ST.MARY'S MALANKARA SYRIAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, PRAKKANAM, PATHANAMTHITTA. PIN. 689642.
HISTORY
The name prakkanam dervied from the word "pera kananam" which mean "lovely forests".The place is a covered by hilly mountains , valleys and streams.
The region was inhabitated by migrants whose occupation was farming.
They belong to Nair,Ezhava hindu communities.
Four hundred years back migrants from Nilakhal, Kadamnad , Thumpamon regions of kaleekal kudumbam (family)reached Prakkanam as the first christian family of this place.
About 350 years ago "Kollantethu" kudumbam from kottarakara migrated to this place. Like wise 150 years ago "Ayrookuzhi"kudumbam came to this place. In due course of time many other families came here to reside in this place.
In olden times the Prakkanam christians used to worship at Ommalloor Valiyapally.In the Malayalam era 1080 (1904 AD) Abdul mashisha pathrikis laid the foundation stone of Manikkathara pally which is later known as "Prakkanam St. Mary's Orthdox church valiya pally - the first church of prakkanam.
In 1950s Christians of prakkanam padinjare mala , kizhakkae mala , vadakke mala regions were conducting prayer meetings, balajanasakhyams, sundayschools and Y.M.C.As.These organisations were conducting joint meetings, rallies and conventions.
Valiyathumannil conventions were later on shifted to kochidayadiyil.
Later Hindu conventions began to be conducted at Vallyathumannil. Here healthy hindu christian relationship existed.During this time sunday schools were held in the premises of Ovil Scaria's kada(shop).YMCA's were held in the premise of kochidayadiyil .Puthiyeth C.J.George , Thunidyeth T.G.Kochuommen, Puthiyeth John were the active members of these orgnisations. Thunidyeth T.M.Varghese was the President of YMCA.
Christian people in this region felt the need to have a church for worship and this was put forward to YMCA unit which was after due discussion rejected by YMCA. Later on few people met at the Kuttiyal Simon Sir's house and they made a Nivadhanam (representation) letter which was signed by 55 persons.They intended to handover the letter to The Arch bishop Most.Rev. Benedict Mar Gregorios and for the same Shri T.M. Varghese, hundiyathu was assigned the task to handover the same. During this time the Arch Bishop was in America so the letter was handed over in his absence to Malankara Vicar General C.T. Kuruvilla in the presence of Rev. Fr. Philip Patholil , the Principal of St.John's College, Anchel, of Malankara Catholic Church.
After the return of the ArchBishop BenedictMar Gregorious from Ammerica the proposal was accepted by him and Sri.T.M . Varghese, Thundiyathu was assigned the task to buy a plot of land for the church. Firstly with the assistance of Shankarmanglam , palakkakuzhiyil Kochupillai, Pandippurath Kuttanpillai a 75 cent plot of land was bought from Nellikkunnil Narayapillai in the name of The Arch Bishop of Trivandrum.
In the days following 1956 kochidayadiyil convention, a Malankara Catholic convention was held in this plot.In this convention Father Vadakken gave apt replies to the allegations raised in the Kochidayadiyil Orthodox Convention against Catholic Faith. At the end of this Catholic convention on 16th January 1956 Arch Bishop Benedict Mar Gregorios received eight families to the Church.People from these region were beleviers of motherhood so the plot for the Church was named as Marygiri In this plot a coconut leaf wrapped shed was made and used as the chappel.As these region people's main occupation was farming oriented and the previous date ie, Jan 15 was the day of Mother of seeds, so taking the same in to consideration on Jan 16 St.Mary named church was formed and Holy Qurbana was also performed in the plot where Malankara Catholic Convention were held.Going forward some more families also joined the church.
Among them the decedents of T.M.Varghese Thundiyathu, George Mepurathu, Ommen Mathai Mepreth , Skaria Varghese Kavuknal, Daniel Kalumkoottathil, T.M.Philip Thundiyeth, Koshy Thomas Vilaparambil , Thomas Varghese Kuzhimuriyil, Ommen Thomas Thanninilkunathil, K.G.Oonnunny Kuzhimuriyil, Yohannan Koshy Edathil, Joseph Koruth kuruvilla Kochidayadiyil, all are still the members of the church. Later a 27 cent land was purchased from Chudukattil Raghavanpillai. For the construction of the church sand was brought. For many days these sand was lying idle and later it became isolant.The shed which was used for conducting the Holy Qurbana fell in 1959. For some days Holy Qurbana was held in the house of Chekot kuttiyil Simon sir. In 1964 a new building was made for the church. The building is now used as the parish hall. Chekot kuttiyil Simon sir and Pulamala Puthenvettil George Abraham shifted to Trivandrum and Thonniamala respectively.Thereafter Joseph Kochidayadiyil, Thomas Philip Peedikayil, Thomas Samuel Undandiyathu, George Panara, Samuel Charivukalayil, Jacob Chelanilkunnathil,Joseph Powakkara,Geevarghese Idiculla Muttanil, Varkey Abraham Kavumkal, Thomas Chamakkalayil, C.M Achenkunju Kallumkoottathil,George Varghese Vallyathu, Rajan V G Vallyathu, Babu Tharayil, SamuelMaroottumkal, Oonnunny Alunilkunnathil, Yohannan Ettinilkunnathil, Achenkunju M David Mukaluvilayil, Samuel Devasia Kurissumkal, and Francis Kuzhippillil joined the church.
In 1987, 88 year when Rev.Fr.Koshy Chakkalamannil was the vicar of the church and Shri George Mepurathu,the treasurer and Shri K.G.Oonnunni, the secretary The construction of Kurissadi, and the plantation of rubber in the church premises began. The statue of Holy Mary was donated by Shri George Mepurathu. While being Trustee of this parish Sri. George Meppurathu entered etternal life on the5th June 1989.
In 1992 while Rev.Fr. John Kuttiyil was vicar the construction of the present church began. It was completed and blessed on 22nd October 1994 Lorance Mar Apprem then auxiliary bishop of the Trivandrum Arch Diosess
During 2010 The Pathanamthitta Dioses was formed under His Grace Yohanon Mar Chrisostom.
Reconstruction and expansion of the existing church building started during November 2011. Stone laid by His Grace Yohanon Mar Chrisostom , Bishob of Pathanamthitta.
The name prakkanam dervied from the word "pera kananam" which mean "lovely forests".The place is a covered by hilly mountains , valleys and streams.
The region was inhabitated by migrants whose occupation was farming.
They belong to Nair,Ezhava hindu communities.
Four hundred years back migrants from Nilakhal, Kadamnad , Thumpamon regions of kaleekal kudumbam (family)reached Prakkanam as the first christian family of this place.
About 350 years ago "Kollantethu" kudumbam from kottarakara migrated to this place. Like wise 150 years ago "Ayrookuzhi"kudumbam came to this place. In due course of time many other families came here to reside in this place.
In olden times the Prakkanam christians used to worship at Ommalloor Valiyapally.In the Malayalam era 1080 (1904 AD) Abdul mashisha pathrikis laid the foundation stone of Manikkathara pally which is later known as "Prakkanam St. Mary's Orthdox church valiya pally - the first church of prakkanam.
In 1950s Christians of prakkanam padinjare mala , kizhakkae mala , vadakke mala regions were conducting prayer meetings, balajanasakhyams, sundayschools and Y.M.C.As.These organisations were conducting joint meetings, rallies and conventions.
Valiyathumannil conventions were later on shifted to kochidayadiyil.
Later Hindu conventions began to be conducted at Vallyathumannil. Here healthy hindu christian relationship existed.During this time sunday schools were held in the premises of Ovil Scaria's kada(shop).YMCA's were held in the premise of kochidayadiyil .Puthiyeth C.J.George , Thunidyeth T.G.Kochuommen, Puthiyeth John were the active members of these orgnisations. Thunidyeth T.M.Varghese was the President of YMCA.
Christian people in this region felt the need to have a church for worship and this was put forward to YMCA unit which was after due discussion rejected by YMCA. Later on few people met at the Kuttiyal Simon Sir's house and they made a Nivadhanam (representation) letter which was signed by 55 persons.They intended to handover the letter to The Arch bishop Most.Rev. Benedict Mar Gregorios and for the same Shri T.M. Varghese, hundiyathu was assigned the task to handover the same. During this time the Arch Bishop was in America so the letter was handed over in his absence to Malankara Vicar General C.T. Kuruvilla in the presence of Rev. Fr. Philip Patholil , the Principal of St.John's College, Anchel, of Malankara Catholic Church.
After the return of the ArchBishop BenedictMar Gregorious from Ammerica the proposal was accepted by him and Sri.T.M . Varghese, Thundiyathu was assigned the task to buy a plot of land for the church. Firstly with the assistance of Shankarmanglam , palakkakuzhiyil Kochupillai, Pandippurath Kuttanpillai a 75 cent plot of land was bought from Nellikkunnil Narayapillai in the name of The Arch Bishop of Trivandrum.
In the days following 1956 kochidayadiyil convention, a Malankara Catholic convention was held in this plot.In this convention Father Vadakken gave apt replies to the allegations raised in the Kochidayadiyil Orthodox Convention against Catholic Faith. At the end of this Catholic convention on 16th January 1956 Arch Bishop Benedict Mar Gregorios received eight families to the Church.People from these region were beleviers of motherhood so the plot for the Church was named as Marygiri In this plot a coconut leaf wrapped shed was made and used as the chappel.As these region people's main occupation was farming oriented and the previous date ie, Jan 15 was the day of Mother of seeds, so taking the same in to consideration on Jan 16 St.Mary named church was formed and Holy Qurbana was also performed in the plot where Malankara Catholic Convention were held.Going forward some more families also joined the church.
Among them the decedents of T.M.Varghese Thundiyathu, George Mepurathu, Ommen Mathai Mepreth , Skaria Varghese Kavuknal, Daniel Kalumkoottathil, T.M.Philip Thundiyeth, Koshy Thomas Vilaparambil , Thomas Varghese Kuzhimuriyil, Ommen Thomas Thanninilkunathil, K.G.Oonnunny Kuzhimuriyil, Yohannan Koshy Edathil, Joseph Koruth kuruvilla Kochidayadiyil, all are still the members of the church. Later a 27 cent land was purchased from Chudukattil Raghavanpillai. For the construction of the church sand was brought. For many days these sand was lying idle and later it became isolant.The shed which was used for conducting the Holy Qurbana fell in 1959. For some days Holy Qurbana was held in the house of Chekot kuttiyil Simon sir. In 1964 a new building was made for the church. The building is now used as the parish hall. Chekot kuttiyil Simon sir and Pulamala Puthenvettil George Abraham shifted to Trivandrum and Thonniamala respectively.Thereafter Joseph Kochidayadiyil, Thomas Philip Peedikayil, Thomas Samuel Undandiyathu, George Panara, Samuel Charivukalayil, Jacob Chelanilkunnathil,Joseph Powakkara,Geevarghese Idiculla Muttanil, Varkey Abraham Kavumkal, Thomas Chamakkalayil, C.M Achenkunju Kallumkoottathil,George Varghese Vallyathu, Rajan V G Vallyathu, Babu Tharayil, SamuelMaroottumkal, Oonnunny Alunilkunnathil, Yohannan Ettinilkunnathil, Achenkunju M David Mukaluvilayil, Samuel Devasia Kurissumkal, and Francis Kuzhippillil joined the church.
In 1987, 88 year when Rev.Fr.Koshy Chakkalamannil was the vicar of the church and Shri George Mepurathu,the treasurer and Shri K.G.Oonnunni, the secretary The construction of Kurissadi, and the plantation of rubber in the church premises began. The statue of Holy Mary was donated by Shri George Mepurathu. While being Trustee of this parish Sri. George Meppurathu entered etternal life on the5th June 1989.
In 1992 while Rev.Fr. John Kuttiyil was vicar the construction of the present church began. It was completed and blessed on 22nd October 1994 Lorance Mar Apprem then auxiliary bishop of the Trivandrum Arch Diosess
During 2010 The Pathanamthitta Dioses was formed under His Grace Yohanon Mar Chrisostom.
Reconstruction and expansion of the existing church building started during November 2011. Stone laid by His Grace Yohanon Mar Chrisostom , Bishob of Pathanamthitta.
