St.Mary's Church Meenangadi

St. Mary's Church Meenangadi
EAE St. Mary's Soonoro Church Meenangadi
St. Mary's Church Meenangadi Location in Kerala, India
Location	Meenangadi (Post), Wayanad District, Kerala
Country	India
Denomination	Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church
Tradition	Syriac Orthodox
Website	http://www.stmaryssoonorochurch.com/
History
Founded	1958
Relics held	Holy Soonoro(Holy Girdle Of St.Mary), Relics of Patriarch H.H Ignatius Elias III
Administration
Diocese	E.A.E Arch Diocese
Clergy
Bishop(s)	H.G Markose Mor Chrysostomos (Metropolitan oF EAE Arch Diocese)
Vicar(s)	Rev Fr. Jacob Thomas

E.A.E St. Mary's Soonoro Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Pilgrim Church Meenangadi (Malayalam: സെന്‍റ് മേരീസ് ‘സൂനോറോ’ തീര്‍ത്ഥാടന കേന്ദ്രം മീനങ്ങാടി), is a Jacobite Syrian Christian Church located at the heart of Wayanad district in Meenangadi, and a divine destination for pilgrimages of all religions. The Church is under E.A.E Arch Diocese,(Malayalam: പൗരസ്ത്യ സുവിശേഷ സമാജം) the first missionary association of Syriac Orthodox Church, under direct control of H.H Ignatius Aphrem II Patriarch Of the Syriac Orthodox Church. In 2006, the church was elevated to the status of Marian Pilgrim Center and in 2008 church celebrated its Golden Jubilee and is one among the oldest churches in Wayanad. The church is operating under Pourastya Suvisheesha Samajam

Feasts

• February 1 – Commemorative of the Foundation Day of the Church
• February 2 - Commemoration of Ignatius Elias III
• April Feast – Commemoration of St. George
• August 15 – Virgin Mary's Ascension Day
• September 8 – Feast of the Virgin Mary's birth – Thousands attend the annual 8-day celebration, known as Ettunombu Perunnal
• November -Commemoration of Gheevarghese Mar Gregorios of Parumala(Parumala Thirumeni (Bishop of Parumala) or Chathuruthiyil Kochu Thirumeni)
• Mor Basil Chapel,Mepperikunnu-Commemoration of Baselios Yeldo

History

The Jacobite Syrian Christian families from Travancore, especially from Kothamangalam, Perumbavoor and Muvattupuzha migrated to Wayanad in the early 1950s. Creating an Altar of peace, a harmony of love and an independent Church at Meenangadi was the dream of a few at that time. The forefathers of church under the leadership of K. O. Varghese Kaniyampadikkal, Varghese Ambhazhatinamkudi, A. Y. Markose, Kuriaykose Kollamkudiyil, Adukalil David, Cholayil Ishaqe, Adakkaravayalil Kuriyakose took the initiative to build the church on the land donated by K. O. Varghese and Foundation Stone Laying Koodasha was held on February 2, 1958. The first Qurbana (Holy Mass) was celebrated by the first Vicar Malphono Naseeho, Very Rev. Athunkal Geevarghese Corepiscoppa (Founder of Evangelical Association Of the East). In 1974 H. G. Geevarghese Mor Gregorious Perumbalil(perumbally thirumeni), H. B. Thomas Mor Dhivanyasos (Baselios Thomas I) arrived to the church and conducted Koodhasha of the Shrine in 54th mile under the name of St.Mary. In 1976 youth association was started in the church. In 1982 there was grand welcoming for the Apostolic Visit of Patriarch Of Antioch Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas to church with Baselios Paulose II Bhava. Late Lamented H. G. Poulose Mor Athanasius Kadavil (Kadavil Thirumeni) and H. G. Geevarghese Mor Polycarpos thirumeni the metropolitan of EAE also supported the church. Late Lamented Baselios Paulose II bhava visited the church frequently and Gifted Holy Soonoro and Relics of Ignatius Elias III to the Church which was installed by H. G. Geevarghese Mor Polycarpus Metropolitan.

File:H.B Baselious Paulose II,Very.Rev Malphono Naseeho Athungal Coreppiscoppa with K.O Varghese.JPG

H.B Baselious Paulose II,Very.Rev Malphono Naseeho Athungal Coreppiscoppa with K. O. Varghese

Sub Organisations

• Mor Basil Chapel,Mepperikunnu
• St. Mary's Sunday School under M.J.S.S.A (Malankara Jacobite Syrian Sunday School Association)
• Mor Ignatius Youth Association
• Mor Basil Charitable Trust
• Marthamariam Women's Movement

Relics Held

Holy Soonoro ( Holy Girdle Of St.Mary)

Icon depiction the Soonoro giving her Girdle to Thomas the Apostle. Below is a styllized representation of Mary's Tomb, with flowers lying on the sarcophagus.

According to Orthodox Church tradition, the Virgin Mary died in the presence of all apostles except Thomas the Apostle. At the time of the assumption, Thomas was in India and he returned to Jerusalem and travelled on the sky by the help of Holy Spirit to attend the assumption of Mary. But he was late in arriving and the saint visualised that Mary's body was taken by the Angels. At that time St.Thomas could reach there. Thomas had doubtful nature. In order to convince others he requested to Mary to give him any sign of her for her memory and remembrance. Then a chariot stopped in the air and Mary gifted her girdle to Thomas. Then he showed this girdle to other disciples of Jesus and convinced them. He took this soonoro(girdle) on his journey. A lot of miracles have happened since then by touching or even seeing this girdle. St.Thomas and the people believed its power. Gradually it was taken to Şanlıurfa, then it kept in a church in Homs in Syria. Supposing that he was seeing her soul and received blessing and Holy girdle from Virgin mary. This is the one of the Important incident, Which is not written in the bible. The original girdle is a relic belonging to Saint Mary Church of the Holy Belt and it is scientifically proved.

File:Soonoro of St.mary.jpg

Soonoro in E.A.E St. Mary's Church Meenangadi,Wayanad

Saint Thomas apostle kept holy belt with his, After he died as a martyr in Mylapore, the body of Thomas apostle and relics are kept in India. In 394 AD, The holy girdle moved from India to uraha. In the Syriac history of Şanlıurfa(The city has been known by many names in history: Ուռհա Uṙha in Armenian, ܐܘܪܗܝ Urhai in Syriac, ره, الرها, Ar-Ruhā in Arabic and Ορρα, Orrha in Greek (also Ορροα, Orrhoa).), it is mentioned that on August 22, 705. It was a Greek era. and established in Saint Mary Church of the Holy Belt. This church is also known as holy girdle of church (or)The Church of the Lady of the Girdle .The supreme head Ignatius Aphrem I Barsoum Patriarch of Antioch studied about some manuscripts and Garshunian book containing stories and speeches send by the people of Homs in 1852. The archbishop of Homs ordered to renovate the church. On 20 July 1953 A.D, The Holy Girdle discovered from the Altar Of church by Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem I Barsoum and the presence of His Eminence Alexandros, the Greek Orthodox bishop of Homs, Syria. This Holy Girdle is considered as one of the most important relic in Syrian Orthodox Church.

Relics of Patriarch H.H Ignatius Elias III

Mor Ignatius Elias III (died February 13, 1932) was the 119th Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch from 1917 to 1932. He died and is buried at the monastery of Manjanikkara Dayara in Kerala, India, where there is a considerable number of Syriac Orthodox Christians. The monastery is now a pilgrim site for Syriac Orthodox Christians.The church also holds the sacred relics of St. Elias Third.

External links

• Church website
• Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/stmaryssoonoro.churchmeenangadi/
• Malankara History
• Pain and Palliative care
• India9.com
• MalankaraChurch.org
• The Internet Edition of the Monthly Magazine of The Evangelistic Association of the East