The Eucharistic sign that occurred on November 13, 2013, at Christ the King Church, Vilakkannur, in the Archeparchy of Thalassery, has received official recognition from the Vatican. On that day, during the early morning Holy Qurbana celebrated by then-vicar Fr. Thomas Pathickal, an extraordinary event took place when the Holy Face of Jesus appeared on the Sacred Host. At the moment of the Epiclesis prayer during the Holy Qurbana, a sign began to manifest in the center of the Host, and very quickly, the image of the Holy Face of Jesus became visible. The Host was then placed in the monstrance, and the Qurbana continued. After the Qurbana, the vicar showed the Host to the faithful present, and the miraculous image was placed in the monstrance for public adoration. Thousands of people flocked to see the Sacred Host.
Following the instructions of the then-Archbishop Mar George Valiamattam, the Host was taken to the Archbishop’s House in Thalassery on November 17, 2013, and kept in secrecy. Cardinal Mar George Alencherry, who was the Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church at the time, was informed of this phenomenon. The Major Archbishop assigned the Doctrinal Commission of the Syro-Malabar Church, comprising Mar Joseph Kallarangatt, Mar George Njaralakatt, and Mar Joseph Arumachadath, to study the matter. A committee of experts—Msgr. Mathew Vellanickal, Rev. Dr. Jose Palackeel MST, Rev. Dr. Siby Pulickal, Rev. Dr. Joseph Pamplany, Rev. Dr. Thomas Melvettath, and Rev. Dr. George Kudilil—was formed under the Commission to thoroughly study the phenomenon and submit a report. The study was completed, and the report was submitted on December 21, 2013. The Sacred Host continued to be kept secretly in the chapel of the Archbishop’s House.
Mar George Njaralakatt, instructed then-Auxiliary Bishop and CBCI Doctrinal Commission member Mar Joseph Pamplany, who later became Archbishop, to continue studying the phenomenon. After five years, the Host was returned to Vilakkannur parish church on August 22, 2018. Archbishop Mar George Njaralakatt issued a decree with specific directives and informed the faithful that official recognition of this miraculous phenomenon should come from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.
On January 15, 2024, the Sacred Host was returned to the Thalassery Archbishops House from the Apostolic Nunciature in Delhi. The return was based on the fact that India possessed the facilities required for the further scientific studies recommended by Rome.
Three specific scientific tests were proposed by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith:
1. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy analysis or FTIR analysis. 2. HPLC- Ms or High – Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and 3. Mass Spectrometry.
Since the required equipment was available at Christ University, Bangalore, with permission from the Dicastery, the studies were conducted in its laboratories. A committee of scientists was appointed to conduct the studies, as per the Dicastery’s instructions.
On January 23, 2024, the Sacred Host was brought to Christ University, Bangalore, for further examination. The scientific committee included Dr. Jyothis Devassia, Research Wing, Common Instrumentation Lab, Christ University; Dr. Joby Xavier, Head and Director of the Department of Life Sciences and Chemistry, Christ University; and Dr. P. T. Varghese, Head of the Forensic Department, St. John’s Medical College, Bangalore. The theological committee included Rev. Dr. George Karot and Rev. Dr. Sebastian Chalackal. Together, they conducted the required tests and studies and prepared a report.
The tests aimed to identify whether any external material had influenced the formation of the image on the Host. The conclusions reaffirmed the Catholic faith in the real presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist-not based on any natural phenomenon but rooted in the institution of the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper, when Jesus commanded, “Do this in memory of me” (1 Cor 11:24–25). The Church believes that the bread and wine truly become the Body and Blood of Christ by His Word and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
The complete report of the confidential study was submitted to Rome via the Apostolic Nunciature on April 2, 2024. After evaluating both the scientific findings and theological reflections, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, through the Nunciature, declared on March 19, 2025, that there was no objection to declaring the Eucharistic phenomenon at Vilakkannur as an extraordinary event.
A Malayalam translation of the decree was prepared and sent to the Dicastery, the Syro-Malabar Major Archbishop, and the President of the CBCI. Upon receiving the translated decree in Rome, the Dicastery granted Archbishop Mar Joseph Pamplany permission to inform the faithful about this miraculous phenomenon.
Scientific findings concluded that the same material found in the rest of the Host was also present in the image area and that the image was formed from the material of the Host itself. No external substances were found to have influenced the formation of the image.
On May 9, 2025, during the Holy Qurbana at Christ the King Church in Vilakkannur, Archbishop Mar Joseph Pamplany informed the faithful of the official recognition. On May 31, 2025, at 2:30 p.m., Apostolic Nuncio to India, Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, made the official proclamation at Christ the King Church, Vilakkannur, in the presence of bishops, priests, religious, and the faithful of the Archeparchy of Thalassery.
