St. Mary's Forane Church, Edoor

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St. Mary's Forane Church Edoor

St. Mary'sForane Church Edoor.jpg

St. Mary's Forane Church Edoor
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St. Mary's Forane Church Edoor
11°59′53″N75°43′34″E / 11.998038°N 75.726163°E / 11.998038; 75.726163 Coordinates: 11°59′53″N75°43′34″E / 11.998038°N 75.726163°E / 11.998038; 75.726163
Location Edoor, Iritty, Kerala
Country India
Denomination Syro Malabar Catholic Church
Website stmarysshrineedoor.com
History
Founded 1946
Dedication Saint Mary
Architecture
Architectural type Modern
Administration
Parish St. Mary's Forane Church, Edoor
Archdiocese Thalassery
District Kannur
Clergy
Archbishop Mar. George Njaralakkatt
Vicar(s) Fr. Antony Muthukunnel
Assistant priest(s) Fr. Sojan Elampurayidam

St. Mary's Forane Church Edoor is one of the oldest churches and a notable Marian pilgrim centre in North Malabar of Kerala. It is near Iritty, the eastern town of Kannur district. This church is the first church in the name of St. Mary under the archdiocese of Thalassery. It is also the largest parish in the archdiocese. It is situated about 6.5 kilometres from the town of Iritty, which is also known as 'The Coorg valley in the God's own country'.

North Malabar Geographical / Historical Area in India

North Malabar refers to the geographic area of southwest India covering the state of Kerala's present day Kasaragod and Kannur Districts, the Mananthavady taluk of Wayanad District, the taluks of Koyilandy and Vatakara in the Kozhikode District of Kerala and the entire Mahé Sub-Division of the Union Territory of Puducherry.

Kerala State in southern India

Kerala is a state on the southwestern, Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions. Spread over 38,863 km2 (15,005 sq mi), Kerala is the twenty second largest Indian state by area. It is bordered by Karnataka to the north and northeast, Tamil Nadu to the east and south, and the Lakshadweep Sea and Arabian Sea to the west. With 33,387,677 inhabitants as per the 2011 Census, Kerala is the thirteenth-largest Indian state by population. It is divided into 14 districts with the capital being Thiruvananthapuram. Malayalam is the most widely spoken language and is also the official language of the state.

Iritty Municipality in Kerala, India

Iritty is a municipality and a taluk in the district of Kannur in the state of Kerala, India. The town is the main market place for the farmer communities in the surrounding regions. Iritty is known as The Coorg Valley in God's Own Country. Iritty is one of the fastest upcoming towns in Kerala with the distance of 18 KM from Kannur International Airport and one among five taluks in Kannur district.Iritty is one of the major towns lies between Coorg and Kannur international airport -Mattanur.

Contents

Basic Information

Edoor town is a small marketplace for the farmer communities of the surrounding regions. This place is well-connected to any part of Kannur and other parts of Kerala by road. [1] In fact, this church has a great influence in the spiritual life and social development of that locality.

Edoor town in Kerala, India

Edoor is a small town about 6.5 kilometers from Iritty in Kannur district in Kerala, India.

Kannur Corporation City in Kerala, India

Kannur, also known by its anglicised name Cannanore, is a city and a Municipal Corporation in Kannur district, state of Kerala, India. It is the administrative headquarters of the Kannur District and situated 518 km north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. During British rule in India, Kannur was known as Cannanore, a name that is still in use by the Indian Railways. Kannur is the largest city of North Malabar region. As of 2011 census population of Kannur was 2,32,486. Kannur is one of the million-plus urban agglomerations in India with a population of 1,642,892 in 2011.

History

This parish was established in 1946. In its initial times, it was under the Latin Catholic Diocese of Kozhikode. Later, it came under the Syro-Malabar Catholic Archdiocese of Thalassery. [2] In those times, the members of the parish were the Christian people who had migrated from Travancore. In 1970, the most beautiful new church was built. Still, it is one of the most beautiful churches in Kerala. The architectural beauty of this church attracts the tourists to come here.

A parish is a territorial entity in many Christian denominations, constituting a division within a diocese. A parish is under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of a parish priest, who might be assisted by one or more curates, and who operates from a parish church. Historically, a parish often covered the same geographical area as a manor. Its association with the parish church remains paramount.

Kozhikode Metropolis in Kerala, India

Kozhikode or Calicut is a city in Kerala, India and the headquarters of the Kozhikode district. The Kozhikode metropolitan area is the second largest urban agglomeration in Kerala with a population of 2 million as of 2011. The city lies about 360 km south west of Bangalore, 235 km south of Mangalore and 525 km south west of Chennai.

Thalassery Municipality in Kerala, India

Thalassery, formerly Tellicherry, is a commercial city on the Malabar Coast in Kannur district, in the state of Kerala, India, bordered by the districts of Mahé (Pondicherry), Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kasaragod and Kodagu (Karnataka). Thalassery municipality has a population just under 100,000. Thalassery has an area of 23.98 square kilometres (9.26 sq mi). It is 22 km south of the district headquarters in Kannur town. Thalassery is situated in an altitude ranging from 2.5m to 30m above mean sea-level.

Architectural Features

The interior of 'St. Mary's Forane Church Edoor' with a far view of the altar. St. Mary's Forane Church Edoor Interior.jpg
The interior of 'St. Mary's Forane Church Edoor' with a far view of the altar.

The church is in a circular shape and it has a dome in the centre. As it is circular, it has a large area and a wide angle of viewing the altar. It is also one of the largest churches in Malabar. The altar of this church was renovated in 2012, which creates a heavenly feeling in our mind. The altarpieces include the sculptures of various saints. The church has entrances from three directions; viz. West, South and North. Above the main entrance which is from the south, we can see a Latin text: "VENITE ADOREMUS", meaning Come, Let us worship. Above the entrance from the south, we can see the text: "AVE MARIA", and above the northern entrance we can see the text: "MY LORD, MY GOD", which is a declaration by St. Thomas, who is the apostle of India and the father of the Syro-Malabar Church.

Dome architectural element that resembles the hollow upper half of a sphere

A dome is an architectural element that resembles the hollow upper half of a sphere. The precise definition has been a matter of controversy. There are also a wide variety of forms and specialized terms to describe them. A dome can rest upon a rotunda or drum, and can be supported by columns or piers that transition to the dome through squinches or pendentives. A lantern may cover an oculus and may itself have another dome.

Altar structure upon which offerings such as sacrifices are made for religious purposes

An altar is a structure upon which offerings such as sacrifices are made for religious purposes. Altars are found at shrines, temples, churches and other places of worship. They are used particularly in Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Shinto and Taoism. Judaism used such a structure until the destruction of the Second Temple. Many historical faiths also made use of them, including Roman, Greek and Norse religion.

Thomas the Apostle Early Christian, one of the twelve apostles and a saint

Thomas the Apostle (Biblical Hebrew: תומאס הקדוש‎; Greek: Θωμάς; Coptic: ⲑⲱⲙⲁⲥ; Classical Syriac: ܬܐܘܡܐ ܫܠܝܚܐ‎ Ṯaumā s̲h̲liḥā ; also called Didymus which means Twin was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus, according to the New Testament.

Special Features

Jesus Central figure of Christianity

Jesus, also referred to as Jesus of Nazareth and Jesus Christ, was a first-century Jewish preacher and religious leader. He is the central figure of Christianity and is widely described as the most influential person in history. Most Christians believe he is the incarnation of God the Son and the awaited Messiah (Christ) prophesied in the Old Testament.

Night View of 'St. Mary's Forane Church Edoor' on the feast day in 2012. St. Mary's Forane Church Edoor Feast.jpg
Night View of 'St. Mary's Forane Church Edoor' on the feast day in 2012.

Edooramma

Edooramma, The mother of Edoor. Edooramma.jpg
Edooramma, The mother of Edoor.

The presence of St. Mary is the reason for its popularity. The statue of Mother Mary or Edooramma which may not be seen anywhere else is the most beautiful thing in this church.

This statue was made in foreign country and brought here by the European Missionaries who were working in this region. Actually it was decided to place it in a nearby church and not in St. Mary's Church. It is said that while it was transported to another church via Edoor, the vehicle had a breakdown when it reached Edoor. As the defect could not be solved soon, they placed the statue in the Edoor Church. This is the story how Edooramma reached here.

Many devotees from various parts of Kerala including the ill and the infirm and the distressed, come here and returns with peace and cure from the laps of Edooramma.

Educational Institutions

This church has an important role in the education sector of the region. St. Mary's LP School was established in 1946 by the church. This is the oldest school in this region. Then St. Mary's UP School was established in 1949. Thus it became a great blessing for the people as the primary education was available there. Later, in 1957 St. Mary's High School was established. In 1998, St. Mary's Higher Secondary School came in eDoor opening the Door of the higher education. Now, St. Mary's Higher Secondary School is a single institution consisting UP, Higher Secondary and High school. These institutions provide good education. These are the most famous educational institutions in the district. Along with these, in 1972 a nursery school named 'St. Treesa’s Nursery School' and in 1984 'Vikas Bhavan Special School' for the differently abled children, were established under the leadership of the 'CMC Convent'. Vikas Bhavan Special School is one of the very few special schools in Kerala. Thus this church plays a key role in the human resource development of the region.

Parishes Under Edoor Forane

1. St. Thomas Church Karikottakkari
2. St. Sebastian's Church Velimanam
3. St. Mary's Church Mangode
4. St. Mary's Church Uruppumkutty
5. St. Sebastian's Church Chedikulam
6. Bl. Chavara Kuriakose Elias Church Keezhpally
7. St. Sebastian's Church Vattiyara
8. St. Joseph Church Edappuzha

Major Institutions under the church

Priests Served in the Parish

1.Fr.Kudakkachira Kuriakose(1945–47)
2.Fr.Kuzhikkalathil C.J.Varkey(1947–49) [3]
3.Fr.Kattakkayam Joseph(1949–54)
4.Fr.Elamthuruthiyil Sebastian(1954–59)
5.Fr.Moongammackal Abraham(1959–65)
6.Fr.Kollamparambil Joseph(1965–72)
7.Fr.Koottiyani Peter(1972–77)
8.Fr.Kadukummackal John(1977–80)
9.Fr.Kattackal Zacharias(1980–84)
10.Fr.Kunnapallil Varkey(1984–90)
11.Fr.Kollakombil George(1990–93)
12.Fr.Kavalakkattu Kuriakose(1993–99)
13.Fr.Purayidam Antony(1999-2005)
14.Fr.Emmanuel Poovathinkal(2005-2010)
15. Fr. Andrews Thekkel (2010-2016)
16. Fr. Antony Muthukunnel from 2016-

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References

  1. ↑ "Edoor St. Mary's Forane Church website".
  2. ↑ "History of Edoor Church".
  3. ↑ "Thalassery Arch-Diocese Website".
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