Anno Domini 1653
The Oath of the Bent Cross
On the 24th of January 1653, before the great granite cross at Our Lady's Church in Mattanchery, the faithful of the Malabar Coast bowed their cross with the weight of their hands and made a vow that would echo through centuries.
Anno 1653
Nossa Senhora da Vida
Mattanchery · Cochin
We and our children will never submit to the Jesuits, nor will we accept Archbishop Garcia. We will recognise only the governance of our Archdeacon as the true shepherd of our church.
History
A church anchored in history
Our Lady's Church in Mattanchery stands as the silent witness to one of the most consequential moments in the Christian history of India. This site preserves that story for the Latin Catholic faithful of the Diocese of Cochin and pilgrims the world over.
Our Lady's Church
Plan your visit
Mass timings, sacraments and how to find us at Mattanchery, Kochi.