 |
|
|
St. Hormis Church (The East
Church - Kizhakhepalli)
St. Hormis Church is a well-known church, with an
important role to play in the Catholic history of
Angamaly. The founder of the Church was the
Metropolitan of Angamaly Archdiocese, His Grace Mar
Abraham. The Church was erected in 1585. The St.
Hormis Church is better known as The East Church or
Kizhakhepalli. The foreign missionaries of The Isho
community under the Angamaly Diocese wrote a letter
to Gregorious The Thirteenth Mar Paappa, in which
they quoted that this Church is known for many
miraculous incidents, hence demanding the order of
making this Church a centre were people can 'pay
their penance' .i.e. praying in this Church freed
them from their sins. The 'Udayampeeroor
Sunnahados' decided that this cathedral will be
named after St. Hormis - the Martyr, not after St.
Hormis Das. Such a decision was made since St.
Hormis Das was a mendicant of Syrian origin.
|
|
|
The St. Hormis Cathedral Church, Angamaly, was the
capital of His Grace Mar Abraham for about 29
years. He passed away in 1597. He is cremated in
this Church. With is death, the pride and glory of
Angamaly began to decline.
In the beginning, the Church was an Independent Metropolitan Cathedral. But, after the 'Udayampeeroor Sunnahados', the Church was downtrodden as a Metropolitan capital under the Goa diocese. In 1601, Fr. Francis Rose was ordained as the Metropolitan of this Church. But, owing to the displeasure and non-cooperation of the Marthoma Christians, in 1608 December, the Church was made independent, by the Roman order. But in 1609, The Metropolitan, His Grace Rose, shifted his capital from St. Hormis Church to Kodungalloor, and took up the title, The Kodungalloor Metropolitan. During the advent of Tipu in 1780, St. Hormis Church was attacked and was set on fire. |
 |
|
The war waged by Tipu, destroyed many historical
monuments, which were to be the 'Evergreen
buildings' in the History of mankind. Even then,
the writings on stone during the reign of
Paaremakal Govarnadhoor are still found on the
walls of the Church.
|
|
St. Mary's Jacobite
Church |
|
|
|
|
St. Mary's Jacobite Church was build by Isho Mar
Geevarghese, who was the Arkhadhiyaakhon of His
Grace Mar Abraham. The Church is in the name of
Virgin Mary. Mar Geevarghese and Thoma
Arkhadhiyaakhon spread the gospel of Jesus, with
this church as their centre. The Holy Bible, aging
about 1000 years, written in paper made from
papyrus, was preserved here. After on, this Bible
was handed over to The Cambridge University.
The dividing the Malankara Community, The Patriarch gave Angamaly diocese the first position among them. This church is the largest diocese church in the Syrian Orthodox Community. It is located in the midway of St. George Forane Church and St. Hormis Church. St. Mary's Jacobite Church is the 'final resting place' of The First Arkhadhiyaakhon, Pakalomattom Geevarghese Arkhadhiyaakhon and of the First Arch Bishop of Angamaly diocese - His Holiness Ambhat Mar Kurillose. It is believed that the church was built in the 16th century .i.e. during the reign of Geevarghese Arkhadhiyaakhon. St. Mary's Jacobite Church is famous for the ancient scripts, paintings, other artworks on the wall, and the illustrations of Heaven and Hell. This church is storehouse of wall paintings and artworks. The artworks, paintings etc- are in the ancient Asian and Kerala style. The festival of St. Geevarghese and Mar Behanan are celebrated with great importance, in this church. St. Mary's Church is also famous for the 'SUNOORO' of Holy Mary, which is a hope and support for the people. |
|
|
|