CHURCHES  &  MONASTERIES
Cheengery
ST. MARY'S JACOBITE SYRIAN CHURCH
(Malabar Diocese)

 

Till early 1950's the Jacobite Syrian Christians in Cheengeri used to attend the St. Peter's Church at  Meenangadi.  In 1958, a church was consecrated in the name of St. Mary at Cheengeri.  But due to the problems created by the Bishop's Party in 1974, a police lathi charge occurred there which led to the closure of the parish. In the police atrocities, one of our parish members, who was pregnant, got aborted on the spot. Despite all the harassment by the influential Bishop's Party, everybody, except a few, stood firmly under the Antiochian Syrian Faith and they made a temporary shed near to the cemetery and started worship there. Later a small church was constructed in its place. In the year 2003, this church was rebuilt and consecrated by Their Graces the Metropolitans Mor Thimotheos Thomas, Mor Polycorpus Geevarghese and Dr. Mor Philoxinos Yuhanon. On the same day the Holy Relics of Maphryono Mor Baselios Yeldho was placed in the church by the metropolitans in a specially built tomb.

The parish was blessed with the visits of late lamented Catholicos Aboon Mor Baselios Poulose-II, present Catholicos Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas-I, the Yaq'ub Burdhono of Malankara, Metropolitans late lamented Mor Gregorios Geevarghese, late lamented Mor Philoxinos Samuel, Mor Thimotheos Thomas, Mor Polycorpus Geevarghese, Mor Coorilos Markos, Mor Dioscorus Kuriakose, Mor Athanasius Geevarghese, Mor Theethos Yeldho and Dr. Mor Philoxinos Yuhanon.

The St. Mary's Sunday School that functions under this church was selected as the best Sunday School in Malankara by MJSSA twice. The PHEONOX RELIEF FUND functioning under the church has been doing many charity works in the District.

In the year 2006, Diocesan Metropolitan Dr. Mor Philoxinos Yuhanon declared the church as "Pilgrim Centre" of the Diocese. The Main feasts celebrated in the church are the feast of Mother Mary in February, the feast of St. George in April and the feast of St. Baselios Yeldho in September-October.  Besides this, on every Second Saturdays, Holy Mass is celebrated with special  intercessory prayers in memory of Maphryono St. Baselios Yeldho.

The church has a chapel consecrated in the name of St. Mary at Rattakund and three shrines in the names of St. George at Karachal, St. Baselios Yeldho at Karamkolly and 'Three Wisemen' at Pallithazham. The cross (made of 'Krishnashila') in front of the church is consecrated in the name of St. Gregorios Chathuruthil. The three thronos' of the church are consecrated in the name of St. Mary, St. George and Mor Baselios Yeldho.

GOLDEN JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS of the church on 13th December

As part of the GOLDEN JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS of St. Mary's Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church, the famous pilgrim centre in Malabar Diocese, Cheengeri, Wayanad, it is decided to conduct "Pathinonninmel Qurbono" (Holy mass by eleven priests) on 13th December 2008.  The celebrants of the Holy Qurbono are Rev. Fr. Alias Thondalil, Rev. Fr. George Manayath, Rev. Fr. Mathaikunju Chathanattukudi, Rev. Fr. Geevarghese Kattuchira, Rev. Fr. Thomas Neerattil, Rev. Fr. George Thomas Pulliyattel, Rev. Fr. James Jacob Edapputhusserril, Rev. Fr. Saji Chollattu, Rev. Fr. Abraham Vallathukaran, Rev. Fr. George Varghese Kavungumpillil, all former Vicars of the parish and present Vicar Rev. Fr. Jacob Michael Pulliyattel (Vice President-MJSSA & Sabha Working Committee Member). The altars to celebrate the "Pathinonninmel Qurbono" on the occasion is to be consecrated in the names of St. Mary, St. George, St. Baselios Yeldho, St. Thomas, St. Gregorios Geevarghese Chathuruthil, St. Peter & St. Paul, St. Ignatius Elias IIIrd, St. Gregorios Abdul Jaleel, St. Athanasius Poulose (Valiya Thirumeni), St. Osthatheos Sleeba and St. Baselios Shakralla.

Photos & article by

Sarun Maani Adukalil, Bangalore

 

 

For more details contact:

    Rev. Fr. Jacob Michael Pulliyattel, Vicar  +91 9446162910

    Chev. A I Kuriakose Adukalil, Trustee  +91 9605014750

    Sarun Maani Adukalil, Bangalore   +919739977140   sarunmaani@gmail.com

 

 

 

The door at the entrance of the church & the nearby 'Pallimeda'

 

 


This is not an official site of the Cheengery St. Mary's Church