St. George Forane Church, Edathua (Edathua)

India / Kerala / Tiruvalla / Edathua
 church, Roman Catholic church
FEAST AT ST GEORGE'S CHURCH EDATHUA ALAPPUZHA KERALA Venue: St.George's Church, Edathua, about 23 km southeast of Alappuzha town, south Kerala. The St. George's church at Edathua stands on the bank of the river Pampa, sixteen miles southeast Alappuzha. This church is famous for the feast of St. George celebrated every year in the month of Medam (April-May). It takes place from 27th April till 7th of May. Though the festival lasts for 11 days, only last couple of days carry all the aspects of a major festival. Hence calendars reckon the 6th of May as the feast day. During the feast, the statue of St.George, decked in gold, was carried out in procession and placed on the dais at the centre of the Basilica. Processions were held everyday, and dazzling fireworks display highlighted in the initial as well as concluding day's rituals. Devotees from all parts of the State attended the feast. As in all other festivals typical of Kerala, the church ground swarmed with vendors and stalls selling all kinds of things from food to utensils to jewellery. There were cultural performances every evening. The edathua Feast is held from April 27 to May 14 every year. Getting there: Nearest railway stations : Thiruvalla about 12 km; Alappuzha about 24 km. Nearest airport : Cochin International Airport, about 85 km from Alappuzha town.

In fact traditionally the Edathua church is known as the "Church of Geevarghese." In Malayalam St George is known as Geevarghese. How this saint came to be known as Geevarghese and became so popular among the enciant St Thomas christans or Syrian Christians (Traditionally known as Nasranees in the Malayalam language spoken by the people of kerala, India) of Kerala is still a mystery.Varghese is also perhaps the most popular traditional name of Nasranee men. Like most beliefs about the Nasranee community of Kerala the history of Edathua Church and the statue of Geevarghese (which interestingly look very different from the St George icons found anywhere else in the world including kerala)is mired in myth and myracle stories of grandmothers, hearsay and some church records. Edathua Church was built about two centuries ago by a few Catholic families of Edathua area. Prominant among them was the Oorammelil family of Pandankary, who broke away from the Champakkulam parish which is a few miles west of Edathua. It is said that even though originally the Church was built in the name of Arch Angel Michael, the church came to be known as Geevarhghese's Church after the the parish members purchased the icon of Geevarghese(St George)from Edappally near Eranakulam. The story is that even though the people of Edathua had purchased the Icon from the Edappally Church they had to forcefully take possession of the icon from Edappally and flee in the fast snakeboats (Chundanvallam) in the context of some miracles and subsequent hesitance from people of Edappally to part with the icon.
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   9°22'1"N   76°28'30"E

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  • St.Aloysius HSS Edathua
  • can anybody please include the history of Edathua church here?
  • FEAST AT ST GEORGE'S CHURCH EDATHUA ALAPPUZHA KERALA Venue: St.George's Church, Edathua, about 23 km southeast of Alappuzha town, south Kerala. The St. George's church at Edathua stands on the bank of the river Pampa, sixteen miles southeast Alappuzha. This church is famous for the feast of St. George celebrated every year in the month of Medam (April-May). It takes place from 27th April till 7th of May. Though the festival lasts for 11 days, only last couple of days carry all the aspects of a major festival. Hence calendars reckon the 6th of May as the feast day. During the feast, the statue of St.George, decked in gold, was carried out in procession and placed on the dais at the centre of the Basilica. Processions were held everyday, and dazzling fireworks display highlighted in the initial as well as concluding day's rituals. Devotees from all parts of the State attended the feast. As in all other festivals typical of Kerala, the church ground swarmed with vendors and stalls selling all kinds of things from food to utensils to jewellery. There were cultural performances every evening. The Edathua feast is held from April 27 to May 7 every year. Getting there: Nearest railway stations : Thiruvalla about 12 km; Alappuzha about 24 km. Nearest airport : Cochin International Airport, about 85 km from Alappuzha town.
  • In fact traditionally the Edathua church is known as the "Church of Geevarghese." In Malayalam St George is known as Geevarghese. How this saint came to be known as Geevarghese and became so popular among the enciant St Thomas christans or Syrian Christians (Traditionally known as Nasranees in the Malayalam language spoken by the people of kerala, India) of Kerala is still a mystery.Varghese is also perhaps the most popular traditional name of Nasranee men. Like most beliefs about the Nsranee community of Kerala the history of Edathua Church and the statue of Geevarghese (which interestingly look very different from the St George icons found anywhere else in the world including kerala)is mired in myth and myracle stories of grandmothers, hearsay and some church records. Edathua Church was built about two centuries ago by a few Catholic families of Edathua area. Prominant among them was the Oorammelil family of Pandankary, who broke away from the Champakkulam parish which is a few miles west of Edathua. It is said that even though originally the Church was built in the name of Arch Angel Michael, the church came to be known as Geevarhghese's Chuch after the the parish members purchased the icon of Geevarghese(St George)from Edappally near Eranakulam. The story is that even though the people of Edathua had purchased the Icon from the Edappally Church they had to forcefully take possession of the icon from Edappally and flee in the fast snakeboats (Chundanvallam) in the context of some miracles and subsequant hesitance from people of Edappally to part with the icon.
  • Edathua church was founded in 1810 AD, under its ancient mother church, Champakulam Kalloorkadu St. Mary's, which was founded in 417 AD.
  • st' George's palace
  • I watch in eduthuva st. George charch details 4 shalom telivition . I like and i beliwe in eduthuva charch. All the best and pray in full time. All peoples . By jijo jacob
  • pray for own house in chennai near infant church
  • The statue of St. George at Edappally Church and Edathua have resemblances.. They may be brought to Kerala from the same foreign country..Please add such details also...St. George pray for us...
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This article was last modified 12 years ago