AP 260 to 251
ആലങ്ങാട് മാഹാത്മ്യം PART II. ആലങ്ങാട് ഭാരതസഭയുടെ തറവാട്! by Fr. Paul Chully.
Call Number | AP 256A |
Part Number | Part I - Syro Malabar Church |
Title | ആലങ്ങാട് മാഹാത്മ്യം PART II. ആലങ്ങാട് ഭാരതസഭയുടെ തറവാട്! by Fr. Paul Chully. |
Duration | 12:41 |
Place of Recording | St. Mary's Church, Alangad |
Date of Recording | |
Youtube URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8ZhNE45sNE |
Video Segment (s) |
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Notes
ആലങ്ങാട് മാഹാത്മ്യം PART II. ആലങ്ങാട് ഭാരതസഭയുടെ തറവാട്! by Fr. Paul Chully.
History of Alangad Old Marth Maryam Nazrani Syro Malabar Catholic Church. “Beloved Nazranis wake up and be enlightened”
History of Alangad Old Marth Maryam Nazrani Syro Malabar Catholic Church. “Beloved Nazranis wake up and be enlightened” Note: In the history of Christianity in India (Hendo) St Mary’s (Marth Maryam) Syro Malabar catholic church has its prime importance. The history of the people of Alangad; especially the history of Marthoma Nazranis, ancient church, and memorable incidents that happened in this church had been documented in several historical pieces of literature. Hence any studies regarding churches of India and Nazranis of Malabar will be incomplete if Alangad Marth Maryam church and its communities are not taken under consideration. It is a well-known fact that Alangad Marth Maryam church and land are very much intermixed with the history of Christianity in India. Only a handful of ancient Syrian churches still exists today that were built prior to the arrival of Portuguese missionaries in Malabar during the 16th century. Among those churches, our Alangad Marth Maryam church was established in AD 1300 as per the available historical documents. What else could be the sole reason for Nazranis of Alangad to build this enormous church during those times, other than their deep routed faith in GOD and LORD, their Nazarene ISHO MESSIAH, and obligation in sharing the witness of faith to younger generations. During the time of the monarchial system of governance in Malabar, if a non-Christian king of Alangad gave consent to the people of Alangad to build this magnanimous church; then it is only because of the upper hand of our ancestors in the king’s court and their strong financial background along with the status of the high esteem in our society. Hence, in that case, the memory of our ancestral pride, social status, and influence that has been etched in golden letters over this great church can only be remembered by preserving this church for forthcoming generations. There is no other ancient structure in Alangad or nearby places that is as supreme and majestic as our Alangad old Marth Maryam church. As per the findings and written documents of western travelers, there was no other Church as big as the old Alangad church prior to the 19th century. Even during 20th-century majority of homes in Alangad were constructed with palm roofs and mud or timber walls, still, Alangad church was the only building that had its wall built completely with bricks and the wall measured to be around 4-5 feet in thickness. Now this ancient and famous church of Alangad is not just the dome of faith for the people of Alangad, but also to numerous ancestors and their generations who fled to other parts of Malabar from Alangad during the infamous invasion of the Tippu sultan. In India, especially over the region of Kerala, there are numerous beliefs of glorious apparitions of Mother Mary at different locations. The faithful people truly believe it and many of those landmarks have been declared as pilgrimage centers by the church. Above all, only the ancient Marth Maryam church of Alangad got the substantiating written documented proof of apparition of our Marth Maryam (Mother Mary). Mother Mary is believed to have appeared at Alangad Marth Maryam Church in AD 1599 and it was documented by Metropolitan Archbishop of Goa His grace Menezes during his missionary visit in Malabar during that time frame. During the time of fierce battle between King of Paravoor and King of Alangad the Nair army from Paravur advanced to Alangad to attack Nazrani families and people of Alangad. The vast majority of the congregation including the majority of women and kids took refuge in the old Marth Maryam church. While the Paravoor army tried to torch the church and its people; a stark luminous ray appeared above the church, which in turn made the army frightened and in turn retreated to Paravur. Thus Marth Maryam interceded and got her people and church saved from severe destruction. This incident was documented in the personal diary of Archbishop Menezes after His grace visited the church the very next day, which was later included in the famous book Jornada by its author Guvaya in AD 1606. During the horrific period of the invasion of the southern Malabar region by Tippu sultan in AD 1790, the terrified people of Alangad fled to different parts of Malabar. Barbarous king and his army tried to torch the church but only the roof got burned. Neither the fortified walls nor the façade got any damage. The replica of apostle Mar Luke’s painting of Mother Mary placed over the Madbaha remained intact. After the failed attempt of Tippu and his army to capture the entire Malabar the faithful congregation of Alangad restored the entire church to its old beauty.
Fr. Paul Chully, Vicar
Translated by: Jose K. George.
Keywords : indianchristianity, syromalabarchurch, alangad, IndiaandChristianity, ChristianMusicologicalSocietyofIndia, StThomasChristians, StThomasandIndia, StThomasSleeva, AlangadSleeva