St Thomas Cathedral & Bishop House
| St. Thomas Cathedral | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Location | Irinjalakuda, Kerala |
| Country |
 India
|
| Denomination | Catholic Church (Syro-Malabar) |
| History | |
| Founded | 1845 A.D. |
| Administration | |
| Division | Kerala |
St Thomas Cathedral is the catholic cathedral of the eparchy of Irinjalakuda in India got its present existence under the nomenclature and the Canonical Status as Cathedral in the Wake of the Origin of the New Eparchy. This was effected by the amalgamation of the two independent and important parishes of the locality, namely, St. George’s Forane Church and St. Mary’s church, which amicably situated side by side for about a century.
The Cathedral Parish has, at present a Catholic population of 14,552, belonging to 2921 families. Apart from the Eparchial office and related institutions, numerous religious institutes, formation houses, as well as catechetical, educational and service centers took their origin with the benign and generous support of the Catholic Community of the area. The major religious institution to be mentioned is the Udaya Provincial House belonging to the Congregation of the Mother of Carmel. The Cathedral Parish also has its own multifarious institutes and associations thriving full swing.
Each had its several institutions and properties as well as high resources. St. George Church is chronologically prior as it was established in 1845 AD. This originated at the request of the Christian merchants who migrated to Irinjalakuda during the regime of Rama Varma Thampuran (known as “Sakthan Thampuran” – 1790-1805) the king of Kochi. He invited the Christian merchants from the neighboring ancient Catholic Syrian regions such as Velayanad, Pazhuvil, Pudukkad, Kallettumkara(Thazhekkad), Mapranam, Kalparambu etc. in view of trade and industry. Thus a small Church was constructed here, then known as Kombarakunnu under the guidance of the Parish Priest of Mapranam Church with the interest of propaganda faction. Later they tried for building a spacious Church.In order to get permission they approached General Cullen,Resident to Travancore and Cochin.He selected present Chanthakunnu area of Manavalasseri muri instead of Mangadikunnu and Kombarakunnu and built a church there.However, in July 1874 the so-called “Mellus Schism” affected the area and the majority succumbed to it.It is one of the parishes that have given the ship expenses of Mar Yohannan Mellus, from Basra to Mumbai. But a ministry resisted and tried to continue in the papal allegiance. With that view they constructed a new and better Church in 1880 and dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary (ST. Mary’s Church). In 1882 Mar Eliya Yohannan Mellus returned to Mesopotomia.Gradually several religious, educational and charitable institutions came up and flourished in the area. Though the Mellusian group got away from that influence and rejoined the Papal allegiance, both the Churches remained side by side as separate Catholic Parishes without territorial limits. They cherished Concord and Cordiality. In 1944 St. George Church was raised to the Status of a Forane Church.
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Wikipedia