Among the liturgical and Easter devotional exercises, Easter dramas and displays of the Lord's Cross have a special place. Many churches still use crucifixes to make the sign of the cross and preach the sermon, even if they do not perform Easter scenes. This review is about the tradition of crucifixes that are still being created in this country.
During the Portuguese period, a tradition of religious drama began in Sri Lanka from the 16th century as a religious tactic of the Jesuits and Franciscan missionaries. During the era of Sri Lankan Church innovation, during the Dutch pressure, Sh. In the unique contribution of sage Juse Vaz, the Easter tradition of statues that we still have today as remnants began. It originated in the art form of autos, which started in England and later became popular in countries like Spain and Portugal. It came to Asian countries through the Portuguese, and the city of Goa, which was the eastern center of the Portuguese, was the eastern homeland of these traditions, and the St. Paul's College there was a great help to make these traditions regional and fleshed out through Asian dynamics. Sh. who studied at this university. This first Easter was spread in this country with the special contribution of Reverend Jose Vaz and Most Reverend Father Jacom Gonsalves. That year. W. Since 1705. AD It is said that the actors were brought from Goa for the Easter plays that started in Vanni in 1705. Those statues are still seen in Parapankandal Church and Paesalai Church not far from Mannar. It is now accepted that the oldest Easter in Sri Lanka started from Vanni. Because of this, in these eras, in the churches of Vanni and Kandy, St. During the week, this first Easter drama took place. Here Sh. The book Mahapadanamaskaraya written by Sage Juse Vaz was composed based on the Padanamaskaraya held in Goa at that time. After that, with the special contribution of the Oratorian sect missionaries in Goa, these statues were popular in eastern areas such as Kottiar, Mullaitivu, Alambil, Batticaloa and in areas such as Mattakotuwa, Halawatha, Negombo, Bolawatta, Pitipana, Duwa, Wawela, Modara, Jaela, Pamunugama, Kalamulla and other areas. for Most Reverend Jacome Gonçalves Pujaprasadeen's Suffering Concert and the Book of the Nine Sermons were a great help. Were statues brought to this country from Goa in the early days for these Easter scenes? Later, skilled sculptors who lived in this country also started creating these Easter statues. Among them, the sculptor Peduru, who was a brother of Saradiel, Dikiri Kewage, stands out. The Easter statues created by him are still seen in churches such as Bolawatta, Pamunugama, etc. In addition to the Easter statues, many more wooden statues created by him are found in many churches in Colombo, Kurunegala and Halawatha.
AD In 1838, when the historical statue of Christ was brought from the city of Cochin, India for Easter, the Easter tradition in this country became more regular. Following that tradition, idols were brought from Kerala and Goa for Easter scenes in areas like Kalamulla, Pallansena, Modara, Vaikkala, Mattakotua. Later, talented artists were born to create cross statues in areas like Katuneriya, Wennappuwa and Katuwapitiya based on these statues. Among them Mr. Benjamin Fernando of Wennappuwa and Mr. Hedwigs Perera and Emmanuel Perera of Katuwapitiya are special. Later, with the beginning of creating the cross statue from fiber glass, although it declined to some extent, even today there is only one place where these statues are made from wood. He is Mr. Yohan Fernando, 34 years old, who lives in Lower Kadirana, Timbirigaskatuwa, Negombo. Recently I went to meet this sculptor. He shared his thoughts with me as follows.
"....I received this inheritance from our generation. My uncle, Hedwijas Perera, has started creating these statues. Many of the statues created by my grandfather are still seen in churches today, among them in many churches in Katuwapitiya, Kimbulapitiya, Talawila, Moratuwa... .After my grandfather, my father Emmanuel Perera started creating statues. As far as I know, he created cross statues in churches like Muruthana, Wadduva, Thabbowa, Bolawalana, Rawatawatta, Weliweriya, Wahakotte, Dalugama.... From my father. Later, I joined this work for about 15 years. Currently, I have created statues in many churches like Hekitta, Dikovita, Balagala, Burullapitiya, Sirigampola, Seeduwa Liyanagemulla, Gampaha.
Some of the statues were brought from Kerala, India. Some of the statues were created by my fathers and grandfathers. Many times eyes and heads are made for those statues, canvases are applied, hair and beards are arranged and they are painted again.
I make new sculptures only from kohomba wood. Therefore, it can be kept for more than 100 years. It is very difficult to find kohomba logs. Today it costs about 4 1/2 lakhs to create this statue. The cross statues I create are about 7 feet by 02 inches. People from many churches hand over these statues to us after praying
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