, native_name_lang = ml , image = Eaechurch3.jpeg , image_size = , alt = , caption = , pushpin map = India Kerala , pushpin label position = , pushpin map alt = , pushpin mapsize = , relief = , map caption = Location in Kerala, India , coordinates = , osgraw = , osgridref = , location =

Meenangadi Meenangadi is an old town situated on the highway NH 766 between Kalpetta and Sulthan Bathery in Wayanad District, in Kerala, India. This place is one among the Provinces where the existence of Dolmens provide an historical evidence of earlier ci ...

(Post),

Wayanad District Wayanad () is a district in the north-east of Indian state Kerala with administrative headquarters at the municipality of Kalpetta. It is the only plateau in Kerala. The Wayanad Plateau forms a continuation of the Mysore Plateau, the southern ...

Kerala Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South ...

, country =

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

, denomination =

Syriac Orthodox , native_name_lang = syc , image = St_George_Syriac_orthodox_church_in_Damascus.jpg , imagewidth = 250 , alt = Cathedral of Saint George , caption = Cathedral of Saint George, Damascu ...

, tradition =

Malankara Church The Malankara Church, also known as ''Puthenkur'' and more popularly as Jacobite Syrians, is the historic unified body of West Syriac Saint Thomas Christian denominations which claim ultimate origins from the missions of Thomas the Apostle. ...

, religious institute = , churchmanship = , membership = , attendance = , website = , former name = , bull date = , founded date = 1957 , founder = , dedication =

Saint Mary Mary; arc, ܡܪܝܡ, translit=Mariam; ar, مريم, translit=Maryam; grc, Μαρία, translit=María; la, Maria; cop, Ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ, translit=Maria was a first-century Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Joseph and the mother of ...

, Saint Thomas,

Saint George Saint George (Greek: Γεώργιος (Geórgios), Latin: Georgius, Arabic: القديس جرجس; died 23 April 303), also George of Lydda, was a Christian who is venerated as a saint in Christianity. According to tradition he was a soldier ...

, dedicated date = , consecrated date = , cult = , relics =

Holy Soonoro The Holy Girdle, also known as the Girdle of Thomas, Holy Girdle of Mary, Holy ''Zoonoro'', (or) ''Zunoro'', and Holy Belt of Saint Mary the mother of Jesus, is a relic of the Blessed Virgin Mary which is one of the important relics of Syriac Or ...

(Girdle Of St.Mary), Relics of Patriarch

Ignatius Elias III Saint Ignatius Elias III (13 October 1867 – 13 February 1932) (Syriac: ܐܝܓܢܛܝܘܣ ܐܠܝܐܣ ܬܠܝܬܝܐ) was the Patriarch of Antioch, and head of the Syriac Orthodox Church from 1917 until his death in 1932. Biography Nasri was born o ...

, events = , past bishop = , status = Soonoro Pilgrim Centre , functional status = , heritage designation = , designated date = , architect = , architectural type = Church , style = , years built = , groundbreaking = , completed date = 1991 , construction cost = , closed date = , demolished date = , capacity = , length = , width = , width nave = , height = , diameter = , other dimensions = , floor count = , floor area = , dome quantity = , dome height outer = , dome height inner = , dome dia outer = , dome dia inner = , spire quantity = , spire height = , materials = , bells = , bells hung = , bell weight = , parish = , deanery = , archdeaconry = , episcopalarea = , archdiocese = ''

E.A.E Arch Diocese The Evangelistic Association of the East is a registered Non-governmental organization headquartered at Perumbavoor, Kerala working in the Educational, Social Service and Spirituality sectors. The organization has Educational Institutions, Orphana ...

'' , metropolis = , diocese = , province = , presbytery = , synod = , circuit = , district =

Wayanad district Wayanad () is a district in the north-east of Indian state Kerala with administrative headquarters at the municipality of Kalpetta. It is the only plateau in Kerala. The Wayanad Plateau forms a continuation of the Mysore Plateau, the southern ...

, division = , subdivision = , archbishop = , bishop = Mor Chrysostomos Markose Metropolitan , auxiliary bishop = , abbot = , prior = , subprior = , exarch = , provost-rector = , provost = , viceprovost = , rector = , vicar = Rev. Fr. Varghese Kakkattil , dean = , subdean = , archpriest = , precentor = , succentor = , chancellor = , canonchancellor = , canon = , canonpastor = , canonmissioner = , canontreasurer = , prebendary = , priestincharge = , priest = , asstpriest = , honpriest = , curate = , asstcurate = , nonstipendiaryminister = , minister = , assistant = , seniorpastor = , pastor = , chaplain = , archdeacon = , deacon = , deaconess = , reader = , student intern = , organistdom = , director = , organist = , organscholar = , chapterclerk = , laychapter = , warden = , verger = , businessmgr = , liturgycoord = , reledu = , rcia = , youthmin = , flowerguild = , musicgroup = , parishadmin = , serversguild = , sacristan = , embedded = E. A. E St. Mary's Soonoro Syriac Orthodox Church, Meenangadi ( mal, സെന്‍റ് മേരീസ് 'സൂനോറോ' തീര്‍ത്ഥാടന കേന്ദ്രം മീനങ്ങാടി), is a Marian Pilgrim center of the

Syriac Orthodox Church , native_name_lang = syc , image = St_George_Syriac_orthodox_church_in_Damascus.jpg , imagewidth = 250 , alt = Cathedral of Saint George , caption = Cathedral of Saint George, Damascus ...

located at

, India. The church is under

, ( mal, പൗരസ്ത്യ സുവിശേഷ സമാജം) the first missionary association of

Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East , native_name_lang = syc , image = St_George_Syriac_orthodox_church_in_Damascus.jpg , imagewidth = 250 , alt = Cathedral of Saint George , caption = Cathedral of Saint George, Damascu ...

, and is currently under the direct control of

Ignatius Aphrem II , ar, سعيد كريم) , birth_date = , birth_place = , death_date = , buried = , resting_place_coordinates = , nationality = Syrian; American , religion = Syriac Orthodox , residence = , parents = Issa and Khanema Karim , occup ...

, Patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox Church. In 2006, the church was elevated to the status of "Marian Pilgrim Centre", and in 2018, it celebrated its

diamond jubilee A diamond jubilee celebrates the 60th anniversary of a significant event related to a person (e.g. accession to the throne or wedding, among others) or the 60th anniversary of an institution's founding. The term is also used for 75th annivers ...

. It is the first church to adopt the

8 Day Lent Ettu Nombu (Malayalam: എട്ടു നോമ്പ്) or the Eight Day Lent of Mary, mother of Jesus is a solemn remembrance of Mother Mary for Saint Thomas Christians in Kerala, India. The custom is observed in the Oriental Orthodox ( Ja ...

Malabar Region The Malabar Coast is the southwestern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Geographically, it comprises the wettest regions of southern India, as the Western Ghats intercept the moisture-laden monsoon rains, especially on their westward-facing m ...

Feasts

* 1 February – Commemorative of the Foundation Day of the Church. * 2 February – Commemoration of

. * 23 April – Commemoration of

St. George Saint George (Greek: Γεώργιος (Geórgios), Latin: Georgius, Arabic: القديس جرجس; died 23 April 303), also George of Lydda, was a Christian who is venerated as a saint in Christianity. According to tradition he was a soldier ...

. * 1–8 September – Feast of the

's birth – Thousands attend the annual

celebration, known as Ettu Nombu Perunnal. * November – Commemoration of

Gheevarghese Mar Gregorios of Parumala Saint Geevarghese Mor Gregorios, popularly known as Parumala Thirumeni (Bishop of Parumala), (15 June 1848 – 2 November 1902) was a Metropolitan of the Malankara Church. Parumala Thirumeni became the first person of Indian origin to be canon ...

(Parumala Thirumeni (Bishop of Parumala) or Chathuruthiyil Kochu Thirumeni). *Mor Basil Chapel, Mepperikunnu-Commemoration of

Baselios Yeldo Saint Baselios Yeldo was the Maphrian, Maphrian of the East of the Syriac Orthodox Church from 1678 until his resignation in 1684. He is venerated as a saint in the Syriac Orthodox Church, Malankara Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church and Malankara ...

. * 24 December – Commemoration of the Nativity of Jesus.

History

The migration of

Syrian Christian Syrian or Syriac Christians may refer to * Adherents of Christianity in Syria * Adherents of Syriac Christianity, various Christian bodies of Syriac traditions, especially: ** Syriac/Assyrian/Aramean people, Christian neo-Aramaic speakers through ...

families from

Travancore The Kingdom of Travancore ( /ˈtrævənkɔːr/), also known as the Kingdom of Thiruvithamkoor, was an Indian kingdom from c. 1729 until 1949. It was ruled by the Travancore Royal Family from Padmanabhapuram, and later Thiruvananthapuram. At ...

, especially from

Kothamangalam Kothamangalam, , is a municipality in Ernakulam district of Kerala, India. The town is in the foothills of the Western Ghats, and is a part of the Idukki Lok Sabha constituency. The town serves as the headquarters of a taluk and a municipality ...

Perumbavoor Perumbavoor (, Malayalam: പെരുമ്പാവൂർ) is a historic place located at Bank of Periyar (Poorna River) in Ernakulam District in the Indian state of Kerala. It is a part of the Kochi metropolitan area It lies in the n ...

and

Muvattupuzha Muvattupuzha () is a town in the midlands directly to the east of Kochi in Ernakulam district, Kerala, India. It is located about from downtown Kochi, and is a growing urban centre in central Kerala. The town is also the starting poin ...

to India's

Malabar region The Malabar Coast is the southwestern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Geographically, it comprises the wettest regions of southern India, as the Western Ghats intercept the moisture-laden monsoon rains, especially on their westward-facing m ...

started in the early 1920s. St. Thomas Church Malankarakunnu was one of the first churches of Syrian Christians but due to the lack of transport in rural areas, the people had no access to the church so new parishes were established,

was a major trade hub of the Malabar region. The 20th century schism of the

caused a feud between members of the church, leading to their isolation. In 1958, a

caucus A caucus is a meeting of supporters or members of a specific political party or movement. The exact definition varies between different countries and political cultures. The term originated in the United States, where it can refer to a meeting ...

excluded some parishioners from holy sacraments and forced them to move to other parishes for their sacraments. This led to the establishment of the Meenangadi church. According to a local tradition, the parishioners fasted and prayed according to a bible verse they found; . Under the leadership of K.O Varghese, a parishioner built a temporary prayer shed on high terrain on his land at Meenangadi town. E.A.E missionary Corepiscoppa Geevarghese Athunkal, the founder of

Evangelistic Association Of The East The Evangelistic Association of the East is a registered Non-governmental organization headquartered at Perumbavoor, Kerala working in the Educational, Social Service and Spirituality sectors. The organization has Educational Institutions, Orphan ...

(EAE) discussed the establishment of a church.

Mor Yulios Elias Qoro Mor Yulios Elias Qoro (Elias Mar Julius) (1881–1962) was a Syriac Orthodox Church Bishop and the Patriarchal Delegate of India, Born as Elias Malke Qoro at Mardin on August 1, 1881,educated at school of the Church of the Forty Martyrs of Sebast ...

, third patriarchal delegate to Malankara, approved the order for a church from the guidance of patriarch

Ignatius Jacob III Moran Mor Ignatius Jacob (Yaʿqub) III (October 12, 1913 – June 26, 1980) was the 121st Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and head of the Syriac Orthodox Church 1957-1980. He was skilled in and knowledgeable in Syriac sacral music or Beth ...

. The new, independent church was built in the name of

St. Mary Mary; arc, ܡܪܝܡ, translit=Mariam; ar, مريم, translit=Maryam; grc, Μαρία, translit=María; la, Maria; cop, Ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ, translit=Maria was a first-century Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Joseph and the mother of ...

. The fathers of the church renovated the building. The church was

consecrated Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service. The word ''consecration'' literally means "association with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different grou ...

and the foundation stone was laid on 1 February 1958. The first

Holy Mass The Mass is the central liturgical service of the Eucharist in the Catholic Church, in which bread and wine are consecrated and become the body and blood of Christ. As defined by the Church at the Council of Trent, in the Mass, "the same Christ ...

was celebrated by Vicar Malphono Naseeho Geevarghese Athunkal Corepiscoppa. In 1974, Geevarghese Mor Gregorios Perumpally, Thomas Mor Dhivanyasos (

Baselios Thomas I Baselios Thomas I (born 22 July 1929) is a Syriac Orthodox Catholicos of India (Maphrian) and head of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church, the Syriac Orthodox Church in India. He was enthroned on 26 July 2002 by Syriac Orthodox Patriarch I ...

) arrived to the church and consecrated the St.Mary's shrine. In 1976, a youth association was started in the church. In 1982 there was a grand welcome for the Apostolic Visit of Patriarch of Antioch Moran Mor

Ignatius Zakka I Iwas Ignatius Zakka I Iwas ( syr, ܐܝܓܢܐܛܝܘܣ ܙܟܝ ܩܕܡܝܐ ܥܝܘܐܨ; ar, إغناطيوس زكا الأول عيواص; ', born Sanharib Iwas, 21 April 1931 – 21 March 2014) was the 122nd reigning Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Anti ...

to the church, and

Baselios Paulose II Baselios Paulose II (born as Puthusseril Joseph Paulose (12 June 1914–1 September 1996) was the second Maphrian(Catholicos) of the East Jacobite Syrian Christian Church ( Syriac Orthodox Church in India) (posthumously known as Maphrian of In ...

Catholicos Catholicos, plural Catholicoi, is a title used for the head of certain churches in some Eastern Christian traditions. The title implies autocephaly and in some cases it is the title of the head of an autonomous church. The word comes from ancient ...

Mor Athanasius Paulose II Metropolitan Athanasius Paulose (27 June 1915 – 7 March 1991) was the First Metropolitan of Evangelistic Association of the East. He was consecrated as Metropolitan in 1973. Early life Paulose was born to Kunjannam and Kadavil Kurien Paulose (the son of ...

and Mor Polycarpose Geevarghese, also supported the church. Baselios Paulose II visited the church frequently and gifted relics of

to the church. which was installed by Mor Polycarpose Geevarghese and the

was installed on 28 April 1991.

Relics

Holy Soonoro (Holy Girdle of St.Mary)

According to

Oriental Orthodox Church The Oriental Orthodox Churches are Eastern Christian churches adhering to Miaphysite Christology, with approximately 60 million members worldwide. The Oriental Orthodox Churches are part of the Nicene Christian tradition, and represent o ...

tradition, the Virgin Mary died in the presence of all apostles except

Thomas the Apostle Thomas the Apostle ( arc, 𐡀𐡌𐡅𐡕𐡌, hbo, תוֹמא הקדוש or תוֹמָא שליחא (''Toma HaKadosh'' "Thomas the Holy" or ''Toma Shlikha'' "Thomas the Messenger/Apostle" in Hebrew-Aramaic), syc, ܬܐܘܡܐ, , meaning "twi ...

. At the time of the assumption, Thomas was in India and he returned to

Jerusalem Jerusalem (; he, יְרוּשָׁלַיִם ; ar, القُدس ) (combining the Biblical and common usage Arabic names); grc, Ἱερουσαλήμ/Ἰεροσόλυμα, Hierousalḗm/Hierosóluma; hy, Երուսաղեմ, Erusałēm. i ...

and travelled on the sky by the help of

Holy Spirit In Judaism, the Holy Spirit is the divine force, quality, and influence of God over the Universe or over his creatures. In Nicene Christianity, the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost is the third person of the Trinity. In Islam, the Holy Spirit acts as ...

to attend the

assumption of Mary The Assumption of Mary is one of the four Marian dogmas of the Catholic Church. Pope Pius XII defined it in 1950 in his apostolic constitution ''Munificentissimus Deus'' as follows: We proclaim and define it to be a dogma revealed by Go ...

. He arrived late and the saint visualised that Mary's body was taken by the Angels. At that time, St. Thomas could reach there. Thomas had doubtful nature; to persuade others, he asked Mary to give him a sign of her for her memory and remembrance. Then a chariot stopped in the air and Mary gave her girdle (soonoro) to Thomas. He showed this girdle to other disciples of Jesus and convinced them. He took the girdle on his journey. Many miracles have been reported after people have seen or touched this girdle. It was taken to

Şanlıurfa Urfa, officially known as Şanlıurfa () and in ancient times as Edessa, is a city in southeastern Turkey and the capital of Şanlıurfa Province. Urfa is situated on a plain about 80 km east of the Euphrates River. Its climate features ext ...

and was then kept in a church in

Homs Homs ( , , , ; ar, حِمْص / ALA-LC: ; Levantine Arabic: / ''Ḥomṣ'' ), known in pre-Islamic Syria as Emesa ( ; grc, Ἔμεσα, Émesa), is a city in western Syria and the capital of the Homs Governorate. It is Metres above sea level ...

, Syria. The original girdle is a relic belonging to

Saint Mary Church of the Holy Belt Saint Mary of the Holy Belt (Um Al Zennar) Cathedral (, shortened to ; ') is a historical Syriac Orthodox cathedral in Homs, Syria. It is the seat of the Syriac Orthodox Archbishop of Homs and Hama. The present structure dates from the mid-ninet ...

Saint Thomas kept the holy belt with him. After he died as a martyr in

Mylapore Mylapore, also spelt Mayilapur, is a neighbourhood in the central part of the city of Chennai, India. It is one of the oldest residential parts of the city. It is also called Tirumayilai. The locality is claimed to be the birthplace of the cel ...

, his and relics have been kept in India. In 394 AD, the holy girdle moved from India to

on 22 August 705. and established in Saint Mary Church of the Holy Belt. This church is also known as the Church of Holy Girdle or The Church of the Lady of the Girdle. Some manuscripts and a Garshunian book containing stories and speeches were send by the people of Homs in 1852. The Archbishop of Homs ordered the renovation of the church. On 20 July 1953 A.D, The Holy Girdle was discovered at the Altar of the church by Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem I Barsoum in the presence of Alexandros, the Greek Orthodox bishop of Homs, Syria. This girdle is considered to be one of the most important relic in

Relics of Patriarch Ignatius Elias III

Saint

(died 13 February 1932) was the 119th Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch from 1917 to 1932 who arrived in Malankara and spend his last days there, and is buried at the monastery of Manjinikkara Dayara in Kerala, India, which is now a site of pilgrimage for Syriac Orthodox Christians. The church at Meenangadi also holds the sacred relics of

Historical visits to the church

Apostolic Visits of Patriarch of Antioch

Maphrians

, the second Catholicos/Maphrian of the

Malankara Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church The Jacobite Syrian Christian Church (JSCC), or the Malankara Archdiocese of the Syrian Orthodox Church in India also known as Malankara Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church, the Jacobite Syrian Church, and the Syriac Orthodox Church in India, ...

, Catholicos/Maphrian of the

Malankara Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Church The Jacobite Syrian Christian Church (JSCC), or the Malankara Archdiocese of the Syrian Orthodox Church in India also known as Malankara Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church, the Jacobite Syrian Church, and the Syriac Orthodox Church in India, ...

Patriarchal Delegates and Metropolitans

, Third Patriarchal Delegate to Malankara.
Mor Athanasius Paulose (Kadavil II)(Metropolitan of E.A.E Arch Diocese)
Geevarghese Mor Gregorios Perumbalil (Perumbally Thirumeni)
Mor Clemis Abraham, 'Great Metropolitan of the East' of Knanaya Diocese.
Mor Philoxenos Shamuel Metropolitan of Malabar Diocese.
Mor Polycarpose Geevarghese (Metropolitan of E.A.E Arch Diocese)
Yuhanon Mor Philoxenos Valiya Thirumeni, Bishop Emeritus of Malabar Diocese

Clergy

'Malphono Naseeho' Athunkal Geevarghese Corepiscopa (First Vicar & Founder of the Church)
'Malankara Malpan' Kurien Kaniamparambil Corepiscopa
Fr. Philip Pallichira Kathanar (Ass. Vicar of Church During 1958)
Fr. Boniface Kathanar, Manglore (Ass. Vicar of Church During 1958)
Fr. P.K Mathews Pazhamadam (Ass. Vicar of Church During 1958)
Fr. T. C. Alexander Alexander Corepiscopa

Sub-organisations

* Mor Basil Chapel, Mepperikunnu * St. Mary's Sunday School under M.J.S.S.A (Malankara Jacobite Syrian Sunday School Association) * Mor Ignatius Youth Association * Mor Baselios Paulose II Charitable Trust * St. Mary's Women's League

Daughter parish

E.A.E

Mar Behnam Saints Behnam, Sarah, and the Forty Martyrs were 4th-century Christians who suffered martyrdom during the reign of Shapur II. They are venerated as saints in the Oriental Orthodox Church. Biography According to their hagiography, Behnam and Sara ...

Kallinkara – Cheeral

References

External links

Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate

The Evangelistic Association of the East

Pain and Palliative care
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Mary's Soonoro Church Meenangadi Shrines to the Virgin Mary Syriac Orthodox churches in India Churches in Wayanad district Soonoro churches in Kerala Churches completed in 1958 1957 establishments in Kerala Churches completed in 1991 20th-century churches in India 20th-century Oriental Orthodox church buildings