St. George Syro-Malabar Catholic Forane Church, Edappally

St. George Syro-Malabar Catholic Forane Church, popularly known as Edappally Mar Geevarghese Sahada Pally, is situated in Edappally, which is about 10 km from Cochin, India.^[1] This is one of the oldest churches in India, built in 594 AD. It was originally dedicated to the Virgin Mary, called Marth Mariam in the vernacular.^[2] In 1080, a new church was built adjacent to the old church. Every year, a grand nine-day festival is celebrated here in the month of April - May. The church is also quite popular amongst non-Christians, who also come here for veneration.

History

The St. George Syro-Malabar Forane Church has a history of 14 centuries.^[3] In those days the Arabian Sea reached all the way up to the shore of Edappally. Edappally was then a small hamlet, a part of the princely kingdom of Elangalloor. The people of Edappally lived a simple life, the comforts of life being non-existent at that time. The Syrian Christian congregation at Edappally was rather small and they were all descendants of the people converted into Christianity by St. Thomas the Apostle who came to India to preach the Gospel.

Since the old church was found to be too small to accommodate the overgrown congregation in A.D. 1080 a new church was built in the present location. The main altar and the facade of this church was later renovated. The altar was renovated by incorporating the picture of Virgin Mary which was surrounded by sculptures, angels and vines. The facade also was renovated thirty years back to the existing one in the name of modernization, but today acknowledging the fact that 'Old is Gold' the church is changing the existing facade to the original one.

On the first day of the Third Millennium at 8 A.M. the foundation stone, blessed by His Holiness Pope John Paul II, was laid for the third church. This new church, which was consecrated in April 2015, has a combination of European and Keralite architectural features.^[4][5]

Activities

Darsana Samooham

Darsana Samooham is always a religious body consisting of laymen, dedicated to Virgin Mary or any other Saint with close connection with a religious order. They usually wear their religious dress, i.e. the oppa and morise. The working committee of the Darsana Samooham will have a president, treasurer, secretary, iskraman, mesakkar and chemmador. This working committee is elected by the laithorumar. The Darsana Samooham at Edappally is an active organization and plays a key role in making the Feast and the procession a great success.

Marian Sodality

Payyappilly Joseph Kathanar, the then vicar, started the Marian Sodality at Edappally in 1927. It is actively engaged in enlivening the spiritual life of the youth of the parish.

Cherupushpa Mission League

It was started at Edappally in 1972. The members of this league, who work most enthusiastically instilling Christian values in the lives of the youngsters of the parish, are an asset to the parish.

Thirubalasakyam

It is an organization set up to mould the religious life of the growing children and instil wisdom and Christian values in them so that they grow up as useful for the family, the Church, the society and God. Almost all the children of the parish are members of this association.

St. Joseph's Maranananthara Sahaya Fund

This is an association of parishioners formed to render aid to each other in case of death in the family of the members. Each member contributes a certain amount per month (there is also life membership with a lump sum payment) towards a common fund. From the accrued fund and its interest, an amount is made available to the deceased's family to meet the funeral expenses.

St. George's Charitable Fund

Everyday hundreds of people from all over Kerala, of different castes, creeds and religions, come here seeking financial support for their needs. Each one is given the necessary help after studying his/her need. It is a great relief to all in need.

Mar Geevarghese

This Church was built about 300 years after the martyrdom of Mar Geevarghese. Mar Geevarghese was likely born in Lod, Syria Palaestina between about 275 AD and 285 AD. He served as a soldier, reaching the rank of Tribunus in the imperial guard of the Emperor Diocletian at Nicomedia. He was an ardent and firm believer in Christ and lived his life true to the Scriptures. During the religious persecution of Emperor Diocletian, he stood up for the faith and was put to death. From that time, the soldier became St. George and thousands of churches sprang up all over Europe and parts of the East in the name of St. George. He was officially recognized as the Patron Saint of England.

In due course, the Edappally Church also came to be known as the St. George's Church. The statue of St. George placed prominently for veneration at this church shows the Saint mounted on his horseback with his spear piercing the ugly head of the monstrous serpent lying under the hooves of his horse. It is believed to be symbolic of the faith and courage of the Saint who overpowered the devil. There is also Italian legend that the Saint was rescuing a noble damsel who was offered to the monster as his daily quota of food. St. George is a great symbol of popular faith and a dependable source of succour. The miracles worked by the saint and his infinite kindness captivate the minds of thousands thronging this church. The continuous and steady flow of pilgrims to St. George's Church, Edappally, clearly indicates this truth.

Mother Teresa's visit

The 14th Centenary Celebrations of the founding of the Church was celebrated with great zeal and solemnity by the parish on 18 January 1994. Apart from the holy Masses and other special prayers, there was a public meeting attended by a huge crowd. Mother Teresa came from Calcutta as the Chief Guest. As a monument of the centenary celebrations and the visit of Mother Theresa, a Bell Tower was constructed on the church premises and a mammoth bell was installed therein. This Church Bell is a major tourist attraction too.

Location

St. George Syro-Malabar Forane Church is located in Edappally, about 10 km from the city of Kochi. It is accessible by road from any part of India. Two national highways NH 47 and NH 17 join the bypass junction at Edappally which begins and continues up to Panvel, Maharashtra, in India. The nearest airport is Nedumbassery International Airport, hardly 22 km from Edappally. Edapally is also connected by rail, and there is a railway station at Edappally. Edappally is a fast-growing suburb of Cochin City in Kerala state, southern India.

The shrine on NH 47

The statue of St. George is placed for worship in a small shrine in front of the church by the side of N.H. 47. Everyday hundreds of vehicles from all over Kerala, both new and used, are brought here to be blessed. On the Feast Day of St. George (April 23), there is a beautiful ceremony in the church wherein thousands of vehicles are blessed at different times of the day.

See also

• Kottakkavu Mar Thoma Syro-Malabar Pilgrim Church, North Paravur
• Mar Hormiz Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Angamaly

References

1. ↑ http://www.keralatourism.holiday/2014/11/edappally-stgeorge-church.html
2. ↑ http://deepika.epapr.in/c/5008080
3. ↑ Pradeep, K. (April 17, 2015). "Between the old and the new church". The Hindu (in en-IN). ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2015-04-23. 
4. ↑ "St George Forane Church consecration today - The Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2015-04-23. 
5. ↑ "An Amalgamation of Style, Piety". Retrieved 2015-04-23. 

External links

• Official website