A Brief History of its Origin and Development

Location:

This Church is situated in a hillock at Inchoor in Varapetty Village, about 6 Kms. away from the town of Kothamangalam in Ernakulam District of Kerala State, South India.

Origin and Development:

              In the early 19th century, the places of Inchoor, Varapetty, Myloor and Pidavoor were dominated by Hindus. Syrian Christians were a minority then. They had to travel either to Kothamangalam or to Karakunnam to participate in the Eucharistic and other religious services. There was no road, bridge or ferry across the river or any other transport facilities to participate in holy Eucharist services regularly. To find a remedy for this, local believers of about 40 nos. of the community in these places gathered together in the Govt. School at Varappetty on 21st of August, 1916 under the able leaderships of a 26 year old young priest, Rev. Fr.Mathai Cherukarayil and a 29 year old young Mr. Chandy Paily, Anthinattukudiyil. The General Body had constituted a committee of 18 members to carry out the vision that the Jacobite Syrian Community should have a Church of their own in this location to meet their spiritual needs. By the sincere effort and struggle of the committee and the gracious and magnanimous help of believers and the local people of other faith, the then Jacobite Community could buy 2.45 acres of land from Mr. Raman Prameswaran Nair, Puthumadathil in Inchoor. The parishioners of the church could respect Mr.Chandy Paily, Anthinattukudiyil who had given his own land of 2.58 acres then and also contributed 82 cents of land to erect the present Church. Also, this parish ever remembers 23 year old young Mr. Mathew Thomman, Anthnattukudiyil, a then committee member had donated 48 cents of Paddy field to get permission to construct the Church. It was Rev. Fr. Mathai Cherukarayil, who founded the cross in this place in the name of St.Thomas on M.E. 6th of Makaram, 1092 ie on 19th January, 1917 of A.D. with the consent of Diwan Peskar in Kottayam Division where this area belonged and with the blessings of Mor Athanasius Paulose, the then Metropolitan of Ankamally Diocese [now the Church had declared Him the ‘Saint’].

              Through the relentless and endeavour, struggle without food and sleep of the then committee, believers as well as the strong support of the well wishers could construct a church within one year and was able to Consecrate it by Mor Athanasius Paulose, the Diocesan Metropolitan on M.E. 5th of Makaram, 1093 [ie.on 18th January, 1918] and first Eucharist service was conducted by Mor Athanasius Paulose on 6th Makaram, 1093 [i.e.on 19th January, 1918]. Therefore, the main ‘Perunnal’or festival of the church is celebrated every year on M.E. 6th day of Makaram otherwise on 19th January of every year.

              The old Malayalam name “Injayoor”, means the hilly land of “Inja”, a plant having hard thorns. After the light of church, this name was changed to “Inchiyoor” which means the land of “Inchi” [Ginger], a highly cultivated plant or one of the spices to medicines. These two words combined in one word “Inchoor”, light of God. In the beginning, the Parish had 91 families and now holds 403 families.

              Mar Thoma Church shares many events in the history of Malankara Church in various occasions. Whenever the Malankara Church faced heresies and atrocities against the See of Antioch and its Apostolic tradition, Inchoor Mar Thoma Sehiyon Jacobite Syrian Church has always been a strong wall behind the spiritual fathers of the church.

              On 19th June 1931(5th Medunam, 1106), the visit of Late Saint H.H Ignatius Elias III, the Patriarch of the Universal Syrian Orthodox Church was a landmark and a golden feather in the history of the parish. As it was said, His Holiness during His visit conveyed His ambition to stay back in the parish for the rest of His life. But the poor agriculturist-office-bearers of the parish were convinced of the limited sources and the poor financial background of the parish. Understanding this, His Holiness left his plan to be in Inchoor. In memory of His Holiness; the Church has built a beautiful Chapel on the main road side close to the Church.

              The Church also holding three more Chapels in the names of St. George at Pidavoor, St. Greegoriose at Varapetty and St. Basil at Kozhippilly

               The parish has followed an “Udampady” which was formulated in 1918, the Magna Carta of the church, till the constitution was registered in 1988. The constitution of the church is strictly under the general constitution of the Jacobite Syrian Church declaring its faith, legacy and obligation to the throne of St. Peter and the See of Antioch.

              The parish is also enriched with spiritual organizations such as Sunday School, Youth Association and Women’s League. They had been given awards for their truthful service from the Diocese of the Church. The 12 family units of the parish function as the pillars of the Church. Every Saturday and Sunday we have family unit meetings under the leadership of the Vicar and General Body elected Convener, Mr. Bijoy Ponnattu and the Central Committee members, involving in the overall development of the Church.