St. Mary's Church, Meenangadi

St. Mary's Church, Meenangadi
E.A.E St. Mary's 'Soonoro' Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Pilgrim Church Meenangadi
Malayalam: ഇ.ഏ.ഇ സെന്‍റ് മേരീസ് 'സൂനോറോ' യാക്കൊബായ സുറിയാനി ഓർത്തഡോക്സ് തീർത്ഥാടന കേന്ദ്രം, മീനങ്ങാടി
St. Mary's Church, Meenangadi
Location in Kerala, India
11°39′34″N 76°10′03″E / 11.65934°N 76.16751°E / 11.65934; 76.16751Coordinates: 11°39′34″N 76°10′03″E / 11.65934°N 76.16751°E / 11.65934; 76.16751
Location Meenangadi (Post),Wayanad District, Kerala
Country India
Denomination Syriac Orthodox
Tradition Malankara Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Church
History
Status Soonoro Pilgrim Center
Dedication Saint Mary, Saint Thomas, Saint George
Consecrated 1 February 1958
Relics held Holy Soonoro(Holy Girdle Of St.Mary), Relics of Patriarch H.H Ignatius Elias III
Architecture
Architectural type Church
Administration
Archdiocese E.A.E Arch Diocese
District Wayanad district
Clergy
Bishop(s) Mor Chrysostomos Markose Metropolitan (Metropolitan oF EAE Arch Diocese)
Vicar(s) Fr. Jacob Thomas

E.A.E St. Mary's Soonoro Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church, Meenangadi (Malayalam: സെന്‍റ് മേരീസ് ‘സൂനോറോ’ തീര്‍ത്ഥാടന കേന്ദ്രം മീനങ്ങാടി), is a Marian Pilgrim center of Malankara Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Church[1] located at Meenangadi in Wayanad district. The Church is under E.A.E Arch Diocese,(Malayalam: പൗരസ്ത്യ സുവിശേഷ സമാജം)[2] the first missionary association of Syriac Orthodox Church, currently under direct control of Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch Of the Syriac Orthodox Church.[3] In 2006 the church was elevated to the status of Marian Pilgrim Center, and in 2008 church celebrated its Golden Jubilee. It is the first church which started 8 Day Lent in Malabar Region.[4]

Feasts

History

The migration of Syrian Christian families from Travancore, especially from Kothamangalam, Perumbavoor and Muvattupuzha to Malabar Region has started in the early 1920s.[6][7][8]St. Thomas Church Malankarakunnu is one of the first churches of Syrian Christians at the time, But due to the lack of transportation and mobility in rural areas the people had no access to church.Thus new parishes were established, Meenangadi was one of the major trade hub of Malabar Region. The 20th century schism of the Malankara Church[9] has caused rebuts and tensions. This has caused feud between members of the church to isolation and grouping. In 1958, a caucus confined parishioners from holy sacraments and forced them to move to other parishes for their sacraments. This led to the establishment of the church.Tradition says the parishioners has fasted and prayed and based on the bible verse they found 2 Chronicles 7:12 (The Bible with the underlined verse is still kept safe). Under the leadership of K.O Varghese, a parishioner took the initiate to build a temporary prayer shed at a high terrain at Meenangadi town area on his land. E.A.E missionary Rev.Fr.Geevarghese Athunkal[10] the founder of E.A.E arrived at Malabar during that time and discussed the establishment of a Church.Mor Yulios Elias Qoro, third patriarchal delegate to Malankara approved the Order for a church from H.H Ignatius Jacob III Patriarch. The new independent church was in the name of St.Mary. The forefathers of church K.O. Varghese Kaniyampadikkal, Varghese Ambhazhatinamkudi, A. Y. Markose, Kuriaykose Kollamkudiyil, Adukalil David, Cholayil Ishaqe, Adakkaravayalil Kuriyakose took the initiative to renovate the church on the land donated by K.O. Varghese.Consecration of the Church was held and the foundation Stone was laid on February 2, 1958. The first Holy Mass was celebrated by the first Vicar 'Malphono Naseeho' Very Rev. Geevarghese Athunkal Corepiscoppa[11]. In 1974 Geevarghese Mor Gregorios Perumpally[12], Thomas Mor Dhivanyasos (Baselios Thomas I)[13] arrived to the church and conducted consecration of the St.Mary's shrine in Meenangadi-54. In 1976 youth association was started in the church. In 1982 there was grand welcoming for the Apostolic Visit[14] of Patriarch Of Antioch Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas[15] to church with Baselios Paulose II, Catholicos Mor Athanasius Paulose II Metropolitan and Mor Polycarpose Geevarghese metropolitan also supported the church.Baselios Paulose II visited the church frequently and Gifted Relics of Ignatius Elias III to the Church which was installed by Mor Polycarpose Geevarghese metropolitan and the Holy Soonoro was installed on April 28th 1991.[16]

H.B Baselious Paulose II,Very.Rev Malphono Naseeho Athungal Coreppiscoppa with K. O. Varghese

Sub-organisations

  • Mor Basil Chapel,Mepperikunnu
  • St. Mary's Sunday School under M.J.S.S.A (Malankara Jacobite Syrian Sunday School Association)[17]
  • Mor Ignatius Youth Association
  • Mor Baselios Charitable Trust
  • St.Mary's Women's League

Relics held

Holy Soonoro ( Holy Girdle Of St.Mary)

Icon depiction the Soonoro giving her Girdle to Thomas the Apostle. Below is a styllized representation of Mary's Tomb, with flowers lying on the sarcophagus.

According to Orthodox Church tradition, the Virgin Mary died in the presence of all apostles except Thomas the Apostle. At the time of the assumption, Thomas was in India and he returned to Jerusalem and travelled on the sky by the help of Holy Spirit to attend the assumption of Mary. But he was late in arriving and the saint visualised that Mary's body was taken by the Angels. At that time St.Thomas could reach there. Thomas had doubtful nature. In order to convince others he requested to Mary to give him any sign of her for her memory and remembrance. Then a chariot stopped in the air and Mary gave her girdle to Thomas. He showed this girdle to other disciples of Jesus and convinced them. He took this soonoro (girdle) on his journey. Many miracles have been reported since then after touching or even seeing this girdle. St.Thomas and the people believed its power. It was taken to Şanlıurfa, then kept in a church in Homs in Syria. The original girdle is a relic belonging to Saint Mary Church of the Holy Belt.[18]<[19][20]

Soonoro in E.A.E St. Mary's Church Meenangadi, Wayanad

Saint Thomas apostle kept holy belt with his, After he died as a martyr in Mylapore, the body of Thomas apostle and relics are kept in India. In 394 AD, The holy girdle moved from India to uraha. In the Syriac history of Şanlıurfa(The city has been known by many names in history: Ուռհա Uṙha in Armenian, ܐܘܪܗܝ Urhai in Syriac, ره, الرها, Ar-Ruhā in Arabic and Ορρα, Orrha in Greek (also Ορροα, Orrhoa).), it is mentioned that on August 22, 705. It was a Greek era.[21] and established in Saint Mary Church of the Holy Belt. This church is also known as Church of Holy Girdle (or)The Church of the Lady of the Girdle .The supreme head Ignatius Aphrem I Barsoum Patriarch of Antioch studied about some manuscripts and Garshunian book containing stories and speeches send by the people of Homs in 1852. The archbishop of Homs ordered to renovate the church. On 20 July 1953 A.D, The Holy Girdle discovered from the Altar Of church by Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem I Barsoum in the presence of Alexandros, the Greek Orthodox bishop of Homs, Syria. This girdle is considered to be one of the most important relic in Syriac Orthodox Church. [22][23]

Relics of Patriarch Ignatius Elias III

Mor Ignatius Elias III (died February 13, 1932) was the 119th Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch from 1917 to 1932. H.H is buried at the monastery of Manjinikkara Dayara in Kerala,[24] India, where there is are many Syriac Orthodox Christians. The monastery is now a site of pilgrimage for Syriac Orthodox Christians.The church also holds the sacred relics of St. Elias Third.[25]

Historical visits to the church

Apostolic Visits of Patriarch of Antioch

YearPatriarch
1982Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, Patriarch of Antioch & All East.

Maphrians

Baselios Paulose II, the second Catholicos/Maphrian of the Malankara Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church. [26][27][28][29]
Baselios Thomas I, Catholicos/Maphrian of the Malankara Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Church.[30]

Patriarchal Delegates & Metropolitans

Mor Yulios Elias Qoro,Third Patriarchal Delegate to Malankara.
Mor Athanasius Paulose (Kadavil II)(Metropolitan of E.A.E Arch Diocese)[31]
Geevarghese Mor Gregorios Perumbalil(perumbally thirumeni)[32]
Mor Clemis Abraham, 'Great Metropolitan of the East' of Knanaya Diocese.[33]
Mor Philoxenos Shamuel Metropolitan of Malabar Diocese.
Mor Polycarpose Geevarghese (Metropolitan of E.A.E Arch Diocese)
Yuhanon Mor Philoxenos Valiya Thirumeni,Bishop Emeritus of Malabar Diocese

Clergy

Rev 'Malphono Naseeho' Athunkal Geevarghese Coreppiscoppa (First Vicar & Founder of the Church)
Rev 'Malankara Malpan' Kurien Kaniamparambil Corepiscopa
Fr. Philip Pallichira Kathanar(Ass.Vicar of Church During 1958)
Fr. Boniface Kathanar,Manglore(Ass.Vicar of Church During 1958)
Fr. P.K Mathews Pazhamadam(Ass.Vicar of Church During 1958)
Rev Alexander Coreppiscoppa

Forefathers of the church

K.O Varghese Kaniyampadikkal(Donated Land and Former Secretary & Trustee of Church,E.A.E Managing Committee Member).
Kuriyakose Kollamkudiyil(Former Secretary & Trustee of Church).
Kuriyakose Adakkaravayalil(Former Secretary & Trustee of Church).
A.K Thomas Adakkaravayalil(Former Secretary & Trustee of Church,E.A.E Managing Committee Member).
Addakkaravayalil Yuyakkim Kuriyakose(First Head Master of Sunday School).
Varkey Puthuppadi Adivaaram (First verger of the Church).
Kanjiramkolath Varkey(First Assistant Reader of Church)
Cholyail Pappy(First Assistant Reader of Church)

Daughter parish

E.A.E Mar Behnam Malankara Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Church Kallinkara - Cheeral[34][35]

References

  1. ↑ "Jacobie Syrian Christian Church Website".
  2. ↑ "E.A.E".
  3. ↑ "Syriac Orthodox Church Official Website".
  4. ↑ "Syriac Orthodox (Jacobite) Churches in India". www.syriacchristianity.info.
  5. ↑ Hage, Wolfgang (2007). Das orientalische Christentum (in German). W. Kohlhammer Verlag. ISBN 9783170176683.
  6. ↑ Mateer, Samuel (1871). "The Land of Charity:": A Descriptive Account of Travancore and Its People, with Especial Reference to Missionary Labour. J. Snow and Company.
  7. ↑ "Wayanad District,Kerala Website".
  8. ↑ Joseph, Kumbattu Varkey (1988). Migration and Economic Development of Kerala. Mittal Publications. ISBN 9788170990925.
  9. ↑ "The 20th century schism in the Malankara Church". www.syriacchristianity.info.
  10. ↑ Very Rev. Geevarghese Cor-Episcopa Athunkal, Founder,forefathers,. "The Evangelistic Association of the East,EAE,Perumbavoor,Kerala,India". eaepbr.org.
  11. ↑ www.ots.edu.in/userfiles/Library%20Archives.doc
  12. ↑ Joseph, Thomas. "Mor Gregorius Gheevarghese, Perumpilly (1933-1999)". sor.cua.edu.
  13. ↑ "Primates of the Malankara Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church".
  14. ↑ "Apostolic Visit 1982".
  15. ↑ "Patriarch H.H.Ignatius Zakka I Iwas". syriacchristianity.info.
  16. ↑ "Biography Of Mor Polycarpus Geevarghese".
  17. ↑ "Malankara Jacobite syrian Sunday School Association". www.mjssa.in.
  18. ↑ Diana Darke (15 August 2014). My House in Damascus: An Inside View of the Syrian Revolution. Haus Publishing. pp. 84–. ISBN 978-1-908323-65-1.
  19. ↑ Observations on Palaestine Or the Holy Land, Syria, Mesopotamia, Cyprus, and Candia: 2,1. Bowyer. 1745. pp. 18–.
  20. ↑ ""Holy Soonoro (Holy Girdle) of our Mother" (Discovery)". 14 August 2014.
  21. ↑ The Orien Biblio of Assimaany | Volume I | page 399
  22. ↑ Excerpts from a Patriarchal statement on the Girdle of Our Lady the Virgin Mary in the Church of Homs | Syria records how the belt was discovered. Thomas Joseph, Ph.D
  23. ↑ The Oxford History of Christian Worship | pg 157 | https://books.google.co.in/books?isbn=0195138864
  24. ↑ http://www.manjinikarachurch.com/
  25. ↑ SOR. "Patriarch Mor Elias III Shakir (1867-1932)". sor.cua.edu.
  26. ↑ Ostkirchliche Studien (in German). Augustinus-Verlag. 1981.
  27. ↑ Bryner, Erich (1996). Die Ostkirchen vom 18. bis zum 20. Jahrhundert (in German). Evangelische Verlagsanstalt. ISBN 9783374016204.
  28. ↑ Thomas, M. A.; L., M. A. Thomas (1977). An Outline History of Christian Churches and Denominations in Kerala. Thomas.
  29. ↑ Leustean, Lucian N. (2014). Eastern Christianity and Politics in the Twenty-First Century. Routledge. ISBN 9781317818656.
  30. ↑ "Jacobite Church synod meets on Monday". The Hindu. 7 July 2017.
  31. ↑ "21st Dukhrono of Dr. Paulose Mor Athanasius (Kadavil II) & 1st Dukhrono of Geevarghese Mor Policarpose observed by the Malankara Archdiocese - Malankara Archdiocese of The Syrian Orthodox Church In North America". www.malankara.com.
  32. ↑ "About Perumpally Thirumeni". www.perumpallysimhasanapally.org.
  33. ↑ Joseph, Thomas. "Mor Clemis Abraham Vayala (1918 - 2002)". sor.cua.edu.
  34. ↑ Cheeral, Bathery
  35. ↑ "Google Maps". Google Maps.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.