When Heaven Revealed the Face of Christ

The Beginning of the Unfolding Mystery

It was April 28, 2001, in the small parish of St. Mary’s Church, Chirattakonam, nestled in the Diocese of Travandrum, India. The parishioners gathered to begin their annual novena to St. Jude Thaddeus. As Reverend Fr. Johnson Karnoor exposed the Most Holy Sacrament in the monstrance for adoration at 8:49 a.m., he noticed something peculiar—a set of three small dots on the surface of the Holy Eucharist.

Perplexed yet intrigued, Fr. Karnoor invited the faithful to observe this unusual phenomenon. Though puzzled, the priest decided to repose the monstrance in the tabernacle, leaving the matter to prayer and contemplation. The days following seemed ordinary, but the mysterious dots lingered in his mind.

The Revelation of May 5th

Nearly a week later, on the morning of May 5th, Fr. Karnoor returned to the church after a brief trip to Trivandrum. As he prepared the church for the day’s liturgical celebrations, he opened the tabernacle to check the Eucharist in the monstrance. What he saw stunned him—a human-like face had appeared on the Host, strikingly resembling Christ crowned with thorns.

Overwhelmed by what seemed like a divine manifestation, Fr. Karnoor knelt in awe. Seeking confirmation, he called over an altar server and asked him to describe what he saw. Without hesitation, the boy affirmed the image of a man’s face. The congregation, invited to behold the sight, was overcome with wonder and devotion as they too recognized the face of Christ.

A Vision of Clarity and Faith

As adoration continued, the image became progressively clearer. Tears welled up in Fr. Karnoor’s eyes as he witnessed this miraculous event. That day’s Gospel reading was from John 20:24-29, recounting Jesus’ appearance to St. Thomas. The words, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe,” echoed powerfully, as if the Scripture was speaking directly to the faithful present.

Fr. Karnoor swiftly summoned a photographer to document the phenomenon. Within two hours, photographs confirmed what the congregation had seen—the face of Christ on the Host, becoming sharper with time. The parish was filled with reverence, many falling to their knees in prayer, thanking God for this extraordinary sign.

A Miracle Preserved

The miraculous Host has since been preserved in the monstrance at St. Mary’s Church. His Beatitude Cyril Mar Baselios, Archbishop of the Diocese of Travandrum, verified the event, stating:

“For us believers, what we have seen is something that we have always believed. If our Lord is speaking to us by giving us a sign, it certainly needs a response from us.”

Each year, the miracle is commemorated, especially during the Feast of Corpus Christi, drawing pilgrims and locals alike to venerate the sacred Host.

A Testament of Faith

This Eucharistic miracle of 2001 continues to inspire devotion, reminding the faithful of Christ’s real presence in the Blessed Sacrament. For those who witnessed it, the event was not merely a moment of awe but a call to deeper faith and a renewal of trust in the mysteries of God. In the quiet reverence of St. Mary’s Church, the miraculous Host remains a testament to the enduring love and grace of Christ.