St. Thomas Orthodox Syrian Cathedral, Mulanthuruthy
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.[3][4] 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.[1][2]
| St Thomas Orthodox Syrian Cathedral (Mulanthuruthy Marthoman Church) | |
|---|---|
 Front view of Mulanthuruthy Marthoman Cathedral | |
  St Thomas Orthodox Syrian Cathedral (Mulanthuruthy Marthoman Church)  St Thomas Orthodox Syrian Cathedral (Mulanthuruthy Marthoman Church) | |
| 11°10′30″N 75°55′07″E / 11.1750°N 75.9187°ECoordinates: 11°10′30″N 75°55′07″E / 11.1750°N 75.9187°E | |
| Location | Mulanthuruthy, Ernakulam district, Kerala |
| Country | India |
| Denomination | Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church[1][2] |
| Tradition | Syriac, Malayalam |
| History | |
| Founded | 1100 AD |
| Dedication | St. Thomas |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Kochi Diocese |
HistoryEdit
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 Kingdom of Vadakkumkur Kunchacko had gathered the Knanaya of 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.[5][6]
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.[7] The church also contains tombs of Mor Kurilos Yuyakim from tur'abdin, Mor Ivanius Hidayatulla (Patriarchal Delegates of Malankara), Mor Gregorius Yuhanan the Patriarch of Jerusalem and relics of Parumala Mar Gregorios entombed at Parumala Church and Ignatius Elias III the Patriarch of Antioch entombed at Manjinikkara Church. Pilgrims visit the church to view the murals and the tombs of holy fathers.
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.[8] 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[9] and later handed over the control of the church to Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church.
LocationEdit
The church is situated 32 kilometres (20 mi) from Cochin International Airport. The nearest railway station is Mulanthuruthy Railway Station.
Gregorios of ParumalaEdit
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 Palakkunnath Mathews Athanasius and as priest at the age of 18 by Yuyakim Koorilos (Patriarchal Delegate of Malankara) in 1865 and as Ramban (monk-priest) at the age of 22 by Malankara Metropolitan 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).[10][11]
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'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.
ReferencesEdit
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "HC directs collector to hand over Mulanthuruthy church to Orthodox group". New Indian Express. 17 October 2012. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Hand over key of Mulanthuruthy church to Orthodox faction within 2 weeks, says HC". Mathrubhumi.English Edition. 16 October 2012. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
- ↑ "114th feast of St. Gregorios celebrated". The Hindu. 3 November 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
- ↑ "Relics of saint to be installed in Ahmedabad church". DNA India. 18 March 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
- ↑ Karukaparambil 2005, p. 150.
- ↑ Whitehouse 1873, p. 125.
- ↑ "Mulanthuruthy Marthoman Church in Mulanthuruthy India". india9.com. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
- ↑ "Mulunthuruthy PADIYOLA". www.syriacchristianity.info. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
- ↑ "Amidst protests, Ernakulam District Administration takes over Mulanthuruthy Church".
- ↑ "St Gregorios Geevarghese". syriacchristianity.info. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
- ↑ "St. Gregorios Of Parumala – Metropolitan Geevarghese Mar Gregorios". mosc.in. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
SourcesEdit
- Karukaparambil, George (2005). Marganitha Kynanaitha: Knanaya Pearl. Deepika Book House. ASIN B076GCH274.
- Whitehouse, Richard (1873). Lingerings of Light in a Dark Land: Being Researchs Into the Past History and Present Condition of the Syrian Church of Malabar. Kessinger Publishing. ISBN 116492317X.