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Time of India
30-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Renovation of Thiruvithamcode Arappally: One of the Oldest Churches in the World
The church is believed to have been consecrated by the apostle St Thomas Nanjinad, a historic region once described as the rice bowl of Thiruvithamcode, encompasses the present day villages of Agastheeswaram, Thovalai and Kalkulam in Kanyakumari district. And it is home to, arguably, one of the oldest churches in the world, which is now undergoing a renovation. The Thiruvithamcode Arappally, or Thomayar Kovil, believed to have been consecrated by the apostle St Thomas, circa AD 63, is an almost 2,000-year-old church, officially known as St Mary's Church. The apostle is said to have arrived in India at Muziris Port circa AD 52 and embarked upon his evangelical quest of south India, covering Palayur, Niranam and Kollam, and eventually landing in Thiruvithamcode. Legend has it that the King of Venad, Nedum Cheralathan, a Chera ruler, had supported the apostle and 64 of his disciples with land to build settlements in these parts. At their request, they were offered a patch of land near the palace, to serve as the site for a place of worship. The original church, built under the king's patronage, had undergone rebuilding over many centuries, but retained the architectural sensibilities prevalent at the time of its creation. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like ¡Trading con IA en Chile ayuda a usuarios a obtener ganancias potenciales! Mainhubfb Más información Undo It was built using granite (karingal) blocks, and during reconstruction, crafted with a multi-tipped chisel — a technique believed to be introduced to Kerala following the arrival of foreign explorers in the 16th century. The church, where daily prayers are held, mirrors the aesthetics of traditional Hindu temples – replete with a Sreekovil i.e. sanctum sanctorum or innermost chamber where a deity's idol is enshrined, and a mandapam (foyer). The exteriors feature terracotta roof tiles, while the mandapam is framed with latticework, and there are super-sized oil lamps carved out of stone nearby. This site is believed to be part of the Ezharappallikal (seven churches and four half-churches) grouping, founded by St Thomas, in the first century. Making sense of the origin of the shrine's name Arappally – it's not exactly a half-church, literally – takes a little bit of digging around. ' The shrine is called a royal church, as it has connotations with the Tamil word Arasan, which means king,' says Reverend Barsleebi Ramban, the vicar and manager of the church. 'It was built with the support of the royals. It is also known as Tharusayikkal Church, and refers to the Tarissa Chettikal, a Christian trader community of Thiruvithamcode that had sought the reconstruction of the church many centuries ago. ' Apart from the Thiruvithamcode Arappally in Tamil Nadu , there are three royal churches (Arappallikal) located in Malayattoor, Mylacombu, and Aruvithura in Kerala. Like many historic sites, the Arappally has not been immune to the ravages of time and neglect. Many artefacts that had been part of the church have been lost over the years. In 1941, when the church was found in an almost ruined state, the late Reverend Koottumkal Geevarghese Ramban took it upon himself to restore it to a state of prayer-worthiness. 'All that remain are the baptismal font (a receptacle for holy water) made of granite, which dates back to the days of the original church, located within the antechamber; a stone trough near the exit on the western wall, which served as a spot for the priests to wash their feet before entering the church; a holy casket; a Portuguese hanging lamp; and a panchaloha thurible (censer to burn incense). On the southern wall, a cross said to be carved by St Thomas is fixed. There is also a two millennia old well, which never dries up,' says the Vicar, who adds water from the well is said to be holy by the devout. Renovation of the Thiruvithamcode Arappally at 1 crore has begun, funded by the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, which maintains the site. 'There are no structural changes being made to the church, but there are plans for expansion of the museum located within the heritage centre adjacent to it, which houses ancient coins, a mill stone, and gifts to the church such as a 15th century wooden table.' The church was proclaimed an international St Thomas Pilgrim Centre in 2007. But there's also the question of why such heritage sites are not designated protected monuments. The answer lies in the fact that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has certain criteria when it comes to designating monuments historically important. 'The monuments or buildings should not have undergone any structural modifications. Many places of worship like temples, churches and mosques lose their historical relevance owing to constant renovations and modifications, a result of these sites being continuously used by the public,' says D Dayalan, former director of monuments at ASI. Email your feedback with name and address to
The Hindu
12-05-2025
- The Hindu
State govt. taking steps to enable devotees to visit Kannagi temple on every pournami day, says HR&CE Minister
The annual Chitra Pournami festival was celebrated with gaiety and fervour at the Mangaladevi Kannagi Temple by a large number of devotees from Theni (Tamil Nadu) and Idukki (Kerala) districts on Monday. Participating in the celebrations, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Minister P.K. Sekar Babu said the department would make all arrangements for the devotees to visit the Kannagi temple without any hassles. 'We have already initiated talks with Kerala government officials, and a letter too was handed over to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan,' he said. The temple, which is situated between Tamil Nadu and Kerala, attracts devotees from far and near, and Chitra Pournami is celebrated in a grand manner every year. Forest Department officials from both the States make arrangements during this period by fencing the forest areas and ensure that the devotees have no threat from wild animals. With the ever-increasing number of devotees visiting the temple, it has been proposed to build infrastructure facilities in a permanent manner, so that devotees may visit the temple on Pournami days throughout the year. The HR&CE Department is contemplating to build rest rooms (yatri nivas) for the people and also maintain the spot. According to the legend, Chera King Senguttuvan built the shrine, and Chitra Pournami is being celebrated at the temple during the Tamil month of Chitirai by the people. The Minister was confident of smoothening the visit to the shrine without hassles for the devotees in the coming year. He said the HR&CE Department and the Theni district administration had arranged food for 25,000 people in view of the festival. Apart from this, the devotees who reached the Kannagi temple on foot were provided food in Uthamapalayam and Kumily. HR&CE Commissioner P.N. Sridhar, Theni District Collector Ranjith Singh, Superintendent of Police R. Shiva Prasad, Srivilliputtur Megamalai Tiger Reserve Deputy Director Anand, MP Thanga Tamil Selvan, MLAs N. Ramakrishnan, A. Maharajan, K.S. Saravana Kumar, and senior officials from the HR&CE, Forest, Revenue Departments participated.
