St. Mary’s Orthodox Cathedral, Puthencavu
Encyclopedia
St. Mary’s Orthodox
Cathedral, Puthencavu is one of the important churches in South India
, located at a village named Puthencavu
(near Chengannur
), Alappuzha district
in Kerala
state of India
. The church is one of the oldest Christian churches in Central Travancore
region of Kerala
.
or the church in Maramon
before the establishment of this church. The hall in the church in the southern side of the Chengannur Pazha Suriyanipalli was specially built for the Pakalomattom Ayrookuzhiyil Tharakans to view the Holy Qurbana
. The new church was setup under the leadership of the Ayrookuzhiyil Tharakans, the prominent family of Puthencavu and the guidance of Mar Thoma VI
. Due to the distance to the nearest church, Ayrookuzhiyil Idicula Tharakan and other Christians in the area decided to construct a church in Puthencavu itself. The Christians of Puthencavu decided to approach the Marthoma VI. During that time, the Travancore Maharaja had penalised the Marthoma VI per the request of the Dutch
for the delayed payments of expenses in bringing the bishops: Mar Baselious Malprina, Mar Gregorios and Yohananon Ramban from Sheema during the times of Mar Thoma V
. The Travancore government confisicated the metropolitan bishop's items and the goods and movable properties of the Niranam
Church. It is believed that this church bell from Niranam Church is that which hangs even today on the East Fort
gate of Padmanabhaswamy temple in Thiruvanthapuram. It is legendarly believed that the Tharakans and the Christians in Puthencavu saved the arrest of the metropolitan bishop by giving the money which was gathered for the construction of the church.The excess money after settling this was believed to be source of Vattipanam later. Soon after becoming the Metropolitan Mar Thoma VII continued to discuss with Col. Macaulay
, the British resident, and the church decided to deposit as loan in perpetuity a sum of 3000 Poovarahan (A poovarahan, known as Star Pagoda had a market value Rs. 10300). The deposit was handed over to Col. Maccaulay on December 1, 1808 and he issued the receipt. The agreement stipulated that interest should be paid to the Malankara Metropolitan. This deposit is now known as Vattipanam. Later when there were more than one Metropolitans in Malankara Church, it became necessary to decide the rightful authority to receive the interest. So the government convened meetings with the church leaders and according to their decision issued proclamations authorizing that person to be the Metropolitan to receive the interest. This resulted in several court cases for several years till 1958.
Rev. Claudius Buchanan
, a Scottish
theologian and C.M.S missionary
visited Puthencavu and Marthoma VI in 1806. Mar Thoma was very happy to hear Buchanan’s intention of translating the Bible into Malayalam, the local language. Mar Thoma VI presented the Dr. Buchanan, a bible in Syriac language which is now deposited among the Oriental Manuscripts in the public library of the University of Cambridge
.Buchanan said about this in his book: "At this time, a volume of the Bible
was found in a remote church of the mountains, containing the Old and the New Testaments, engrossed on strong vellum
in large folio, having three columns in the page, written with beautiful accuracy, in the Estrangelo Syriac (the character in which the oldest Syrian manuscripts are written), and illuminated; that the Syrian church assigns to this manuscript a high antiquity; and that it has been handed down to the present time under circumstances so peculiarly favourable to accurate preservation, as may justly entitle it to respect, in the collation of doubtful readings in the sacred text."
The present church premises belonged to Padinjarethu Nair
family. The wood needed for the construction of the church was donated by Thachil Matthoo Tharakan, an eminent trader of those times who later become a minister of Travancore
state.
The Church was consecrated in the name of St. Mary in 1793 (malayalam year
969 Vrishchikam
19) by Mar Thoma VI
. The Church still preserves, even today, the room, bed and chapel of first Holy Qurbana conducted by Marthoma VI. Mar Thoma VI stayed in Puthencavu from 1794 to 1808 due to which the place become the centre of Suriyani Christians of Puthenkoor of the Malankara Church
.
The mortal remains of three of Holy Fathers, Mar Thoma VI
, Mar Thoma VIII
and H.G. Geevarghese Mar Philexinos, (the famous Puthencavil Kochu Thirumeni) who led the Malankara Sabha are interred in this Church.
Ayrookuzhiyil Abraham Kathanar (Sr.),youngest son of Ayrookuzhiyil Idicula Tharakan (Sr) was the first vicar of this church in 1793 and was ordined by Marthoma VI. Rev. Fr. Thomas Kizhakethalaykkal, the father of Mar Philoxenos Thirumeni, Ayrookuzhiyil Abraham Kathanar (Jr.) etc. served long years as the vicars of this Church. H.G. Thomas Mar Athanasius (current Metropolitan of Chengannur Diocese) and nephew of Puthencavil Kochuthirumeni, Very. Rev. Fr. C M Philipose Cor Episcopa are members of this church. The body of Ayrookuzhiyil Abraham Kathanar (Sr.) was buried inside the church. During the times of Abraham Kathanar (Sr.), Puthencavu church was the centre of Puthencoor section of the Malankara Church
. Ayrukuzhiyil Chandy Kathanar, youngest son of Abraham Kathanar (Sr.) followed the vicarship of the church after his father. Chandy Kathanar was ordinated to priesthood by Mar Thoma VIII
. Chandy Kathanar's youngest son, Abraham Kathanar (Jr.) (1818–1901), who was raised to priesthood by Cheppad Philipose Mar Dionysius (Mar Thoma XII)
, become the vicar of the church later. As the vicar of the participating church, Abraham Kathanar (Jr.) co-signed the famous Mavelikara Padiyola (1836) and Kallumkathra Padiyola (1843). Abraham Kathanar (Jr.) married the daughter of Palakunnathu Abraham Malpan
. Joseph Kathanar (1863–1947), son of Abraham Kathanar (Jr.) was the assistant vicar of the church. The body of Ayrookuzhiyil Abraham Kathanar (Jr.) was also buried inside the church even though he had moved as vicar of Puthencavu Marthoma church upon the formation of Marthoma Sabha.
Two perunals ( church festivals ) of Mar Anthrayos, the 17th century Syrian saint who was buried at Kallada, and Puthencavu Mar Philoxenos are celebrated in this church yearly. The wooden horse of Mar Anthrayos is still preserved in the church. There are a lot of folktales stories around this horse on which the Anthrayos Bava used to travel at night.
The Church is also the parent-parish of several parishes within and around of the same diocese which includes Arattupuzha
, Kurichimuttam, Piralassery, Mulakuzha, Koorthamala, Nellikkal, Idanadu, and Mangalam.
Indian Orthodox Church
The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, also known as the Indian Orthodox Church, is an autocephalous Oriental Orthodox church centred in the Indian state of Kerala. It is one of the churches of India's Saint Thomas Christian community, which traces its origins to the evangelical activity of Thomas...
Cathedral, Puthencavu is one of the important churches in South India
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
, located at a village named Puthencavu
Puthencavu
Puthencavu is a village in Alappuzha District of Kerala, India. It is situated 2 km East of Chengannur along the southern bank of the river Pamba, is famous for religious Harmony. Metropolitan High School, puthencavu has produced many stalwarts in many fields...
(near Chengannur
Chengannur
Chengannur , is a municipal town in Alappuzha district of the state of Kerala in South India. Chengannur is located in the extreme eastern part of Alappuzha district. It is north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram on the MC Road. Chengannur is connected to Kollam and Kottayam by NH 220...
), Alappuzha district
Alappuzha district
Alappuzha is one of the 14 districts in the state of Kerala in India. It was formed as Alleppey District on August 17, 1957. The name of the district was officially changed to Alappuzha in 1990. The district is a widely known tourist destination, and is well known for its coir factories. Most of...
in 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....
state of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. The church is one of the oldest Christian churches in Central Travancore
Central Travancore
The Central Travancore, Kerala, consists of the South-Central districts of Kottayam, Alapuzha, Pathanamthitta, and parts of Idukki, and parts of Kollam...
region of 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....
.
History
The people of Puthencavu depended on the old Suriyani Church in ChengannurChengannur
Chengannur , is a municipal town in Alappuzha district of the state of Kerala in South India. Chengannur is located in the extreme eastern part of Alappuzha district. It is north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram on the MC Road. Chengannur is connected to Kollam and Kottayam by NH 220...
or the church in Maramon
Maramon
Maramon is a small town on the Pampa River, opposite to Kozhencherry town in the state of Kerala, India. It is 12 km from the Pathanamthitta district headquarters, the town of Pathanamthitta. Maramon is famous because of the Maramon Convention, the largest Christian gathering in Asia...
before the establishment of this church. The hall in the church in the southern side of the Chengannur Pazha Suriyanipalli was specially built for the Pakalomattom Ayrookuzhiyil Tharakans to view the Holy Qurbana
Holy Qurbana
Holy Qurbana or Qurbana Qadisha , the "Holy Offering" or "Holy Sacrifice", refers to the Eucharist as celebrated according to the East Syrian and West Syrian traditions of Syriac Christianity...
. The new church was setup under the leadership of the Ayrookuzhiyil Tharakans, the prominent family of Puthencavu and the guidance of Mar Thoma VI
Mar Thoma VI
-See also:* Indian Orthodox Church*Jacobite Syrian Church* Mar Thoma Church* Syrian Malabar Nasrani* Saint Thomas Christians* Christianity in India* List of Catholicoi of the East and Malankara Metropolitans* List of Syrian Malabar Nasranis* Mar Thoma V...
. Due to the distance to the nearest church, Ayrookuzhiyil Idicula Tharakan and other Christians in the area decided to construct a church in Puthencavu itself. The Christians of Puthencavu decided to approach the Marthoma VI. During that time, the Travancore Maharaja had penalised the Marthoma VI per the request of the Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
for the delayed payments of expenses in bringing the bishops: Mar Baselious Malprina, Mar Gregorios and Yohananon Ramban from Sheema during the times of Mar Thoma V
Mar Thoma V
-See also:* Indian Orthodox Church*Jacobite Syrian Church* Mar Thoma Church* List of Catholicoi of the East and Malankara Metropolitans-Further reading:...
. The Travancore government confisicated the metropolitan bishop's items and the goods and movable properties of the Niranam
Niranam
Niranam is a village in central Travancore region in Kerala, India. It was a port in ancient Kerala, on the confluence of the Manimala and Achankovil River. It is almost from Tiruvalla in Pathanamthitta District of Kerala...
Church. It is believed that this church bell from Niranam Church is that which hangs even today on the East Fort
East fort
The East Fort is located at the heart of the CBD of Thiruvananthapuram city, the capital city of Kerala- a South Indian state.-History:East Fort got its name from the eastern entrance to the fort built by the Kings of Travancore. The old city was all inside the fort on four sides with the Sri...
gate of Padmanabhaswamy temple in Thiruvanthapuram. It is legendarly believed that the Tharakans and the Christians in Puthencavu saved the arrest of the metropolitan bishop by giving the money which was gathered for the construction of the church.The excess money after settling this was believed to be source of Vattipanam later. Soon after becoming the Metropolitan Mar Thoma VII continued to discuss with Col. Macaulay
Colin Macaulay
Colin Macaulay , general, slavery abolitionist and campaigner. Macaulay was a son of the Rev. John Macaulay , minister in the Church of Scotland, grandson of Dòmhnall Cam. and his mother was Margaret Campbell. He had two brothers: Rev...
, the British resident, and the church decided to deposit as loan in perpetuity a sum of 3000 Poovarahan (A poovarahan, known as Star Pagoda had a market value Rs. 10300). The deposit was handed over to Col. Maccaulay on December 1, 1808 and he issued the receipt. The agreement stipulated that interest should be paid to the Malankara Metropolitan. This deposit is now known as Vattipanam. Later when there were more than one Metropolitans in Malankara Church, it became necessary to decide the rightful authority to receive the interest. So the government convened meetings with the church leaders and according to their decision issued proclamations authorizing that person to be the Metropolitan to receive the interest. This resulted in several court cases for several years till 1958.
Rev. Claudius Buchanan
Claudius Buchanan
Claudius Buchanan was a Scottish theologian, an ordained minister of the Church of England, and an extremely 'low church' missionary for the Church Missionary Society....
, a Scottish
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
theologian and C.M.S missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
visited Puthencavu and Marthoma VI in 1806. Mar Thoma was very happy to hear Buchanan’s intention of translating the Bible into Malayalam, the local language. Mar Thoma VI presented the Dr. Buchanan, a bible in Syriac language which is now deposited among the Oriental Manuscripts in the public library of the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
.Buchanan said about this in his book: "At this time, a volume of the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
was found in a remote church of the mountains, containing the Old and the New Testaments, engrossed on strong vellum
Vellum
Vellum is mammal skin prepared for writing or printing on, to produce single pages, scrolls, codices or books. It is generally smooth and durable, although there are great variations depending on preparation, the quality of the skin and the type of animal used...
in large folio, having three columns in the page, written with beautiful accuracy, in the Estrangelo Syriac (the character in which the oldest Syrian manuscripts are written), and illuminated; that the Syrian church assigns to this manuscript a high antiquity; and that it has been handed down to the present time under circumstances so peculiarly favourable to accurate preservation, as may justly entitle it to respect, in the collation of doubtful readings in the sacred text."
The present church premises belonged to Padinjarethu Nair
Nair
Nair , also known as Nayar , refers to "not a unitary group but a named category of castes", which historically embody several castes and many subdivisions, not all of whom bore the Nair title. These people historically live in the present-day Indian state of Kerala...
family. The wood needed for the construction of the church was donated by Thachil Matthoo Tharakan, an eminent trader of those times who later become a minister of Travancore
Travancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
state.
The Church was consecrated in the name of St. Mary in 1793 (malayalam year
Malayalam calendar
Malayalam calendar is a solar and sidereal Hindu calendar used in Kerala, India. The origin of the calendar has been dated as 825 CE....
969 Vrishchikam
Vrishchikam
Vrishchikam is the first month of kollavarsham, the Malayalam Calendar. This translates to Scorpio in the Western Calendar....
19) by Mar Thoma VI
Mar Thoma VI
-See also:* Indian Orthodox Church*Jacobite Syrian Church* Mar Thoma Church* Syrian Malabar Nasrani* Saint Thomas Christians* Christianity in India* List of Catholicoi of the East and Malankara Metropolitans* List of Syrian Malabar Nasranis* Mar Thoma V...
. The Church still preserves, even today, the room, bed and chapel of first Holy Qurbana conducted by Marthoma VI. Mar Thoma VI stayed in Puthencavu from 1794 to 1808 due to which the place become the centre of Suriyani Christians of Puthenkoor of the Malankara Church
Malankara Church
The Malankara Church is the church of the Saint Thomas Christians of Kerala, India, with particular emphasis on the part of the community that joined Archdeacon Mar Thoma in swearing to resist the authority of the Portuguese Padroado in 1653...
.
The mortal remains of three of Holy Fathers, Mar Thoma VI
Mar Thoma VI
-See also:* Indian Orthodox Church*Jacobite Syrian Church* Mar Thoma Church* Syrian Malabar Nasrani* Saint Thomas Christians* Christianity in India* List of Catholicoi of the East and Malankara Metropolitans* List of Syrian Malabar Nasranis* Mar Thoma V...
, Mar Thoma VIII
Mar Thoma VIII
-See also:* Indian Orthodox Church*Jacobite Syrian Church* Mar Thoma Church* List of Catholicoi of the East and Malankara Metropolitans-For further reading:...
and H.G. Geevarghese Mar Philexinos, (the famous Puthencavil Kochu Thirumeni) who led the Malankara Sabha are interred in this Church.
Ayrookuzhiyil Abraham Kathanar (Sr.),youngest son of Ayrookuzhiyil Idicula Tharakan (Sr) was the first vicar of this church in 1793 and was ordined by Marthoma VI. Rev. Fr. Thomas Kizhakethalaykkal, the father of Mar Philoxenos Thirumeni, Ayrookuzhiyil Abraham Kathanar (Jr.) etc. served long years as the vicars of this Church. H.G. Thomas Mar Athanasius (current Metropolitan of Chengannur Diocese) and nephew of Puthencavil Kochuthirumeni, Very. Rev. Fr. C M Philipose Cor Episcopa are members of this church. The body of Ayrookuzhiyil Abraham Kathanar (Sr.) was buried inside the church. During the times of Abraham Kathanar (Sr.), Puthencavu church was the centre of Puthencoor section of the Malankara Church
Malankara Church
The Malankara Church is the church of the Saint Thomas Christians of Kerala, India, with particular emphasis on the part of the community that joined Archdeacon Mar Thoma in swearing to resist the authority of the Portuguese Padroado in 1653...
. Ayrukuzhiyil Chandy Kathanar, youngest son of Abraham Kathanar (Sr.) followed the vicarship of the church after his father. Chandy Kathanar was ordinated to priesthood by Mar Thoma VIII
Mar Thoma VIII
-See also:* Indian Orthodox Church*Jacobite Syrian Church* Mar Thoma Church* List of Catholicoi of the East and Malankara Metropolitans-For further reading:...
. Chandy Kathanar's youngest son, Abraham Kathanar (Jr.) (1818–1901), who was raised to priesthood by Cheppad Philipose Mar Dionysius (Mar Thoma XII)
Cheppad Philipose Mar Dionysius (Mar Thoma XII)
-See also:* Indian Orthodox Church* Mar Thoma Church* Jacobite Syrian Christian Church* List of Catholicoi of the East and Malankara Metropolitans* List of Syrian Malabar Nasranis-Further reading:...
, become the vicar of the church later. As the vicar of the participating church, Abraham Kathanar (Jr.) co-signed the famous Mavelikara Padiyola (1836) and Kallumkathra Padiyola (1843). Abraham Kathanar (Jr.) married the daughter of Palakunnathu Abraham Malpan
Abraham Malpan
Palakunnathu Abraham Malpan of Malankara Church, was a strong Churchman, loyal to the best traditions of his Church. He wanted only to effect such reforms in the Church as were consistent with the apostolic and truly evangelical traditions of the Church...
. Joseph Kathanar (1863–1947), son of Abraham Kathanar (Jr.) was the assistant vicar of the church. The body of Ayrookuzhiyil Abraham Kathanar (Jr.) was also buried inside the church even though he had moved as vicar of Puthencavu Marthoma church upon the formation of Marthoma Sabha.
Two perunals ( church festivals ) of Mar Anthrayos, the 17th century Syrian saint who was buried at Kallada, and Puthencavu Mar Philoxenos are celebrated in this church yearly. The wooden horse of Mar Anthrayos is still preserved in the church. There are a lot of folktales stories around this horse on which the Anthrayos Bava used to travel at night.
The Church is also the parent-parish of several parishes within and around of the same diocese which includes Arattupuzha
Arattupuzha
Arattupuzha is a village located in Thrissur district of Kerala in southern India, and is home to the annual Arattupuzha Pooram that stages the grand spectacle of scores of caparisoned elephants lined up in a row to the accompaniment of ethnic percussion concerts.- History :Located on the banks of...
, Kurichimuttam, Piralassery, Mulakuzha, Koorthamala, Nellikkal, Idanadu, and Mangalam.