History

St. George Basilica Church (‘Padinjaara Palli’)

Angamaly Diocese

            The Angamaly Diocese was formed by the Pope, Pius the IVth on February 13th, 1564. The areas ranging from Kanyakumari to The Sindhu River Basin, were under this diocese. The diocese was lead by The Malankara Metropolitan Mar Yacob with his residences at Cochin and Kodungaloor. The book “INDIAYILE PAVURASTHYA CHRISTHAVA CHARITHRAM” says that the successor of Mar Yacob, Mar Joseph, expected him to have the authority to rule over the Syrian Diocese.

But, following the orders from Mar Paappa, Abdhisho Patriarch of Selushyias divided the Indian Syrian Diocese into two and made Mar Abraham in charge of Angamaly diocese and Mar Joseph of the second.

In 1568, Mar Abraham escaped from the Portuguese prison and came to Kerala and was made the Bishop of Angamaly Diocese. In 1578, he requested Mar Paappa to give Angamaly diocese to have independent administrative stand. In that year, Mar Abraham didn’t attend the Sunnahados arranged at Goa, due to the fear of Portuguese soldiers. Instead he called for a separate Sunnahados at Angamaly. This was the first Sunnahados held in Kerala. Then Mar Abraham represented Angamaly in the Sunnahados held in Goa in 1585. In this gathering they decided to form a Monastery in Angamaly. Even though, the Portuguese ruler ordered the construction of a seminary in Angamaly, the Iso Group interfered by stating that there had been a seminary in Vypeen already.

Paaremaakhal Govarnadhor called for a mighty gathering in Angamaly in 1787. All groups of Christians participated in this meeting. They designed a common manifesto for the Christians in this meeting. This manifestos engraved in golden letters of the history of Angamaly and is known as “ANGAMALY PADIYOLA”. In this meeting, 12 priests called as “Kaanonists” were selected to assist Govarnadhor in the administration of the diocese.

The first travelogue in Malayalam, “VARTHAMAANA PUSTHAKAM”, was written by Paaremaakhal Thomas Kathanaar while he was staying at Angamaly. The book illustrates the journey that Mar Joseph Kariyaatti Malpan and Paaremaakhal Thomas Kathanaar had to Rome.

In 1790, when a war was waged by Tipu Sultan, Mar Thomas Kathanaar shifted to Vadayaattu Church and reigned over the Angamaly diocese. Many historical monuments were destroyed during the attack of Tipu. In the 19th century, all Christian meetings, functions, decisions etc… Angamaly Diocese representatives were given the Golden Chair.

The tradition of beliefs of Angamaly hallmarks both Indian and Keralian Christian order. Christianity flourished in Kerala in the early year A.D 1. One of the Apostles of Jesus Christ, St. Thomas is believed to have come to Kerala in A.D 52 November 21st, to spread the Gospel of Jesus. Then the capital of Kerala was Kodungalloor. It is believed that, St. Thomas reached ‘Pallithaazham Kadavu’ which is near the present location of St. George Forane Church and then traveled to Malayattor on foot.