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| St.George Forane Church / Edappally church planbox.wordpress.com |
George Forane Church, one of the oldest churches in India is believed to have been built in 594 AD on a land donated by the Hindu Raja of Edapplly Palli. The church was dedicated to Virgin Mary called Marth Mariam in local parlance in the beginning and later came to be known by Saint George’s name once he was declared as the patron saint of England.
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| Newly built St. George Forane church, Edapally,Kerala India Church,www.federalbank.in |
There is a water well adjacent to the church that is believed to have miraculous powers. Devotees drink the water, wash their head, face and sometimes, take the bottled water home. Likewise they collect a lump of soil from the church yard and take it home and put it in their garden, etc. They strongly believe in the power of George that will protect them from snake bites, etc., ailment and even spells. Here he is an embodiment of courage, strength and succor.
Every year a grand nine-day festival is celebrated in April and May with devotion and is attended by lots of people from Kerala and other neighboring states. The festival begins on the 23rd of April with a solemn High Mass and Litany. On 4th May, the idol of the deity is taken out in a grand procession. A unique custom is, as part of offerings, the devout pilgrims throw Puri and Beetle leaves on the procession idol. It is a major pilgrim center for non-Christians as well and the popular offerings at the church are chicken and eggs.
The history of this St. George Syro-Malabar Forane Church goes as far back as14 centuries. In the by-gone time, Edappally, a part of the princely kingdom of Elangalloor was a small village. The Syrian Christian community here whose forefathers became Christians when St. Thomas the Apostle (alias Dideemos) visited this region in 52 AD. So, it was the followers of St. Thomas who took the initiative and had built the earliest church This Church was built about 300 years after the martyrdom of St. George, who was a soldier. Later he became a follower of Christ and strictly followed the scriptures. He attained martyrdom when he stood against the religious persecution under Emperor Diocletus. After his death, scores of churches came up across Europe and other places in his name.
In 1080 AD, a new church was built adjacent to the old church with a view to accommodating the growing Christian community at Edapally. More than 30 years ago some renovation was done in the front portion of the church, but the facade of the present church is restored to original style. Presently, there is a new church that was consecrated in April 2015, though the foundation stone was laid on January 01 2001. The new church, built in Kerala-European style, is one of the largest churches in India and its main chapel can
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| Church well, St. George Forane church, Edapally,Kerala, en.wikipedia.org |
It is not only the oldest Syrian Catholic Church in the state and but also one of the most - frequented churches in the city by people from different faith.
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| Interior, the newly-built St. George Church at Edapally, Kochi, shevlin's world |
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._George_Syro-Malabar_Catholic_Forane_Church,_Edappally
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