->Varghese T Mathew at 04:48, 29 September 2021

2021-09-29T04:48:25Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox church
| name = St Thomas Orthodox Syrian Cathedral<br />(Mulanthuruthy Marthoman Church)
| image = Mulanthuruthymarthomanchurch.jpg
| caption = Front view of Mulanthuruthy Marthoman Cathedral
| dedication = [[Thomas the Apostle|St. Thomas]]
| founded date = 1100 AD
| vicar =
| denomination = [[Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church]]<ref name=newIndian>{{cite news|title=HC directs collector to hand over Mulanthuruthy church to Orthodox group|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/2020/oct/17/hc-directs-collector-tohand-over-mulanthuruthy-church-to-orthodox-group-2211295.html|accessdate=12 December 2020|work=New Indian Express|date=17 October 2012}}</ref><ref name=mathru>{{cite news|title=Hand over key of Mulanthuruthy church to Orthodox faction within 2 weeks, says HC|url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/hand-over-key-of-mulanthuruthy-church-to-orthodox-faction-within-2-weeks-says-hc-1.5134751|accessdate=12 December 2020|work=Mathrubhumi.English Edition|date=16 October 2012}}</ref>

| diocese = [[Kochi Orthodox Diocese|Kochi Diocese]]
| tradition = [[Syriac language|Syriac]], [[Malayalam]]
| location = [[Mulanthuruthy]], [[Ernakulam district]], [[Kerala]]
| country = [[India]]
| pushpin map = India Kerala#India
| coordinates = {{coord|11.1750|75.9187|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
}}
The '''St. Thomas Syrian Cathedral''', also known as '''Marthoman Church''', is located at [[Mulanthuruthy]] in [[Ernakulam district]] in [[Kerala]], [[India]]. This is the home parish of Saint [[Gheevarghese Mar Gregorios of Parumala]], 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=Relics 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 Mar 2012}}</ref> Ownership of this church had been under dispute for long time and 2017 supreme court judgement stated [[Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church]] as the official Malankara Church and the cathedral was regained by the Malankara Church through court orders which was implemented in November 2020.<ref name=newIndian/><ref name=mathru/>

==History==
The church was established in 11th century and modified in 16th century (in 1550) by the [[Knanaya]] Tharakan (minister) Kunchacko of the Kunnassery family. Due to an altercation between the Syrian Christians and the [[Vadakkumkur|Kingdom of Vadakkumkur]] Kunchacko had gathered the Knanaya of [[Kaduthuruthy Valiya Palli|Kaduthuruthy Church]] as well as all Syrian Christians he could find within Vadakkumkur and moved them to Mulanthuruthy. Upon arrival Kunchacko had sanctioned the building of the Mulanthuruthy Church. Later the Knanaya were called back to their home church of Kaduthuruthy by the descendants of the King of Vadakkumkur, leaving Mulanthuruthy Church in the care of the Syrian Christians who remained there.{{sfn|Karukaparambil|2005|p=150}}{{sfn|Whitehouse|1873|p=125}}

[[File:MulanthuruthyChurch2.jpg|thumb|left|Interior of the church]]
The church is home to a relic of [[Thomas the Apostle]], which was brought from [[Mosul]] and given as a gift by the then [[Patriarch of Antioch]].<ref name="india9">{{cite web|url=http://www.india9.com/i9show/Mulanthuruthy-Marthoman-Church-24133.htm|title=Mulanthuruthy Marthoman Church in Mulanthuruthy India|publisher=india9.com|accessdate=2014-06-06}}</ref> The church also contains tombs of Mor Kurilos Yuyakim from tur'abdin, Mor Ivanius Hidayatulla ([[Syriac Orthodox Patriarchal Delegates of India|Patriarchal Delegates of Malankara]]), Mor Gregorius Yuhanan the Patriarch of Jerusalem and relics of [[Gheevarghese Mar Gregorios of Parumala|Parumala Mar Gregorios]] entombed at Parumala Church and [[Ignatius Elias III]] the [[Patriarch of Antioch]] entombed at [[Manjanikkara Dayara|Manjinikkara Church]]. Pilgrims visit the church to view the [[murals]] and the tombs of holy fathers.

[[File:Pallimeda mulamthuruthy church.jpg|thumb|''Pallimeda'' – Building next to the church]]
Mulanthuruthy church is having a prominent place in [[Malankara Church]] history. This church was the venue of the Mulanthuruthy Synod held on the year 1876.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mulunthuruthy PADIYOLA|url=http://www.syriacchristianity.info/PARAVUR/mulunthuruthy_padiyola.htm|access-date=2020-12-13|website=www.syriacchristianity.info}}</ref> Ownership of this church was under dispute after the splits in [[Malankara Church]] into the Patriarch and Metropolitan factions of the [[Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church]] and the factions had been engaged in dispute over ownership of many churches including Mulanthuruthy Church. Mulanthuruthy Church was illegally kept by the Patriarch faction. In 2017, the Supreme Court of India had ruled in favour of the Orthodox faction in the century-old dispute on the ownership of the churches. In August 2020, Ernakulam district administration took the possession of the church as per the direction from Kerala High Court<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2020/aug/17/amidst-protests-government-takes-over-mulanthuruthy-church-metropolitans-arrested-2184422.html|title=Amidst protests, Ernakulam District Administration takes over Mulanthuruthy Church}}</ref> and later handed over the control of the church to Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church.

==Location==
The church is situated {{convert|32|km|mi}} from [[Cochin International Airport]]. The nearest railway station is Mulanthuruthy Railway Station.
{{commons category}}
==Gregorios of Parumala==
{{Main|Geevarghese Gregorios of Parumala}}
Geevargese Gregorios (15 June 1848 – 2 November 1902) was a Metropolitan of the [[Malankara Orthodox Church]] from 1876 to 1902. He was born in Pallathetta family in the Chathuruthy house in this parish, on 15 June 1848. At a very young age Geevarghese had shown interest in spiritual matters. He was a ordained as sub-deacon at the age of ten by [[Malankara Metropolitan]] [[Mathews Mar Athanasius|Palakkunnath Mathews Athanasius]] and as priest at the age of 18 by Yuyakim Koorilos ([[Syriac Orthodox Patriarchal Delegates of India|Patriarchal Delegate of Malankara]]) in 1865 and as Ramban (monk-priest) at the age of 22 by [[Malankara Metropolitan]] [[Dionysious V|Joseph Dionysios]] in 1872 and as a Bishop at the age of 28 by [[Ignatius Peter IV]] [[Patriarch of Antioch]] in 1876. He was the youngest of who all were elevated as bishops and was called Kochu Thirumeni (Young Bishop).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.syriacchristianity.info/StGG/BreifhistoryMorGregorious.htm|publisher=syriacchristianity.info|title=St Gregorios Geevarghese|accessdate=2020-12-13}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://mosc.in/saints/st-gregorios-of-parumala-metropolitan-geevarghese-mar-gregorios|publisher=mosc.in|title=St. Gregorios Of Parumala – Metropolitan Geevarghese Mar Gregorios|accessdate=2020-12-15}}</ref>

Gregorios took charge of the Niranam Diocese and started staying at Parumala. He established various churches and was the motivator to establish schools in different parts of Kerala including St. Thomas School at [[Mulanthuruthy]]. Gregorios already had stomach ulcer and it became chronic in 1902. On 2 November 1902, at the age of 54, Gregorios died. He was entombed at [[St. Peter and St. Paul's Church, Parumala|St. Peter's and St. Paul's Orthodox Syrian Church, Parumala]]. Considering the saintly life and many testimonies to the intercession of Gregorios, the [[Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church]] (in 1947) canonized Geevarghese Gregorios as a saint.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Sources==
* {{cite book | last=Karukaparambil |first= George|year=2005|title= Marganitha Kynanaitha: Knanaya Pearl |publisher= Deepika Book House|asin= B076GCH274}}
* {{cite book | last=Whitehouse |first= Richard|year=1873|title= Lingerings of Light in a Dark Land: Being Researchs Into the Past History and Present Condition of the Syrian Church of Malabar |publisher= Kessinger Publishing|isbn= 116492317X}}

{{Christianity in Kerala}}
{{Churches of Kerala}}

[[Category:12th-century establishments in India]]
[[Category:Churches in Ernakulam district]]
[[Category:Cathedrals in Kerala]]
[[Category:Churches completed in 1550]]

[[Category:16th-century churches in India]]

St. Thomas Orthodox Syrian Cathedral, Mulanthuruthy - Revision history

->Varghese T Mathew at 04:48, 29 September 2021