origin, the devotion to Annai Velangkanni Arokia Matha (Our Lady of Good Health, Mother of Healing) it subsequently spread outside India, also reaching Indonesia.

# # Documented history of the shrine in Medan

Historically, in the Deli Serdang region, on the outskirts of Medan, an important presence of Indian immigrants, especially of Pondicherry y Tamil Nadu, taken by French and Dutch companies to work on the plantations. This Catholic population of Tamil origin maintained its own Marian devotion, including that of the Virgin of Velankanni.

La Graha María Annai Velangcanni was conceived by the P. James Bharatason, SJas a center of prayer dedicated to the Mother María of the Sick Healer (Nuestra Señora de la Salud) and thought expressly as a welcoming place "for people of all race and religion." The construction began around 2001 And the sanctuary was opened / open to veneration in 2005. The building was blessed and consecrated by the Archbishop of Medan, Mons. Alfred Gonti Pius Datubara, OFMCap.and his civil inauguration was attended by the governor of North Sumatra, Rudolf Parde.

The sanctuary is located in Sakura III Street, Cape Congratulationwithin the territory of the parish of Santa Maria de Medan. It has also become an important destination of religious tourismwith a large influx of visitors.

The image and the sanctuary

The image of Our Lady

The official sources highlight the title of the venerated Virgin: Maria Annai Velangcanni, Mother of the Sick Healers. Our Lady of Good Health.. It is about the representation of the Blessed Virgin Mary as it is venerated in the Indian sanctuary of Velankanni, from where you are remembered as Mother who brings health and comfort to the sick.

The available descriptions focus on the whole of the sanctuary and do not provide complete and accurate technical data (type of size, author, date, material) of the main image; therefore, no consta with certainty el material ni el autor de la imagen. Various graphic reports show an Indian-style Marian image, associated with the iconography of Our Lady of Good Healthbut these details are not officially described in the sources consulted.

### The sanctuary / temple

The official name of the compound is "Graha María Annai Velangcanni" (en sánscrito, graha means “house, sanctuary, templo”). The web of the sanctuary presents it "Marian Shrine of Graha María Annai Velangkanni - Field"I mean, Marian sanctuary. It belongs to the Iglesia católica de rito Latin in the archdiocese of Medan.

Architectural, the Graha Maria is a building Indo-mogol style extraordinary with strong resonances of Hindu temple and details that also recall local Islamic elements. The set is organized as:

– Church of two levels: un meeting space on the ground floor and the liturgical space principal en la planta primera. – Una large tower-minor which rises above the church and is structured in seven levels, símbolo de que “en el cielo hay lugar para todos”. – Three upper domes built in style mogol, explicitly interpreted as a symbol of Santísima Trinidad.

The exterior has a profuse decoration, with live ornaments and colorsand a combination of biblical symbols and cultural motifs that create a harmonious integration between the Christian message and the Indo-Indonesian artistic sensitivity. A feature of the academic literature is that, unlike many churches, the main facade does not highlight a large high cross, which accentuates its resemblance to a Hindu temple, although it is clearly a Catholic temple.

Inside there are various Biblical scenes and catechetical representations integrated in the decoration as well as a Marian chapel which offers a climate of silent prayer, meditation and thanksgiving.

As far as the sources allow, no consta that the Graha Maria Annai Velangkanni has received the title of minor basilica ni el de National sanctuary by the Episcopal Conference; it is recognized above all as diocesan/local Marian shrine.

Sponsorship and coronation

The invocation invoked in Medan is Nuestra Señora de la Salud de Velankanni (Annai Velangkanni Arokia Matha / Mother of Sick Healers). In Indonesia, this advocation is popularly known as "Mother Velangkanni, Mother of the Sick Healer".

The sources consulted do not explicitly indicate a official appointment of employer (by ecclesiastical decree) of the city of Medan, of the diocese or of a specific region; the function of the place is rather described as Marian sanctuary for the faithful of any ethnicity and religion. Therefore, does not contain a specific canonical patronage (city, diocese or nation) documented.

With regard to a possible canonical coronation of the venerated image in Graha Maria Annai Velangkanni, neither the official site of the sanctuary, nor the local Wikipedia, nor the revised academic and journalistic sources mention any decree of the Holy See or of a pontifical delegate, nor do they offer the date or reference of such coronation. Accordingly: does not contain a documented canonical coronation.

Party and devotion

The Medan shrine is spiritually linked to the great Indian shrine of Velankanni, whose main feast is traditionally held in early September; however, in the official sources consulted from the Medan shrine is not clearly indicated a main holiday date of its own (e.g., the day of the particular liturgical patron's feast of the sanctuary). Therefore, is not sure the date of the specific main party in Medan.

What is described with force is the character of the place as sanctuary of pilgrimage and religious tourism:

– La Graha María Annai Velangkanni se ha convertido en uno de los main destinations of pilgrimage and religious visit in Medanattracting not only Catholics, but also visitors to another