Anchal Achan

Anchal Achan is Rev: Younan Kathanaar(Mor Yaunan Kasheesho) who is a Saint of Anchal (Quilon District) and nearby areas.He was Lived in the First half of 19th century.The saint was born in Marunthalizhikathu family in Anchal.Exact date of his Birth is Unknown.According to historic assumptions the Saint was born some time around AD 1770-80.

Ordination

He started his Priesthood Life as a priest in the Kottarakkara

Kottarakkara

Kottarakkara , also transliterated as Kottarakara, is a town and taluk in Kollam District , in Kerala state, India. The town is close to the Kollam port which has a rich history linked to the early medieval period as well as a reputation for being an important commercial, industrial and trading...

 church.He used to go 16 km to Kottarakkara by walking from Anchal

Anchal

Anchal is a very fast developing town in the east central part of Kollam district of Kerala, India. It is the second fastest developing town in Kerala after Chalakudi. The name Anchal means the land of five proverbs. What characterizes this town is its quick pace of development...

.Later he moved to the church compound.He was a living saint, and conducted a very pious life.Very soon people realized the saintliness of Anchal Achan.

Lifestyle

He was doing all his personal work by self only. Oneday after returning from his
bath, he saw his elder brother's wife sweeping his room. By standing
outside,(without entering the room), he asked for his Bible and other books and
he left for Kottarakkara. He stayed his whole remaining life at Kottarakkara
church. Kottarakkara church made all arrangements for his stay in the church
itself. During his life and after his death, there were many wonders happened in
Anchal / Kottarakkara and nearby places through his prayer.
He has no difference for Christians and non-Christians, in his treatment.

Death

Before his death he asked his church people at Kottarakkara church to open his
"kabar" on 41st day of his death and will find his body intack position. He died
on one "Karkidakam 22". After his death on 41st day the people of Kottarakara
church opend the kabar and found the body intact position, except the top of the
nose and top of two fingers decayed, the reason for that says-one day he plucked
a rose flower before Kurbana) However, later we had lost Kottarakara Church to
Marthoma Sabha on litigation. Now it is Marthomite church. On every Sunday
perspiration was seen on the top of the Kabar, as Marthomites have no faith in
prayer for departed, one "Kapiar" of marthoma church removed that perspiration
with his legs by saying something, and after that stopped coming of
perspiration from that Kabar, never it happened. The Kabar of Anchal achan is
situated in the altar of Kottarakkara Marthomite church. We the people of
Anchal and nearby areas still believe, Anchal achan's body
is still lying in the Kabar at Kottarakkara church intack position. We feel his
presence in Saint George

Saint George

Saint George was, according to tradition, a Roman soldier from Syria Palaestina and a priest in the Guard of Diocletian, who is venerated as a Christian martyr. In hagiography Saint George is one of the most venerated saints in the Catholic , Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, and the Oriental Orthodox...

 Church Anchal also. If we had not Kottarakkara church for
Marthomites Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church, now it became a great pilgrimage centre.
Every year on Karkidakam 22 at St. George Orthodox Church, Anchal we celebrate
his feast & festival.
Anchal Orthodox Valliya Pally=

Anchal St.George Orthodox Syrian Maha Idavaka is one of the prominent churches in south Kerala

Kerala

or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....

. It gets its fame from the spiritual presence of St.George and St.Anchal Achan. Recongnizing the importance of this spiritual place, H.H The Catholicos of East Mor Baselios Thoma Didymos I declared the parish as a Maha Idavaka Great Parish and a Georgian Pilgrim Centre.

Sources

• Annammayum Pasterum by Father K. Gheevarghese, Manoor, Anchal
• The Mirror of Apostolic Faith by Shri E.S. John