Kothamangalam Marthoma Cheriapally - The pride of Ernakulam district
Marthoma Cheriapally situated in Kothamangalam in Ernakulam district is one of the famous pilgrims in Kerala. Many institutions work under Marthoma Cheriapally for betterment of the people in Kerala. Read this article and learn about the history and works done by this church for people.
Introduction to Marthoma Cheriapally
Marthoma Cheriapally is located in Kothamangalam. Kothamangalam is one of the famous and attractive places located in Ernakulam district. The place is enriched with many important pilgrimages and it mainly includes the ancient Thrikariyoor Temple, Marthoma Cheriapally, St. Man's Church, St. George Cathedral and many mosques. This is also an important place for tourism also. Cheriapally has done many useful works for the people and has also created miracles for their worshipers. About Marthoma Cheriapally
St. Yeldho Mar Baselios Bava is the holly father of Marthoma Cheriapally. In order to save Malankara, worshipers requested st. Patriarch Bava to sent a holly father and thus came st. Yeldho Mar Baselios Bava. To reach malankara, bava came sailing till Thalaseri and travelled across a forest to reach pallivasil. History says that bava visited Kozhippally Chakkalakudi near Kothamangalam during kanni 7th (Malayalam month) in 1865. There was a young boy who was grazing his cattles. Bava showed actions to the boy to show the nearest church but he could not come with the bava as his cattle would be hunted by other animals. So bava drew a circle around the cattle which kept these animals safe. When the boy understood that this man could do miracles, he said about the pain which his sister is suffering for her delivery. Bava stretched his hand and suddenly a coconut tree started to tilt downwards. A coconut was blessed and given to the young boy. Then the boy showed the way to Cheriapally.
During kanni 11th on the Malayalam calendar at AD 1685, the saint reached the church and sat on the step of madbho. The church bell sounded loud and people gathered to know Its reason. There was a young ordained minister of an order ranking below that of priest who knew Syriac. He suddenly went to an episcopo nearby after taking a handkerchief from the saint for proof. After hearing this, episcopo along with the rest of the people came to the church.
The vicar of the church went to ask permission from saint to conduct the festival. Saint said that kanni 14th is perfect for the festival so as to remember the Holly cross. After the qurbono by the saint, the Episcopal became a Metropolitan. Later bava became seriously ill and on kanni 19th (29th of September), he left the world at the age of 92. When his soul left him, people who gathered saw a miracle which the saint had notified them early. The large cross made of granite situated in the western part of the church had lit up. All the worshipers were shocked a started believing in depth. After bava's death, worshipers experienced many great miracles which further increased the worshipers.
People believe that they will be blessed with a child if they would promise to baptize and name their children as 'Eldho' or 'Basil'. It is now found that people having these names are more than 1 lakh. In remembrance of the bava, festival (perunnal) is held from kanni 13th to 21th every year. The great grand children of the boy who showed bava the way to cheriapally are now leading the people during the perunnal and this belief is continued till now without any hindrance.
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