St. Peter and St. Paul's Church, Parumala

2022-05-02T04:13:19Z

2402:8100:2465:DCFE:0:0:0:1:

{{primary sources|date=September 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox church
| name = Saint Peter's and Saint Paul's Orthodox Church, Parumala
| image = Parumala Church.jpg
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| caption = St. Peter's and St. Paul's Orthodox church, Parumala
| pushpin map = India
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| coordinates = {{coord|9.3247|76.5369|display=inline,title}}
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| location = P.O, Thiruvalla, Parumala Seminary, Parumala, Kerala 689626, India
| country = [[India]]
| denomination = [[Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church]]
| previous denomination =
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| founded date = 1895
| founder = Metropolitan Joseph Mar Dionysius
| dedication =
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| consecrated date = 1895
| cult =
| relics = Tomb of St. Gregorios
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| people = [[Oriental Orthodox]] Christians
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| architect = [[Charles Correa]]
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| construction cost = INR 4 crore (40 million) <ref>[http://parumalachurch.org/construction-church/ Construction Cost]</ref>
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| capacity = 2000
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| episcopalarea = Malankara Metropolitan [[Baselios Marthoma Mathews III]]
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| diocese = [[Niranam Diocese]]
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| bishop = Yuhanon Mar Chrysostomos
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| website = http://parumalachurch.org
| curate =
| priestincharge = Very. Rev. K. V. Paul Ramban
| priest = Fr. J. Mathukutty,
Fr. Eldhos Elias
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'''St. Peter's and St. Paul's Malankara Orthodox Church''' also known as '''Parumala Pally''' is a famous church in [[Kerala]], [[India]]. This church is located in [[Parumala]] in Thiruvalla Taluk In [[Pathanamthitta district]] and is a pilgrimage center and mausoleum of the [[Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church]].

==History==
The village of [[Parumala]] is a small stretch of land on the shores of the river Pampa. Before the church was built, the [[Malankara Metropolitan]], Joseph Mar Dionysius wanted to establish a seminary in the area. In 1885's a two-acre plot of land was donated by Arikupurathu Mathen Karnavar to Mar Dionysius. With the land there was already a temporary church built by the Arukupurathu Family. Mar Gregorios decided to rebuild the temporary church into a more befitting and beautiful church.<ref>{{Cite web|last=World|first=Religion|date=2017-12-03|title="50 Stars of Christmas" :Parumala Church,Kerala - Symbol of Syrian Orthodox Traditions Religion World|url=https://www.religionworld.in/50-stars-christmas-parumala-churchkerala-symbol-syrian-orthodox-traditions/|access-date=2020-09-01|website=Religion World|language=English}}</ref>

Mar Gregorios used the personal gifts he received as well as the donations from parishes to build a church and adjoining seminary building. On the feast of the Mother of God, Greogorios temporarily consecrated the church and celebrated the divine [[Eucharist]] in the presence of Dionysius.<ref>{{Cite web|last=World|first=Religion|date=2017-12-03|title="50 Stars of Christmas" :Parumala Church,Kerala - Symbol of Syrian Orthodox Traditions Religion World|url=https://www.religionworld.in/50-stars-christmas-parumala-churchkerala-symbol-syrian-orthodox-traditions/|access-date=2020-09-01|website=Religion World|language=English}}</ref>

The first building was called "Azhippura" and was used for teaching church functionaries for the [[Orthodoxy|Orthodox Church]], including providing lessons in Syriac. Dionysios eventually passed the responsibility for the seminary to Mar Gregorios in order to carry on the Syriac teaching sessions more efficiently and also to help him in other church matters.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Parumala Church, Kerala|url=https://www.p4panorama.com/Gallery.aspx/parumala-church-orthodox-kerala-360/|access-date=2020-09-01|website=p4panorama}}</ref> The Church is dedicated to the Apostles [[Saint Peter|Peter]] and [[Paul the Apostle|Paul]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=World|first=Religion|date=2017-12-03|title="50 Stars of Christmas" :Parumala Church,Kerala - Symbol of Syrian Orthodox Traditions Religion World|url=https://www.religionworld.in/50-stars-christmas-parumala-churchkerala-symbol-syrian-orthodox-traditions/|access-date=2020-09-01|website=Religion World|language=English}}</ref>

==Saint Gregorios of Parumala==
[[File:Raja Ravi Varma, Gheevarghese Mar Gregorios of Parumala (1905).jpg|thumb|left|150px|[[Gheevarghese Mar Gregorios of Parumala]] (Portrait by Raja Ravi Varma, 1905)]]
This church contains the tomb of the first canonized Christian saint from India,<ref name=thehindu_03Nov>{{cite news|title=114th feast of St. Gregorios celebrated|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/114th-feast-of-St.-Gregorios-celebrated/article16091207.ece|accessdate=1 December 2020|work=The Hindu|date=3 November 2016}}</ref><ref name=dna_18Mar>{{cite news|title=1Relics of saint to be installed in Ahmedabad church|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-relics-of-saint-to-be-installed-in-ahmedabad-church-1663992|accessdate=1 December 2020|work=DNA India|date=18 March 2012}}</ref> [[Geevarghese Gregorios of Parumala|Geevarghese Mar Gregorios of Parumala]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=St. Gregorios Of Parumala – Metropolitan Geevarghese Mar Gregorios{{!}}|url=http://mosc.in/saints/st-gregorios-of-parumala-metropolitan-geevarghese-mar-gregorios|access-date=2020-09-01|website=mosc.in}}</ref> who died on 2 November 1902 at the age of 54.<ref>{{Cite news|others=Special Correspondent|date=2019-11-01|title=Hundreds pray at saint’s tomb|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/hundreds-pray-at-saints-tomb/article29857468.ece|access-date=2020-09-01|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> In 1947 he was declared a saint of the Church by the [[Catholicos]] and Malankara Metropolitan [[Baselios Geevarghese II]]. Belief in his saintly qualities caused it to become a pilgrimage center for [[Christians]] and Hindus seeking his intercession.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Verghese|first=Abraham|date=2012-05-18|title=Going on Faith|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/18/t-magazine/travel/going-on-faith-in-kerala.html|access-date=2020-09-01|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

Abraham Verghese of the New York Times wrote about his visit to the church saying

{{Blockquote|text=Mar Gregorios’s benevolent image — a cross in one hand and a scepter in the other — had stared down at me from the wall of our house in Africa when I grew up; it now hangs in my study in Palo Alto. My grandfather was a deacon in this church, and my father worshiped here every Sunday until he left Kerala. My grandparents are buried in the adjacent cemetery. During our summer holidays, we would all walk from the ancestral home to the boat jetty on the Pampa river and then be poled across on long boats to the far bank where the church stood. Now, a broad bridge spans the river and the crumbling old church has been replaced by a postmodern one built in 1989.|author=Abraham Verghese|title=Going on Faith|source=New York Times}}

==Present church==
The present church, which can accommodate more than 2000 worshipers, was designed by acclaimed architect and award winner, [[Charles Correa]].<ref>[http://parumalachurch.org/church-reconstruction-project-design/ Parumala Church Reconstruction]</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-06-18|title=Inspiration in brick and mortar: Architects talk about Charles Correa|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/art-and-culture/inspiration-in-brick-and-mortar-architects-talk-about-charles-correa/story-KoDYMa2yrhxk5aj0H7XbsL.html|access-date=2020-09-01|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Charles Correa, legendary Indian architect, dies at 84|url=https://archinect.com/news/article/129791024/charles-correa-legendary-indian-architect-dies-at-84|access-date=2020-09-01|website=Archinect|language=en}}</ref> It is a circular design with an inner diameter of 39 meters. This circle is again divided into three segments by two chords of 16 meters length.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Desk|first=India TV News|date=2014-09-21|title=Five most famous churches in India|url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/five-most-famous-churches-in-india-42270.html|access-date=2020-09-01|website=www.indiatvnews.com|language=en}}</ref>

In 2018, under the direction of Fr. Ashwin Fernandes, the main altar wall of the church was iconographically adorned with the "largest icon painting in Malankara."<ref>{{Cite web|title=മലങ്കരയിലെ ഏറ്റവും വലിയ ഐക്കണ്‍ പെയിന്റിംഗ് പരുമലയില്‍|url=https://www.kvartha.com/2018/10/biggest-icon-painting-in-malankara-is.html|access-date=2020-09-01|website=KVARTHA: MALAYALAM NEWS {{!}} KERALA NEWS {{!}} KERALA VARTHA {{!}} ENTERTAINMENT ചുറ്റുവട്ടം മലയാളം വാര്‍ത്തകൾ}}</ref> The icon behind the throne includes [[Jesus|Christ]] in the center, to the left, His Mother, Yoldath Aloho Mariam ([[Theotokos]]), to the right, the forerunner, Mor Yuhanon Mam'domo ([[John the Baptist|Saint John the Baptist]]). Surrounding the three are the assembly of the [[Apostles in the New Testament|apostles]] and disciples of Christ. Fluttering their wings above the crowd are the host of angels and archangels who ceaselessly glorify God.

== External links ==
* {{official website|https://www.parumalachurch.org/}}
* [http://mosc.in/ Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church]

==Photo Gallery==
{{commons category|Parumala Church}}
<gallery>
File:ParumalaChurch InsideView.jpg|Inside view of Parumala church
File:Parumala-Church-Front.jpg|Front view of the church
File:Azhippura1.jpg|''Azhippura'' - Small building where Mar Gregorios stayed in Parumala
File:StGregorios Tomb.jpg|Tomb of St.Gregorios at Parumala Church
File:Parumala-Church-Parking.jpg|Parking Area
File:Gregorious of Parumal.jpg
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}
* [[Geevarghese Gregorios of Parumala|Saint Geevarghese Mar Gregorios]]
* [[Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church]]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Peter and Saint Paul's Church, Parumala}}
[[Category:Churches in Pathanamthitta district]]
[[Category:Malankara Orthodox Syrian church buildings]]
[[Category:Religious organizations established in 1895]]
[[Category:Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church]]
[[Category:19th-century churches in India]]
[[Category:19th-century Oriental Orthodox church buildings]]

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St. Peter and St. Paul's Church, Parumala