Cansaulim: The feast of the Epiphany, also known as the Three Kings feast, will be celebrated at the chapel of Nossa Senhora dos Remedios atop the hill at Cuelim, Cansaulim, on January 6.
The feast of the Epiphany which commemorates the self-manifestation of Jesus is celebrated every year at Cansaulim as also in Chandor and Reis Magos, Verem, with great reverence and devotion. The chapel atop the 100m-high Cuelim hill, which commands a picturesque view of the surroundings and Arabian Sea, has become famous due to the annual feast.
The chapel was founded by a Jesuit priest, Fr Gonsalo Carvalho, in circa 1599 and is affiliated with the St Thomas Church, Cansaulim.
Three young lads, one each from Cansaulim, Arossim and Cuelim, will don the mantle of the three wise men Melchior, Balthazar and Gasper to enact the Three Kings, also known as the Magi or the Wise Men from the East, who followed the guiding star to worship the child Jesus.
These boys travel on horseback through three different paths and converge some distance away from the chapel of Our Lady of Remedies (Nossa Senhora dos Remedios), on the hill at Cuelim and proceed to the chapel together to attend the solemn feast mass at10.30am, The Times of India reported.
Regular hourly masses will be offered from 5am, 6am, 7am, 8am, 9am and 12.30pm and 4.30pm.
This year, the honour and privilege to be one of the Three Kings has been given to Miguel Gracias of Cansaulim, Clive Gomes of Arossim and Nathan Colaco of Cuelim. The privilege to organize the feast rests with the ‘vangods’ of the gaunkars (native Goans ) of the comunidade of Cansaulim, Arossim and Cuelim for their assistance rendered to the early church in Goa. It is this inheritance that the boys of Cansaulim, Arossim and Cuelim beget by their anointment, while they participate in the kingship, prophetic mission and the royal priesthood of Jesus.
In the ancient times, circa 67 AD, the feast of the Epiphany commemorated three important events in the life of Jesus, namely: The self- manifestation of Jesus and the visit of the three Magi, the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan at the hands of John the Baptist and Jesus’ first miracle at the wedding in Cana. The Greek orthodox church till date celebrates Christmas on January 6.
Fr Jean de Cruz Fernandes, vicar of St Thomas Church, Cansaulim, informed that on the feast day, there will be frequent shuttle bus service plying from St Thomas Church, Cansaulim, and Our Lady of Assumption Church, Velsao, to the Cuelim hill.
Fernandes has requested the public not to take their vehicles onto the hill so as to help ease the traffic congestion and to avail of the shuttle bus service.