Rooha D Kudhisha Syro-Malabar Catholic Forane Church, Muttuchira
| Ruhada Kudisha. (Holy Ghost ) Forane Church, Muttuchira | |
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| Ruhada Kudisha Syro-Malabar Catholic Forane Church | |
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| Location | Muttuchira, Kottayam |
| Country | India |
| Denomination | Syro-Malabar Catholic Church |
| Churchmanship | High church |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | Holy Ghost (Rooha Kadisha) |
| Founded | 510 AD |
| Dedication | Holy Spirit |
| Architecture | |
| Status | Church |
| Functional status | Active |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Pala |
Holy Ghost Forane Church aka Ruhada Kudisha church is located at Muttuchira village, Kottayam, Kerala, India. It is believed to be established in the 6th century AD and is one of the ancient churches in Kerala. The church is famous for the presence of ancient granite Persian cross, ancient stone writings and ancient mural paintings.
Muttuchira is a village in the Kottayam District situated in the South Indian State of Kerala. It is called as Nayappalli in old records . As per tradition, the Christian settlement of Muttuchira was built up in the 6th century. Antonio Gouvea, the Portuguese voyager who went with Alexis De Menezes, the Archbishop of Goa, recorded the Menezes' visit of Muttuchira in AD 1599. Gouvea used the term Nayapili to mean Muttuchira.The church was previously called as 'Spiritu Sancto' (Latin word for Holy Spirit).
Johannes Facundus Raulin in the 1740s in his book 'Historia Ecclesia Malabaricae' uses the term Muttieri. Anquetil Du Perron, a French Scholar and Orientalist in January 1758, mentions about the Catholic church of Holy Ghost at Muttiera and mentions of Saint Sebastian .
The Muttuchira church is one of the most ancient churches in India. It is believed to be built up in the sixth century AD. The Christians to this territory were brought by the dependants of the then land lord Myal Pazhur Naboothiripadu and Mamalassery Kaimal. These local rulers helped the Christian congregation to built a new church in that area. Kallarveli family was a prominent one who helped to built the church. Later many others came and settled here from other places . This was an agricultural area mainly of ginger and paddy. The Muttuchira market also came into existence gradually. It is said that Muttuchira had commodity transactions with Kochi back then. The consecration day of Muttuchira church was on the arrival of Pentecost on 25 May, 550 AD. The old main church was at a site called Kurisummoodu near Muttuchira market.
The ancient cross with a granite base standing in Kurisummoodu is adorned with beautiful carvings. The main church was with traditional arch shaped madbaha with a cross and a sacrificial table . As the church members increased in number, the church space became inadequate and another congregation was established in the seventh century. This new church was built in the site of the present kochupally (little church) inside the compound.
The church was harmed during the assault of the Mukalan rulers in ninth century AD. The church bells were taken away by them. That church was later remodelled and used till the 12th century. It was remodeled again in the 13th century. This church was named after the Holy Ghost. This church had the sanctity behind, verandas on both sides and the spaces for the ministers to keep afloat. Denha thirunal was important in this church. It is said that 'the principal ecclesiastical Holy Mass of Bishop Mar Parambil Chandy after his ecclesiastical appointment was offered at Muttuchira church'.
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