Parumala Thirumeni / St Gregarios Geevarghese of the Parumala Church
Parumala Thirumeni / St Gregarios Geevarghese of the Parumala Church in the Pathanamthitta District, is the first ever declared saint of India. He belonged to the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church.
Parumala Thirumeni / St Gregarios Geevarghese, was the first declared saint of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church and the first canonized Indian saint. Ormaperunnal or the commomeration day of the saint is celebrated on the 1st and the 2nd of November every year. You can see large number of devotees and visitors flock to the church to worship the saint.About Parumala Church in Pathanamthitta District
Parumala, located in the Pathanamthitta district of the stateof Kerala in India, is small town in the River Pampa. Parumala is well known for the Tomb of Parumala Thirumeni, St Gregarios. St Gregarios was one of the greatest saints of India who belonged to the Indian Orthodox church or the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church and the Syriac Orthodox church. History of St Gregarios Geevarghese of Parumala Church
Saint Gregarios Geevarghese was born in a well known priestly family of Pallathattu Thanagattu, located in the village of Mulunthuruthy in the Ernakulam district on the 15th June 1848. He was christened as Geevarghese / George at the Mulunthuruthy Marthoman Church. He lost his mother in his early years and was under the loving care of his elder sister Mariam. He had followed a very strict and disciplinarian life even in is childhood which had lots of time for prayer and fasting. In the early days he had a fascination for Syriac, the liturgical language of Syriac Orthodox Church. He had the extraordinary ability of singing Syriac hymns perfectly and clearly came to the notice of Malpan Kassisso Geevarghese who was an authority in Syriac and a celibate priest, as well as his father's brother. Thoroughly impressed with the boy's ability Kassisso Geevarghese gave proper guidance to him.
Malpan Kassisso Geevarghese Konattu (later Geevarghese Mor Julius) and St. Yuyakkim Mor Koorilos Bava, the Syrian Metropolitan who was the Reesh Episcopa to Malankara were the two other personalities who influenced the boy's mind greatly. The boy became a monk in the later years at the malankara Church and made it clear to the world that Prayer and devotion is mightier than any worldly possession. The Holy Saint's life was remarkable , he was a deacon at 10, a priest at 18, a bishop at 28 and died at the age of 54. He passed away on the 3rd November 1902, after a saintly life of prayer to become the brightest jewel of the Universal Syrian Church.Construction of the Parumala Church
As the number of disciples increased under Metropolitan Mar Gregorios (Later known as Parumala Thirumeni), all of them could not be accommodated in the smallspace of the Azhippura. So a new room was added to solve the problem and Bishop shifted his residence to the new room. there was a temporary church for prayers and rites for which the land was donated and originally built by Arikupurathu Karanavar in 1885. The Bishop rebuilt this church with the gifts and donations he received and opened the seminary in 1895 on the feast day of Virgin Mary. This church is dedicated to the Apostles St. Peter and St. Paul.
The Metropolitan Mar Gregorios was buried in the northern corner of the church where the octagonal altar and the rectangular 'Haikla' of the church join together when the saintly Metropolitan was taken to his heavenly abode on 2 November 1902. The Holy Episcopal Synod Canonized him as a saint in 1947.
The western side of the Tomb was closed in 1910 and the altar on the northern side was dedicated in the name of St Mary and one on the southern side to St Thomas. Soon after that all these three altars were embellished with golden gilt work.
Since the church built by Mar Gregorios could contain only 300 worshipers, it was extended towards the west in 1930, with a porch (Natakasala) and with a balcony hall above. In 1960, a pillared-hall with a dome overhead was built on the northern side of the tomb. Now people could conveniently sit and pray and make their offerings. Another tower was also built on the north-west side. How to Reach Parumala?
You have to reach either Chengannur or Thiruvalla to go to Parumala. From there you have to travel about 10 miles either by auto or taxis to reach Parumala.
You can see How to reach Chengannur here.Accommodations in Chengannur
Anu Hotel, Chengannur
Tel : 0479 2455661
Johns Hotels and Catering Service, Chengannur
Tel: 09847328014
Email : mydaily4me@gmail.com
Raj International, Chengannur
Tel: 0479 2452464
Bhagavath Gardens, Market Road, Chengannur-689121,
Tel: 04792458394, 2458395
Email: bhagavathgardens@gmail.com