A pilgrim center, St Paul the Hermit Shrine is located at Kalpet, about 30 km from
Viluppuram District of
Tamil Nadu. The place where the parish is located was a forest 100 years back.
Legend is that while Subramania Iyer of Kalyana Iyer family was searching for his lost cattle in this forest, the aroma of incense spread all around him and he saw the figure of a cross appearing and then suddenly vanishing in the small hill. This strange phenomenon occurred several times. At that night he had a vision, in which, St Paul the Hermit appeared and told him that he would find his cattle at the spot where he saw the miracle. Next day, Subramania Iyer and his friends searched the place and found the cattle there. They believed that St Paul the Hermit was there and a worship place was built for him at that place. It was around 1895.
Devotees from all over the country visit the shrine on the occasion of its annual festival in the month of August. Special bus services are arranged for the convenience of the pilgrims during the festival.
