The Parumala Church
Parumala is a small village(now growing into a town) and island on the Pampa River in Pathanamthitta district in Kerala. Parumala has been on the pilgrimage for over the last one century.The Tomb of St. Gregorios (Parumala Thirumeni) rests here. The Parumala Church(parumala palli) belongs to the Indian Orthodox Church(Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church) and Syriac Orthodox Church and it is a great pilgrimage centre during the past century. The annual feast known as Ormapperunnal is held at the Parumala Church annually on the 1st and 2nd of November.
The New Church
The old church was renewed and wholly constructed to a new church by the end of the last century. In 1989, Charles Correa visited the Parumala Church along with structural consultant Kamal Hadkar. They also visited many old Syrian Churches of Kerala. After an intensive study, Mr.Correa submitted a 3-D model and drawings of the proposed new church before the Holy Episcopal Synod of the Malankara Orthodox Church. However, this plan was rejected on various grounds. The revised plan was accepted by the Holy Episcopal Synod in 1993.
Something about the Design
The new church is circular in design with an inner diameter of 39 meters. This circle is again divided into three segments by two chords of 16 meters length. The Eastern segment consists of the 3 altars and the vestry. The Western segment consists of the Veranda and the Natakasala (Porch). The Haikla and the space for the congregation come in the middle segment. The new altar on the Northern side is exactly at the same site of the main altar of the old church. The tomb-room now faces west. The roof of the Haikla is a concrete triple barrier vault with a height of 18 meters from the floor in the center while the road of the madhuba is a quadrant vault 21 meters above ground level at the highest point. The 6 meter high simple massive cross over the vault of the madhuba commands an asserting view against the background of the bright blue sky.
Construction
His Holiness Baselius Marthoma Mathews II, Catholicos of the East laid the foundation stone of the new church on 19th March 1995. The piling work was begun on 26th August 1995 after His Grace Geevarghese Mar Osthathios Metropolitan offered the Holy Qurbana and special prayers.
Saint Gregorios of Parumala is popularly known as ‘Parumala Thirumeni’. Metropolitan Geevarghese Mar Gregorios of the Malankara Orthodox Church who passed away on November 2nd 1902, became the first declared saint from Malankara (Kerala, India) naturally to be called, ‘Parumala Thirumeni’. He shines in the cloud of witnesses as a bright luminary giving rays of hope to millions in their suffering and struggles.
About Parumala Thirumeni
The first house of the Thirumeni. This is now retained and is used as a prayer room
Mar Gregorios was born on 15th June 1848 (M.E. Mithunam 3, 1023) to Kochu Mathai and Mariam of Pallathetta family in the Chathuruthy house at Mulamthuruthy. He was called by the name ‘Kochaippora’ and was given the baptismal name ‘Geevarghese’. Kochaippora had two brothers and two sisters; Kurian, Eli, Mariam and Varkey. Kochaippora was the youngest and was therefore the most beloved to everyone. Unfortunately, his mother passed away when he was only two years old. His eldest sister Mariam became to him all that a mother was meant. Mariam was married at that time and had a child of Kochaippora’s age.
Being pleased with the Ramban Geevarghese, the Patriarch decided to consecrate him as Metropolitan. On December 10, 1876 the Patriarch consecrated six priests as bishops including Ramban Geevarghese at St. Thomas Church, N Paravur. He was given the new name Geevarghese Mar Gregorios and was given the charge of Niranam Diocese.
Mar Gregorios was only 28 years when he was made a bishop. Since he was the youngest among all the bishops, he was dearly called by all as ‘Kochu Thirumeni’. The first thing the new bishops undertook was a special fasting-vigil for forty days at Vettickal Dayara under the leadership of ‘Kochu Thirumeni’. This fasting was both symbolic and effective in the pursuit of new life in an old church.
Mar Gregorios took charge of the Niranam Diocese and started staying at Parumala. There was at Parumala, at that time, a land donated by Arikupurath Koruth Mathen to the church and in this plot a small building was erected by the Malankara Metropolitan Pulikkottil Joseph Mar Dionysius. This building was known as ‘Azhippura’. Mar Gregorios lived there along with few other deacons who came for priestly training. They worshipped in a thatched chapel during that time.
A Vision & Mission for the Entire Church
Mar Gregorios believed that the church should engage in educational activity especially to facilitate primary education and English teaching without discriminating gender or religion. Accordingly he started schools at Kunnamkulam, Mulamthuruthy, Niranam, Thumpamon, Thiruvalla etc. The missionary task of the Church was also evinced by his outreach programme to the socially down trodden communities at Chennithala, Kalikunnu, Mallappally, Puthupally, Kallumkathara etc. He also organized evangelical awakening programme for non-Christians at various places like Aluva, under the leadership of the Seminary students.
A major task of Mar Gregorios was to motivate the clergy for effective ministry. With this aim, he formed the Malankara Syrian Clergy Association and took many progressive decisions and made many suggestions for the effective functioning of the priestly ministry.
Mar Gregorios was already a piles-patient. It became chronic in 1902. Treatments proved futile and slowly His Grace became physically weaker and weaker. At last the blessed soul left the earthly abode on 2nd November 1902. The funeral was conducted at Parumala on Tuesday the 3rd of November 1902 in the presence of thousands of people and hundreds of priests. The many testimonies to the saintly intercession of Mar Gregorios made Parumala Church and the tomb a centre of pilgrimage. In 1947 Mar Gregorios of blessed memory was declared a saint by the then Catholicos of the church, His Holiness Baselius Geevarghese II.
The tomb of the Thirumeni
Courtesy
http://www.parumalachurch.org
Something about the Design
The new church is circular in design with an inner diameter of 39 meters. This circle is again divided into three segments by two chords of 16 meters length. The Eastern segment consists of the 3 altars and the vestry. The Western segment consists of the Veranda and the Natakasala (Porch). The Haikla and the space for the congregation come in the middle segment. The new altar on the Northern side is exactly at the same site of the main altar of the old church. The tomb-room now faces west. The roof of the Haikla is a concrete triple barrier vault with a height of 18 meters from the floor in the center while the road of the madhuba is a quadrant vault 21 meters above ground level at the highest point. The 6 meter high simple massive cross over the vault of the madhuba commands an asserting view against the background of the bright blue sky.
Construction
His Holiness Baselius Marthoma Mathews II, Catholicos of the East laid the foundation stone of the new church on 19th March 1995. The piling work was begun on 26th August 1995 after His Grace Geevarghese Mar Osthathios Metropolitan offered the Holy Qurbana and special prayers.Saint Gregorios of Parumala is popularly known as ‘Parumala Thirumeni’. Metropolitan Geevarghese Mar Gregorios of the Malankara Orthodox Church who passed away on November 2nd 1902, became the first declared saint from Malankara (Kerala, India) naturally to be called, ‘Parumala Thirumeni’. He shines in the cloud of witnesses as a bright luminary giving rays of hope to millions in their suffering and struggles.
About Parumala Thirumeni
The first house of the Thirumeni. This is now retained and is used as a prayer room
Mar Gregorios was born on 15th June 1848 (M.E. Mithunam 3, 1023) to Kochu Mathai and Mariam of Pallathetta family in the Chathuruthy house at Mulamthuruthy. He was called by the name ‘Kochaippora’ and was given the baptismal name ‘Geevarghese’. Kochaippora had two brothers and two sisters; Kurian, Eli, Mariam and Varkey. Kochaippora was the youngest and was therefore the most beloved to everyone. Unfortunately, his mother passed away when he was only two years old. His eldest sister Mariam became to him all that a mother was meant. Mariam was married at that time and had a child of Kochaippora’s age.
Being pleased with the Ramban Geevarghese, the Patriarch decided to consecrate him as Metropolitan. On December 10, 1876 the Patriarch consecrated six priests as bishops including Ramban Geevarghese at St. Thomas Church, N Paravur. He was given the new name Geevarghese Mar Gregorios and was given the charge of Niranam Diocese.
Mar Gregorios was only 28 years when he was made a bishop. Since he was the youngest among all the bishops, he was dearly called by all as ‘Kochu Thirumeni’. The first thing the new bishops undertook was a special fasting-vigil for forty days at Vettickal Dayara under the leadership of ‘Kochu Thirumeni’. This fasting was both symbolic and effective in the pursuit of new life in an old church.
Mar Gregorios took charge of the Niranam Diocese and started staying at Parumala. There was at Parumala, at that time, a land donated by Arikupurath Koruth Mathen to the church and in this plot a small building was erected by the Malankara Metropolitan Pulikkottil Joseph Mar Dionysius. This building was known as ‘Azhippura’. Mar Gregorios lived there along with few other deacons who came for priestly training. They worshipped in a thatched chapel during that time.
A Vision & Mission for the Entire Church
Mar Gregorios believed that the church should engage in educational activity especially to facilitate primary education and English teaching without discriminating gender or religion. Accordingly he started schools at Kunnamkulam, Mulamthuruthy, Niranam, Thumpamon, Thiruvalla etc. The missionary task of the Church was also evinced by his outreach programme to the socially down trodden communities at Chennithala, Kalikunnu, Mallappally, Puthupally, Kallumkathara etc. He also organized evangelical awakening programme for non-Christians at various places like Aluva, under the leadership of the Seminary students.A major task of Mar Gregorios was to motivate the clergy for effective ministry. With this aim, he formed the Malankara Syrian Clergy Association and took many progressive decisions and made many suggestions for the effective functioning of the priestly ministry.
Mar Gregorios was already a piles-patient. It became chronic in 1902. Treatments proved futile and slowly His Grace became physically weaker and weaker. At last the blessed soul left the earthly abode on 2nd November 1902. The funeral was conducted at Parumala on Tuesday the 3rd of November 1902 in the presence of thousands of people and hundreds of priests. The many testimonies to the saintly intercession of Mar Gregorios made Parumala Church and the tomb a centre of pilgrimage. In 1947 Mar Gregorios of blessed memory was declared a saint by the then Catholicos of the church, His Holiness Baselius Geevarghese II.
The tomb of the Thirumeni
Courtesy
http://www.parumalachurch.org
The Gift of God
What else more to define the beauty of the creator.
A snap taken in between the Tea Plantations at Kuttikaaanam
The Padmanabhaswamy Temple
The Padmanabhaswamy Temple has become the most richest temples in India with the value of its hidden treasures being more than Rs.90,000 crores/-
This secret was revealed on 2nd of July 2011 by a group of officials from the Supreme Court who were ordered to inspect the various chambers inside the temple. The valuables include gold, jewels, rubies, emeralds, 18th century Napoleonic era coins, gold idol of Mahavishnu etc.
The second wealthiest temple in India is Tirumala Venkateswara Temple which maintained the first status till this news broke up.
The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, and is maintained by the erstwhile Travancore Royal Family, and located within the East Fort in the city of Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala state, South India. The temple is considered to be one of 108 Holy Abodes.
Relevant links
http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/07/04/idINIndia-58068620110704
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