St. Peter's and St. Paul's Orthodox Church, Parumala (Parumala Pally) is a prominent parish church of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church.
History
Old Parumala Church
Parumala is a small stretch of land on the shores of the river Pampa. Malankara Metropolitan Joseph Mar Dionysius wanted to establish a seminary in this area. A plot of land with an area of 2 acres was donated by Arikupurathu Mathen Karnavar to the Malankara Metropolitan for this purpose.
An ordinary building called ‘Azhippura’ was soon built on this plot of land for conducting classes for the deacons etc. Syriac classes were begun here under the care of Fr.Yakob. In course of time, Metropolitan Mar Dionysius gave the charge of the seminary to Metropolitan Mar Gregorios (Later known as Parumala Thirumeni), in order to carry on the Syriac teaching sessions more efficiently and also to help him in other church matters.
Temporary church in Parumala was rebuilt by Mar Gregorios and consecrated in 1895.
Present church
Present church which can accommodate more than 2000 worshippers was designed by renowned architect Charles Correa. The new church is circular in design with an inner diameter of 39 meters. This circle is again divided into three segments by two chords of 16 meters length.His Holiness Baselios Mar Thoma Mathews II, Catholicos of the East laid the foundation stone of the new church on 19 March 1995.
The consecration rites of the new church was held on 27 October 2000 evening led by His Holiness the Catholicos. A public meeting held on 28th afternoon in connection with the consecration ceremony was attended by host of dignitaries including His Excellency P. C. Alexander, Governor of Maharashtra, Arch Bishop Nikitas (Greek Orthodox Church), Arch Bishop Aghan Balizion (Armenian Orthodox Church), Bishop Sarkissan (Armenian Orthodox Church) and several Bishops of the Malankara Orthodox Church and other sister churches and also leaders of other religions.
Parumala Thirumeni
Gheevarghese Mar Gregorios of Parumala (Raja Ravi Varma, 1905)
Tomb of St.Gregorios at Parumala Church
Parumala church is the tomb church of Saint Geevarghese Mar Gregorios or Parumala Thirumeni. He died on 2 November 1902 at the age of 54. The funeral was conducted at Parumala on 3 November 1902 in the presence of thousands of people and hundreds of priests. Many testimonies to the saintly intercession of Mar Gregorios made Parumala Church and the tomb a centre of pilgrimage.
In 1947 Mar Gregorios of blessed memory was declared a saint by the then Catholicos of the church, His Holiness Baselios Geevarghese II.
CHURCH RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT DESIGN
In 1989, Charles Correa visited the Parumala Church along with structural consultant Kamal Hadkar. They also visited many old Syrian Churches of Kerala. After an intensive study, Mr.Correa submitted a 3-D model and drawings of the proposed new church before the Holy Episcopal Synod of the Malankara Orthodox Church. However, this plan was rejected on various grounds. The revised plan was accepted by the Holy Episcopal Synod in 1993.
The new church is circular in design with an inner diameter of 39 meters. This circle is again divided into three segments by two chords of 16 meters length. The Eastern segment consists of the 3 altars and the vestry. The Western segment consists of the Veranda and the Natakasala (Porch). The Haikla and the space for the congregation come in the middle segment. The new altar on the Northern side is exactly at the same site of the main altar of the old church. The tomb-room now faces west. The roof of the Haikla is a concrete triple barrier vault with a height of 18 meters from the floor in the center while the road of the madhuba is a quadrant vault 21 meters above ground level at the highest point. The 6 meter high simple massive cross over the vault of the madhuba commands an asserting view against the background of the bright blue sky.
CONSTRUCTION WORK
The foundation and concrete super structure work was done by M/s. Asian Techs Limited, Cochin, in acceptance of their tender of Rs.140 lakhs. His Holiness Baselius Marthoma Mathews II, Catholicos of the East laid the foundation stone of the new church on 19th March 1995. The piling work was begun on 26th August 1995 after His Grace Geevarghese Mar Osthathios Metropolitan offered the Holy Qurbana and special prayers.
Contact Information
Parumala Seminary,Parumala P.O, Thiruvalla, Pathanamthitta District Kerala State, Pin:689 626 ,India : +91 479 2312328, 91 479 2312202 , +91 0479 2312226,(10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) | : manager@parumalachurch.com, | : www.parumalachurch.com
Getting there
Nearest railway station: Chengannur, about 10 km
Nearest airport: Trivandrum International Airport, about 125 km
History
Old Parumala Church
Parumala is a small stretch of land on the shores of the river Pampa. Malankara Metropolitan Joseph Mar Dionysius wanted to establish a seminary in this area. A plot of land with an area of 2 acres was donated by Arikupurathu Mathen Karnavar to the Malankara Metropolitan for this purpose.
An ordinary building called ‘Azhippura’ was soon built on this plot of land for conducting classes for the deacons etc. Syriac classes were begun here under the care of Fr.Yakob. In course of time, Metropolitan Mar Dionysius gave the charge of the seminary to Metropolitan Mar Gregorios (Later known as Parumala Thirumeni), in order to carry on the Syriac teaching sessions more efficiently and also to help him in other church matters.
Temporary church in Parumala was rebuilt by Mar Gregorios and consecrated in 1895.
Present church
Present church which can accommodate more than 2000 worshippers was designed by renowned architect Charles Correa. The new church is circular in design with an inner diameter of 39 meters. This circle is again divided into three segments by two chords of 16 meters length.His Holiness Baselios Mar Thoma Mathews II, Catholicos of the East laid the foundation stone of the new church on 19 March 1995.
The consecration rites of the new church was held on 27 October 2000 evening led by His Holiness the Catholicos. A public meeting held on 28th afternoon in connection with the consecration ceremony was attended by host of dignitaries including His Excellency P. C. Alexander, Governor of Maharashtra, Arch Bishop Nikitas (Greek Orthodox Church), Arch Bishop Aghan Balizion (Armenian Orthodox Church), Bishop Sarkissan (Armenian Orthodox Church) and several Bishops of the Malankara Orthodox Church and other sister churches and also leaders of other religions.
Parumala Thirumeni
Gheevarghese Mar Gregorios of Parumala (Raja Ravi Varma, 1905)
Tomb of St.Gregorios at Parumala Church
Parumala church is the tomb church of Saint Geevarghese Mar Gregorios or Parumala Thirumeni. He died on 2 November 1902 at the age of 54. The funeral was conducted at Parumala on 3 November 1902 in the presence of thousands of people and hundreds of priests. Many testimonies to the saintly intercession of Mar Gregorios made Parumala Church and the tomb a centre of pilgrimage.
In 1947 Mar Gregorios of blessed memory was declared a saint by the then Catholicos of the church, His Holiness Baselios Geevarghese II.
CHURCH RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT DESIGN
In 1989, Charles Correa visited the Parumala Church along with structural consultant Kamal Hadkar. They also visited many old Syrian Churches of Kerala. After an intensive study, Mr.Correa submitted a 3-D model and drawings of the proposed new church before the Holy Episcopal Synod of the Malankara Orthodox Church. However, this plan was rejected on various grounds. The revised plan was accepted by the Holy Episcopal Synod in 1993.
The new church is circular in design with an inner diameter of 39 meters. This circle is again divided into three segments by two chords of 16 meters length. The Eastern segment consists of the 3 altars and the vestry. The Western segment consists of the Veranda and the Natakasala (Porch). The Haikla and the space for the congregation come in the middle segment. The new altar on the Northern side is exactly at the same site of the main altar of the old church. The tomb-room now faces west. The roof of the Haikla is a concrete triple barrier vault with a height of 18 meters from the floor in the center while the road of the madhuba is a quadrant vault 21 meters above ground level at the highest point. The 6 meter high simple massive cross over the vault of the madhuba commands an asserting view against the background of the bright blue sky.
CONSTRUCTION WORK
The foundation and concrete super structure work was done by M/s. Asian Techs Limited, Cochin, in acceptance of their tender of Rs.140 lakhs. His Holiness Baselius Marthoma Mathews II, Catholicos of the East laid the foundation stone of the new church on 19th March 1995. The piling work was begun on 26th August 1995 after His Grace Geevarghese Mar Osthathios Metropolitan offered the Holy Qurbana and special prayers.
Contact Information
Parumala Seminary,Parumala P.O, Thiruvalla, Pathanamthitta District Kerala State, Pin:689 626 ,India : +91 479 2312328, 91 479 2312202 , +91 0479 2312226,(10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) | : manager@parumalachurch.com, | : www.parumalachurch.com
Getting there
Nearest railway station: Chengannur, about 10 km
Nearest airport: Trivandrum International Airport, about 125 km
DAILY PRAYER TIMINGS AT CHURCH
| ||
| MONDAY TO SATURDAY | Morning Prayer | 5 A.M – 6 A.M |
| Moonnam Mani Namaskaram | 10 A.M – 10.15 A.M | |
| Noon Prayer | 12 – 12.30 P.M | |
| Onpatham Mani Namaskaram | 3 P.M – 3.15 P.M | |
| Evening Prayer | 6 P.M – 7 P.M | |
| Intercessional Prayer | 9 P.M – 9.30 P.M | |
| Soothara | 9.30 P.M | |
| MEDITATION PRAYERS | ||
| Friday | Friday Meditational Speech | 10.00 A.M – 12.00 Noon |
| HOLY QURBANA | ||
| Monday | Church | 7.00 A.M – 8.00 A.M |
| Chapel | – | |
| Tuesday | Church | 7.00 A.M – 8.00 A.M |
| Chapel | – | |
| Wednesday | Church | 7.30 A.M – 8.30 A.M |
| Chapel | – | |
| Thursday | Church | 7.00 A.M – 8.00 A.M |
| Chapel | – | |
| Friday | Church (Moonninmel Qurbana ) | 7.30 A.M – 9.00 A.M |
| Chapel | 6.30 A.M – 7.30 A.M | |
| Saturday | Church | 7.30 A.M – 8.30 A.M |
| Chapel | – | |
| Sunday | Church | 8.30 A.M – 10.30 A.M |
| Chapel | 6.30 A.M – 7.30 A.M | |
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