CHURCHES  &  MONASTERIES Kallumkathra ST. GEORGE  CHURCH (Kottayam Diocese)

Kallumkathra St. George church, established in AD 1817, is one of the oldest churches in the Kottayam diocese. It is situated 10 Km west of Kottayam town, in  the village of Pulikkuttissery in Aymanam Panchayath, a part of Upper Kuttanad. The picturesque landscape  and the innumerable tributaries of Meenachil river adds to the beauty of the village. The church itself is surrounded by a canal. Till recently water transport was the only possible way to reach the church premises.  

Early History of Indian Christianity

The history of the Indian Church begins with the arrival of St.Thomas, the Apostle (ext) to Malankara (Kerala) in AD 52. He preached the Holy Gospel and converted many to Christianity. But in the subsequent years, Christian congregations established by the Apostle weakened in numbers due to the lack of ecclesiastical relationship with the Church that was concentrated mainly in the middle east. A turnaround to this pitiable situation happened in AD.345 when a large Christian group from the Syrian province of Roman Empire, arrived in Malankara under the leadership of Knai Thoma. Among the said delegation from the Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch included a Metropolitan by name Joseph of Edessa and a few priests which helped in the establishment of Episcopacy in the Malankara Church. As a consequence of this Syrian migration, the entire Christian community in Kerala came to be called SYRIAN CHRISTIANS, thus adopting the rituals and liturgies of the Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch.  

The descendants of these Syrian migrants (who were called 'KNANAITES' after their leader Knai Thoma) preferred to  marry among themselves only and hence remained as an endogamous community. While these Syrian migrants were called as Knanaya Syrian Christians (ext), the native (Mar Thoma) Christians were referred as Malankara Syrian Christians (ext). Knanaites being predominantly, merchants with middle east connections, were always given special status by the local rulers and for that reason they could easily establish worship centers without much opposition from other religious denominations. Through the centuries they moved from Mahadevarpatanam, the place where they first settled, to Udayamperoor, Mulunthuruthy, Kuravilangad, Kottayam, Kallissery etc. and established churches in all these places.

It was in AD.1550, the St. Mary's church (Valiya Pally) at Kottayam was established by these Knanaya Syrian Christians who settled there on the request of one of the local rulers. This is the oldest Christian church in the region. Around this period the native Syrian Christians also settled in nearby places. They included migrants from Angamaly, Kothamangalam, Kuravilangad etc.. Both the Knanaya as well as the Malankara Christians at the time were depending on Kottayam 'Valiya Pally' for their spiritual needs. Few years later, a rift between the Knanaites and the Malankara Christians developed which finally resulted in the formation of a new church nearby, by the later group. This church came to be known as Kottayam CheriaPally (St. Mary's church). All the churches located in the western parts of Kottayam can trace back their origin to either of these churches.

MADBHO (Altar) of the Church

{Click above for enlarged image of the 'Madbho'}

Till the beginning of the 19th century, the entire Syrian Christians of the region depended on Kottayam CheriaPally, for their spiritual needs. But as time changed, the Syrian Christians of nearby villages of Aymanam, Kummanam, Olessa, Parippu and Arpookara, preferred to have a church in their locality. They spotted the present location of the Church which was more accessible for them. Being an ideal place the Roman Catholics had also sought the permission of the government officials to construct a church there. But on the request of a prominent person of the locality, one 'Parambil Tharakan', the local authorities granted permission to the  Jacobite Syrian Christians. Consequently a church dedicated to Mor Geevarghese Sahado (St.George), was constructed here with the permission of the Church hierarchy.

The first Holy Qurbono was celebrated by 'Punnathra Kurien Kathanar', the Vicar General of the Malankara Church on  25th Meenam (Malayalam Calendar Year, 992), AD 1817. He continued as the priest of this church until his ordination as Metropolitan in 1818 by name Mor Divanasios III.  Later, for more than a decade, it was priests from other parishes who served in this church.  From the year 1832, priests chosen from among the parishioners were ordained and appointed as Vicars of the church (Edavaka Vicars).  'Kallumkathra Yakub Kassesso' and 'Pullampilayil Punnen Kassesso' were the first resident Priests of the Kallumkathra church.

In the historic Mulunthuruthy Synod convened by the Patriarch of Antioch Mor Ignatius Pathros IV (ext) in AD 1876, one priest (Muppathiyil Scaria Kathanar) and two laities represented Kallumkathra St. George church.  One among them, 'Kalapurackal Chacko Cherian' had the unique privilege to get elected to the 24-member supreme body of the newly formed ‘Malankara Syrian Christian Association’. 

In 1879, Kadavil Paulose Mor Athanasius, the first Metropolitan of the Kottayam diocese, visited the church and appointed a three member committee for its smooth administration. The present structure of the church was constructed as per the plan submitted by this Metropolitan. Later, on the request of the diocesan Metropolitan, a document regarding the administration of the Parish was registered in AD 1895.

Centenary celebrations and after :-

The Centenary jubilee of the Parish was celebrated on a grand scale in AD 1918. Around that time, an internal schism between two groups created serious repercussions in the Malankara Church. This Parish was also affected by the factional feuds which forced both the factions to build separate Churches; the 'Arpookara Manalel St. George Church' and the St. Mary’s Simhasana Church. By 1964, peace was  re-established in Malankara and the Parish was also relieved from the disputes. 

On completion of 150 years of establishment of the church in May 1967, a triple jubilee function was organized in a grand way. Besides the Metropolitans of the Church, many prominent personalities from sister Churches also participated in the week long celebrations. 

                                                                       Other  Links :-

I.  Annual Feasts celebrated  &  Other Social Organizations in the Parish

Spiritual & Social service Organizations in the church

A 'Sadhu Paripalana Sangham' for the welfare of the poor, 'Mor Ignatius Youth Association',  'Sunday School' and a 'Vanitha Samajam' for the welfare of the women of the Parish, are some of the important social & spiritual organizations functioning in the Parish. A Parish hall, built in memory of the Corepiscopus ordination of late Thomas Corepiscopa Kallumkathra, was inaugurated a few years back. A building, about 100 years old, which is used as the office and Sunday school, already exists near the church. 

Annual feasts celebrated

Though the church celebrates the memories of all Saints, the most prominent of these Holy Celebrations are:- 

The Vangippu Perunnal (Virgin Mary's assumption to Heaven), is celebrated with great enthusiasm and offerings on Aug 15th in the nearby St.Mary's Simhasana Church.

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II. Historical  'Kallumkathra Padiyola'  of  AD 1843

This Parish in old times held a special place in the Malankara Church. Many meetings of the Syrian Christians were organized in this Parish, the most important being the Malankara Synod held in AD 1843 by Palakunnath Mathews Mor Athanasius. The declaration of faith adopted by this Synod is recorded in the Church history as 'Kallumkathra Padiyola'.  

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III. Apostolic Visits of  the Patriarchs of Antioch

Moran Mor Ignatius Yakoob III's  visit in 1964

When peace was re-established in 1964 after a long period of struggle in the Malankara church, the Patriarch of Antioch and all the East Mor Ignatius Yakoob III (ext) visited Malankara for the ordination of 'Mor Augen Themotheos' as Catholicos of the East. A few days after the consecration ceremony, both the dignitaries visited the Parish and a grand reception was given to them. 

H.H. Ignatius Zakka I Iwas's  visit in 1982

The Patriarch H.H. Ignatius Zakka I Iwas’s visit to this Parish in February 1982 was a significant event in the long history of the church. The former Catholicos of the East late lamented H.B. Mor Baselios Paulose II accompanied His Holiness. Jubilant celebrations were held during the event in which a large gathering, irrespective of caste and creed, were present during the entire function. With the apostolic visit of H.H. Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, the Parish had the special privilege of hosting two successive Patriarchs of Antioch.

Holy fathers who visited this Church

In the last two centuries, many of the Holy Fathers other than the two Patriarchs, visited this Parish. Metropolitans, Mor Dionysius III of Malankara (died in 1825) and Kadavil Mor Athanasius Paulose of Kottayam & Angamali dioceses (1876-1907) were frequent visitors to this Church. Parumala Thirumeni (St.Gregorios) wrote one of his famous encyclicals during his stay at this Church in 1897. The Parish also had the fortune to host St. Osthatheos Sleebo (the Patriarchal delegate, 1908-32) in 1925 and Mor Julius Elias, the subsequent Patriarchal delegate in 1935. This Parish, though for a brief period, had the privilege to function as the diocesan headquarters, during the period of Mor Dionysius Michael Metropolitan. The parishioners also remembers with gratitude the spiritual guidance of the late lamented Catholicos of the East Aboon Mor Baselios Paulose II and  late Mor Gregorios Geevarghese (Perumpally Thirumeni).   

View of the Church from the river side		The newly Consecrated Cross near the Church

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  Photos & documents  enclosed :-