ResearcherFacts: Put up some stub basic info - done

2025-09-02T02:04:22Z

Put up some stub basic info - done

New page

{{Infobox church
| name = St. Mary's Forane Church, Bharananganam
| image = Bharananganam.jpg
| caption = St. Mary's Forane Church, Bharananganam
| location = [[Bharananganam]], [[Kottayam district]], [[Kerala]]
| country = [[India]]
| pushpin map = India Kerala
| coordinates = {{coord|9|42|00|N|76|43|40|E|display=inline,title}}
| denomination = [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]]
| tradition =
| website =
| architectural type = Modern
| style =
| parish =
| membership =
| dedication = [[Saint Mary]]
| archdiocese = [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Palai|Palai]]
| founded date = {{Start date and age|1004}}<ref name="Outlook">{{cite news |title=Pala: Sacred Heart of Kottayam |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/traveller/ot-getaway-guides/pala_sacred_heart_of_kottayam |publisher=Outlook India}}</ref>
| diocese =
| district = Kottayam
|archbishop = [[Raphael Thattil]]
| vicar = Fr. Attappatt Zacharias
| asstpriest = Fr. Vazhayil Thomas, Fr. Vaakkethakkidiyel Kuriakose
}}

'''St. Mary's Forane Church, Bharananganam''' (established in 1004 A.D.) is a [[Syro-Malabar Church|Syro-Malabar Catholic church]] located in [[Kottayam district]] of [[Kerala]], [[India]]. Located in a small town named Anakkallu in [[Bharananganam]], the church is also known as '''Bharananganam Church''' or '''Anakkallu church'''. It is one of the oldest church and Christian pilgrim centre in Kottayam district.

The tomb of [[Alphonsa of the Immaculate Conception|Saint Alphonsa]] is in this church.<ref name="New Indian Express">{{cite news |title=Over 100,000 take part in function for Saint Alphonsa |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2008/Nov/09/over-100000-take-part-in-function-for-saint-alphonsa-5502.html |publisher=[[The New Indian Express]]}}</ref> The podium where [[Pope John Paul II]] addressed the audience in 1986, was also removed and preserved as a monument in the church.

==Etymology==
When they prepared to build a church in Bharanganam, there was a big dispute among the locals about where to build it. When it was not possible to find a solution to this, a decision was made that a stone can be placed in the elephant's trunk and a church can be built wherever the elephant places the stone.<ref name="Elizabath">{{cite web |last1=Joseph |first1=Elizabath |title=അൽഫോൻസാമ്മയുടെ സ്മരണകളുറങ്ങുന്ന ഭരണങ്ങാനം |url=https://malayalam.nativeplanet.com/travel-guide/let-us-pilgrimage-the-tomb-st-alphonsa-bharananganam/articlecontent-pf32536-002962.html}}</ref> It is believed that the place where the elephant laid the stone was later known as Anakkallu (combination of two Malayalam words "Ana" (meaning elephant) and "kallu" (meaning stone)) and the church built there was known as Anakkallu Palli.<ref name="Elizabath"/>

==Parishes under this Forane==
Amparanirappel St. John's Church (established 21 August 1917), Choondachery St. Joseph's Church (established 24 July 1994), Edappady St. Joseph's Church (established 1886), Idamattom St. Michael's Church (established 15 July 1865), Kizhaparayar St. Gregorios Church (established 17 November 1926), Mallikassery St. Thomas Church (established 1954), Paika St. Joseph's Church (established 1901), Plassanal St. Mary's Church (established 16 July 1848), Poovathodu St. Thomas Church (established 1887) and Vilakkumadom St. Fransis Xavier Church (established 1849) are the parishes under this Forane.<ref name="CHURCH">{{cite web |title=ST. MARY'S FORANE CHURCH |url=https://www.palaidiocese.com/church-profile/3}}</ref>

==St. Alphonsa Church, Bharanganam==
A cemetery chapel of St. Mary's Church was started in 1945.<ref name="Government">{{cite web |title=പ്രധാനപ്പെട്ട തീര്‍ത്ഥാടന കേന്ദ്രങ്ങള്‍ |url=https://kottayam.nic.in/%E0%B4%AA%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%B0%E0%B4%A7%E0%B4%BE%E0%B4%A8%E0%B4%AA%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%AA%E0%B5%86%E0%B4%9F%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%9F-%E0%B4%A4%E0%B5%80%E0%B4%B0%E0%B5%8D%E2%80%8D%E0%B4%A4%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%A5%E0%B4%BE/ |publisher=[[Government of Kerala]]}}</ref> The tomb of Saint Alphonsa was in that cemetery chapel. On 12 October 2008, after Alphonsama was beatified, a church was built there and was named St. Alphonsa Church.<ref name="Government"/> Thousands of devotees come and participate in this feast associated with the anniversary of Saint Alphonsa's death, on July 28 every year in the church.<ref name="Government"/>

Almost 40 years after Alphonsa's death, on February 8, 1986, Pope John Paul II beatified Alphonsa and [[Kuriakose Elias Chavara]] on the same day at Nehru stadium in [[Kottayam]].<ref name="ManoramaOnline">{{cite news |title=Papal visit to India in the offing! Cardinals hold talks with PM Modi|url=https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2021/01/20/pope-francis-likely-to-visit-india.html |publisher=[[Malayala Manorama]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-11-09 |title=Over 100,000 take part in function for Saint Alphonsa |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2008/Nov/09/over-100000-take-part-in-function-for-saint-alphonsa-5502.html |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> The podium where Pope John Paul addressed the audience and conducted the Mass in February 1986, was also removed and preserved as a monument in the church, in front of the tomb of Saint Alphonsa.<ref name="ManoramaOnline"/> The Alphonsa Museum, which houses hundreds of exhibits related to the life of Saint Alphonsa, is also located in the chapel compound.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tomb of St. Alphonsa Bharananganam |url=https://kcbc.co.in/KCBC/Pilgrims/12 |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=kcbc.co.in}}</ref>

==Honors==
The Indian Postal Department issues a special pictorial cancellation stamp to post offices connected to popular tourist destinations and pilgrimages in India. Bharananganam Church is one of the third Christian churches in Kerala to receive this honor ([[Malayattoor Saint Thomas Church|Malayattoor Church]] and [[St. Joseph's Parish Shrine, Pavaratty|Pavaratty Church]] are the other two churches).<ref name="MM">{{cite web |title=pavaratty st joseph church {{!}} വിശ്വാസികളുടെ നേർച്ചപ്പണം ധൂർത്തടിക്കില്ല; രണ്ട് കോടിയോളം രൂപ നിരാലംബർക്കും അശരണർക്കും നൽകും; പള്ളിപ്പെരുന്നാളിന് ധൂർത്തും ആർഭാടവും ഉണ്ടാകില്ല; പൂരമാതൃകയിൽ കോടികൾ ഒഴുക്കുന്ന മത്സരത്തിനും തെക്കും ഭാഗവും വടക്കും ഭാഗവും ഇത്തവണ ഇല്ല; പാവറട്ടി സെന്റ് ജോസഫ് ദേവാലയം മാതൃകയാവുന്നത് ഇങ്ങനെ - MarunadanMalayalee.com |url=https://www.marunadanmalayalee.com/news/special-report/pavaratty-st-joseph-church-105915 |website=www.marunadanmalayalee.com |date=9 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201209053557/https://www.marunadanmalayalee.com/news/special-report/pavaratty-st-joseph-church-105915 |archive-date=9 December 2020 }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Syro-Malabar Catholic church buildings]]
[[Category:Churches in Kottayam district]]
[[Category:Ancient churches of the Saint Thomas Christians (pre-1606)]]

St. Mary's Forane Church, Bharananganam - Revision history

ResearcherFacts: Put up some stub basic info - done