| St. George Orthodox Church | |
St.George |
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| Patron | St. George |
| Founded | 1557 AD |
| Type | Parish (Edavaka) |
| Vicar | |
| Denomination | Indian Orthodox Church |
| Diocese | Kottyam diocese |
| Language | Malayalam |
| Address | |
| PH: | +91-481-2352404 |
| Website | St. George Orthodox Church |
| Christianity Portal | |
St. George Orthodox Church (Puthupally Pally) is a prominent church that belongs to the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. This church is situated beside the Puthuppally-Changancherry road about a kilometre from the Puthuppally junction, on the eastern bank of the Kodoorar rivulet.
This Church is known for the intercession of its patron saint St.George. It is believed that the saint (called Geevargheese Sahada in Malayalam) protects believers against serpents, ailments, and any kind of danger in general.
The Church is also known for its rich traditions as well as its wealth. The sanctum sanctorum (madbaha) has ornate wall paintings and is intricately decorated. The church has a Golden Cross weighting around 450 sovereigns(Ponkurisu) which is only taken out for an annual festival every year where it is venerated by devotees.
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Popularly known as Puthupally Pally or Puthupally Valiyapally, it was rebuilt, expanded and renovated five times during the past four and half centuries of its existence. This ancient church was originally built as a chapel (kochu pally) in the name of St.Mary in AD 1557 near Vazhakulam Hindu temple on a hillock which later came to be known as Kochupallikunnu. Eight decades later, in AD 1640 it was shifted and rebuilt in the name of Mar Bahanan Sahada at its present location at Elamthuruthi Kunnu.In AD 1750, the church was rebuilt in the name of St.George while retaining main portions of the Mar Bahanan Church. This church is believed to have risen to glory and fame as a centre of solace in the next 250 years by the grace of God and the blessings of St.Mary, St.Bahanan and St.George.
in 2003 , the church was rebuilt and consecrated with the intention of making it a composite shrine to all the patron saints who were associated with it. The church of St.George was retained and the verandas on either side of it were replaced by a chapel in the name of St.Mary on the north side and a chapel in the name of St.Bahanan on the south side. There are three altars in each of these three sections of the church.
Apart from the eponymous main altar of St.George church, those on the left and right are in the names of St.Thomas and St.Gregorious of Parumala respectively. The main altar of St.Mary’s chapel is in the name of St.Mary and those on the left and right are respectively are in the names of Mortha Shmooni and Mortha Yulithi. The main altar of St.Bahanan’s chapel is in the name of St.Bahanan and those on the left and right are respectively in the names of St.Vattasseril Geevarghese Dionysius and His Grace Kuriakose Mar Gregorious of Pampady. Thus, devotees believe that the newly consecrated church is imbued with the presence and blessings of nine intercessors. Devotees to this church are large in number and belong to various religion, caste and creed. Most of the pilgrimage to this church is received during the days proceeding and succeeding the Feast of St.George
In 2007,the shrine was declared as a Georgian Pilgrim Centre of the East by His Holiness Baselious Didymus-I, who is Catholicos of the East. On Feb 17th, 2009, the church hosted the event where 7 bishops were consecrated to the Malankara Indian Orthodox Syrian Church.
Flag hoisting (Kodiyetu): Two flag masts made of Arecanut palm, one each from the hamlets of Puthuppally and Ericadu , are brought to Puthuppally junction ten days before the feast. They are carried to the church from there in a ceremonial procession by a crowd of devotees with traditional orchestral accompaniments. Both the flag masts are erected in front of the church; the flags are blessed and hoisted by the priest and hailed by the devotees present. During the next ten days, then festival follows a hectic schedule of traditional orchestral drum beating (Chendamelam), cannon shots from the foot of the flag masts (Kathinavedi), Mass every morning and evening prayers along with other local events all in the premises of the church.
Collection of firewood and procession (Virakideel), mass luncheon(Vechootu) and distribution of offerings (Nercha vilambu): On 7th May, the main day of the Feast, it is customary to provide rice meals to the thousands of devotees who attend Holy Mass (Vechoot). It is tradition to bring little children to the church to receive their first ever meal of rice from the priests(Adya Choroonu). After the ceremonial procession (Rasa) in the afternoon, offering of rice, appam and chicken curry are distributed. Follwoing tradition, devotees give live fowl as offering to the church particularly during this feast. Chicken is prepared into a curry out of the same and is served along with the appam that is also given as offering to the church by devotees. Fire wood for preparation of the above food is also offered and collected from Puthuppally and Ericadu hamlets and is brought in ceremonial procession to the church in the same manner as the flag masts. This is known as Virakideel.
Ceremonial Procession (Rasa): The gold cross (Ponkurisu) is taken out and after traditional prayers and rites,is placed on the main altar after Holy Mass on 6th May. On the same day evening processions from the Cross Towers (Kurisin Thotty) at Kochalummoodu and Parackal Kadavu proceed towards Puthuppally church and reach there at about 8:00 PM. Devotees carry a wooden cross, a gold cross, silver crosses, ornate ceremonial umbrellas (Muthukuda),flags,and lit candles, and walking with traditional orchestral accompaniments, the procession passes through Kuttenchirapaddy, Nilackal pallypaddy and reaches the Cross Tower (Kurisin Thotty) at Puthuppally junction. Prayers are helf here and then the procession returns to the churhc by about 9:00 PM for the last of the prayers. People living along the route taken by the procession participate in the event by placing lit candles and portraits of one of the church's patron saint in front of their houses and shops. This is done by most people living in the area irrespective of religion or caste.
Light displays (Deepa Kazhcha) and Fire works (Karimarinu prayogam): Usually, the paddy fields in front of the church are flooded in May. Thousands of wick lamps in coconut shells are lit and floated out into these flooded waters on the evening of May 6th before the processions. The feast ends with a display of fire works soon after the procession returns to the church. The fire works at this feast are great renown in the region and spectators from surrounding villages and cities crowd many vantage points around the church to see it.