Saints

Karingachira Church and Mor Gregorius of Parumala

The great saint of Malankara church, Mor Gregorius of Parumala (Kochu Thirumeni), had great affection for Karingachira church. At the age of 9, his uncle Shrambikkal-Pallathittayil Gheevarghese Malpan, took him to Karingachira to be ordained korooyo on September 14, 1857, by the then Malankara Metropolitan Mar Athanasius Mathews. On several occasions as ramban (monk) and later as metropolitan, he came to Karingachira church and stayed there for several days. Church records show that in Chingam 1892 he stayed at the church and initiated the broadening of the access to the road on the south side of the church, clearing the foliage and relocating shops located there. The well known Karuthedath Gheevarghese Kathanar who served as Vicar of this church for over five decades was ordained priest by Mor Gregorius. A bull relating to the ordination from Kochu Thirumeni has been found. In those days when transportation was by waterways, Kochu Thirumeni used to use Karingachira church as his base and take a boat from there to various churches. On such occasions he would request arrangements at Karingachira church. A kalpana (Bull No. 287) in Kochu Thirumeni's own handwriting in this regard has been preserved.

An interesting event is recorded in connection with Mor Gregorius in the church records. A cross was established by Karingachira church at Thiruvankulam, a nearby village. This was consecrated by Mor Gregorius. This cross happened to be near a Hindu temple. The temple authorities were annoyed that a cross was located near the temple and incense offered there. They filed a petition against the trustees of the church with Kochu Thirumeni as a witness in the Cochin Magistrate court. Many appealed to Kochu Thirumeni to testify that he had not offered incense at the newly established cross, in order to secure a favorable judgment. Kochu Thirumeni refused and testified that he had indeed offered incense. The trustees of the church were found guilty. However, Kochu Thirumeniconsoled the trustees and told them to appeal the judgment and assured them that the verdict would be in their favour. The appeal resulted in a favourable verdict.
Once while staying at Karingachira church, Mor Gregorius was taken ill. The doctors asked for butter to prepare medicines. A message was sent to a nearby household which had a diary requesting some butter. They refused to give the butter. On the next day, blood gushed out from the cow's udders, when it was milked. The frightened family rushed to Kochu Thirumeni and begged for forgiveness. The saint consoled them and sent them away. Many of Karingachira's parishioners recount this incident to this day..

Moran Mor Ignatius Abed Aloho, Patriarch of Antioch

Mor Ignatius `Abded Aloho who reached Malankara in 1910, convened a meeting of church delegates at Karingachira church in July 1911. The meeting decided to conduct the sacrament of Holy Chrism at Mulanthuruthy church. Karingachira church also executed a deed acknowledging the spiritual and temporal supremacy of the Patriarch of Antioch on the church and reforming the administration of the church.

During his visit, the church witnessed one of the darkest days in its history. Allegations of financial impropriety had been raised by the parishioners against the then trustees of the church, Mookencheril Kaarivelil Paili Cheria and Pulayath Varkey Pothen. The Vicar Karuthedath Gewargis Kathanar had marched to their homes and retrieved some of the money they misappropriated. During the Patriarch's visit, parishioners lodged a complaint about the trustees and His Holiness asked the trustees to submit the accounts to the parishioners. The trustees refused. Upon learning about their disobedience to the Holy Father, a group of people seized the offertory in the cross on the west side of the church which was appropriated by the trustees and placed it before the Patriarch. Though it was returned to the trustees, they refused to accept it back and filed a complaint with the Police Superintendent M.A. Chacko, a protagonist of the faction opposed to the Patriarch. Karuthedath Gewargis Kathanar was chargesheeted along with others for burglary. Police arrested and handcuffed the venerable old priest along with others and forced them to walk all the way to Ernakulam District Magistrate's Court. His Holiness requested M.A. Chacko to intervene and release the priest, but he refused. Later the Royal Highness intervened to release the priest from prison after seven days in custody. The priest was acquitted of wrong-doing. Parishioners removed the trustees and registered a deed specifying administrative procedures for managing finances of the church. They elected Paluparambil Kurien Kuruvilla, Tharakandil Punnose Mathunni, Kuttikkatu Palakattu Paili Avara, Iykkaravelil Cheria Ulahannan, Nadakkavunkal Palathinkal Ithappiri Kunju Varkey, Mukkadackal Ouseph Ittop, Nadakkavunkal Palathinkal Ithappiri, Nadakkavunkal Karottu Cheria Varkey, Thuruthiyil Varkey and Puthenpurackal Thommen Mani as trustees. Later, M.A. Chacko was persecuted by Parukkutty Nethiaramma, the royal consort in an unjust case registered against him, apparently for spurning her advances and resigned from service in disgrace.

Moran Mor Ignatius Elias III, Patriarch of Antioch

Patriarch Mor Elias III, who came to Malankara to establish peace in the church was received by several including many from Karingachira at Alwaye railway station. His Holiness came to Karingachira church as a guest of the Cochin State on 1931 Meenam 19 and was given a royal reception at the church. His Holiness spent the passion week at this church and conducted the washing of the feet ceremony on Maundy Thursday. His Holiness also presided at the joint meeting of the Malankara Mar Gregorius Student's Association and Malankara Syrian Sunday School Association attended by about 500 delegates from all over Malankara.

Mor Osthatheos Sleebo

Mor Osthatheos Sleebo who was the delegate of the Holy See of Antioch to Malankara for about three decades visited and stayed at Karingachira church several times. Mor Osthatheos consecrated the reconstructed sanctuary of the church on September 5, 1923. Mor Yulius Elias Qoro who succeeded Mor Osthatheos as Patriarchal delegate also visited and stayed at Karingachira church several times. In 1964, H. H. Moran Mor Ignatius Ya`qub III, who came to Malankara to establish peace, visited Karingachira church. Prior to becoming Patriarch, as Abdul Ahad Rabban, he had visited Karingachira several times. H.H. Patriarch Zakka I visited this church in February 1982, March 2000 and September 23, 2004. H.H. presided over a Holy Episcopal Synod held at the Church during his visit in 2004 and elevated the church to the status of a cathedral.
Late Mor Athanasius Yeshu` Samuel of United States and Mor Timotheous Aphrem Aboodi of Canada also maintained close ties with Karingachira church, visiting the church whenever in Malankara.

 

 

Karingachira Church and Maphryono Mor Baselios Yaldo

Karingachira church is famous for its thamukku nercha (an offering of plantain mixed with a form of rice powder and jaggery) on December 3rd (Vrischikam 20). This is in connection with the feast of Maphryono Mor Baselios Yaldo whose remains are interred in Kothamangalam Cheriapally. When Mor Baselios arrived at Kothamangalam, it is said that some parishioners of Karingachira took this mix of plantain, fried powdered rice and jaggery to him and that he was pleased. Apparently, a priest from Karingachira was at the deathbed of Mor Baselios Yaldo and later had rights to offer Holy Qurbono in the church. It is believed that this priest brought a relic of the saint from Kothamangalam by foot to Mamala near Thiruvankulam and was received by the parishioners of Karingachira and installed the relics at Karingachira church on a December 3rd. In 1920, a piece of bone was found covered in a silk cloth (veeralipattu) on an exquisitely engraved cot in the northern wall of the church. This is believed to be the relic of the saint and remains interred in the wall as directed by the Metropolitan Mar Athanasius Paulos (Aluva).

 

Karingachira Church and Archdeacon Thomas

Archdeacon Thomas of Pakalomattom family was consecrated Metropolitan of Malankara, Marthoma I, at Alangad. However, the Portugese, sought the help of the Cochin army to murder Marthoma. Fearing the might of the army no church came forward to offer refuge to the Marthoma. In those circumstances, the Vicar of the Karingachira church, Kochu Ittoop Achan and Trustee Kochu Yako gathered courage to bring the Marthoma from Alangad by boat via Morakkala kadavu to the rivulet flowing west of the Karingachira church and hid him in the church. Later Anjilimoottil Ittithomman Kathanar and Kuravingattu Chandy Kathanar took the Marthoma secretly to Chengannur. Karingachira church took leadership to convene the meeting at Ankamali church on February 2, 1687 in order to defeat the scheming Roman bishop Joseph Sebestiani and reaffirm the leadership of Marthoma.

 

Other Fathers who visited the Church

Karingachira church has diligently received bishops who have arrived from the mother church in the Middle East. Mor Anthrayos who reached Malankara in 1675 and stayed for several years at the Mulanthuruthy church, Mor Ivanius who reached Malankara in 1685 and was buried at Mulanthuruthy church, Mor Gregorius Yuhanon who was buried at Mulanthuruthy church in 1773, Mor Koorilose Yuyakim who was buried at Mulanthuruthy church in 1894 and Mor Baselios Shakralla who is buried at Kandanad church have visited Karingachira church. The Patriarch of Antioch, Peter IV, who came to Malankara in 1876, came to Karingachira and stayed at the church for a few days according to diary notes of Mor Gregorius of Parumala who accompanied the Patriarch as his secretary and translator. In the famous Mulanthuruthy Synod convened by the Patriarch, Kuttikkattil Gheevarghese Kathanar, Karuthedath Philipose Kathanar, Kuzhiyanjal Gheevarghese Kathanar and Cheruthottil Kurian Varkey represented Karingachira church.

 

Malankara Association Meeting of 1935

Karingachira is well known in Malankara church history as the venue of the historic Malankara Association meeting called by Mor Athanasius Paulos, Metropolitan of Alwaye & Cochin, Mor Dionysius Mikhail of Kottayam, Niranam, Thumpamon and Quilon, Mar Timotheous Augen of Kandanad (later Catholicos) and Mar Dioscoros Touma of Knanaya Diocese on October 9, 1935. At this meeting, Mor Athanasius Paulose was unanimously elected Malankara Metropolitan. Later in 1974, after the schism surfaced again in the Malankara church, it was at Karingachira that the delegate's meeting of Kandanad, Cochin, and Angamaly dioceses met to select Fr. P. M. Gheevarghese and Fr. C. M. Thomas as candidates for episcopacy.