Kadamattom Church
| Kadamattom Church | |
|---|---|
St. George Syrian Church, Kadamattom
|
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| Basic information | |
| Location |
 Kadamattom, Muvattupuzha, India
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| Geographic coordinates | 9°58′39″N 76°29′54″E / 9.9774°N 76.4984°ECoordinates: 9°58′39″N 76°29′54″E / 9.9774°N 76.4984°E |
| Affiliation | Malankara Syrian Church (Jacobite Syrian & Orthodox) |
| District | Ernakulam |
| Province | Kerala |
| Website | http://kadamattompally.co.in |
| Architectural description | |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Architectural style | Kerala Architecture |
| Completed | 9th century CE |
| Direction of façade | West |
Kadamattom Church is one of the ancient churches in India. The church is situated in Kadamattom near Kolenchery, Moovattupuzha, Kerala, India.
The church is believed to have established in the 9th Century AD by Mar Sabor. There is no concrete evidence for the exact date of the establishment of the church but historians believe that it was built before AD 650 as at the time Kolenchery Pally had yet to be constructed. (Kolencherry church was built around AD 650). The Viswavijnanakosam (Malayalam) Vol.3, mentions the following about the history of the Kadamattom church. Mar Sabor is also known as Mar Abo. “Kadamattom church" was founded by Mar Sabor also called Mar Abo who was a holy man with knowledge of medical sciences and powers to perform miracles. He established the church in the forest regions of Kadamattom in the 40th year of Kollam Era or Malayalam Era.
The church and the property was a gift by the 'Karthas', the then prominent family of Kadamattom. One of the children in the family caught a disease which could be neither identified nor cured by the local doctors. Mar Sabor (also known as Mar Abo), a Middle Eastern monk reached Kadamattom at the same time. He cured the disease and as a result the delighted Karthas gifted him the land to construct the church in the form in which it stands now.
Kadamattom church is situated next to National Highway 49 (India) (Kochi-Madurai National Highway) between Kolenchery and Muvattupuzha towns in the Ernakulam District. While traveling from Kochi towards the east, the ancient church is seen on the north side of the road 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) beyond the Kolenchery Medical College Junction. While traveling from Muvattupuzha towards Kolenchery, the church lies 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) after the Peruvammuzhi Junction.
On entering the church, on the left there is a photo of Mar Abo Metropolitan, the Reverend Paulose, alias the legendary Kadamattathu Kathanar’s mentor. It is believed that Mar Abo, a Persian high priest established the church with the help of Kartha, the then local ruler of Kadamattom. Mar Abo was not only a theologian but also a conjurer. He stayed in a hut with a poor widow and her only son Paulose. Paulose assisted Mar Abo for years and later Paulose was ordained a priest. The tomb of Mar Thoma IX (Formerly Pakalomattom Iype Kathanar) lies on the left side just outside the Madbaha. Another unique thing about the church is the door lock (wood mechanism). The pathala kinar (well) lies near the Poyyedom Pally. It is believed that Kathanar went to pathalam from here.
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