ABOUT

PONPALLY PALLY

ST.GEORGE JACOBITE SYRIAN CHURCH

Ponpally Pally (St.George Jacobite Syrian Church), Nattasserry, Kottayam is founded on October 27, 1907 with a mission to serve the society and church. The formation of Ponpally was a result of continuous fasting, prayers and hard work of our predecessors who used to go to St Mary’s Church Kottayam (Cheriapally), St Mary’s Church Manarcadu (Manarcadupalli) and St Johns Church Parampuzha for the Sunday worship, as they did not have a place of their own. In 1898 AD (Kollavarsham 1074), the first church was built and it was located some 150 meters away from the spot where the current church is constructed. It was the Rev. Fr. O.C. Kuriakose Onaattukunnel who had started the Divine Liturgy in the church to quench the spiritual thirst, of the humble men, women and children who originally gathered in the old church.

In 1907 ( Kollavarsham 1083) a second church, a thatched church building, was completed at the same place where the current Church is situated. It took nine years for the construction. On the 27th of October 1907 (Kollavarsham 1083, Thulam Masam 11) the Rev. Fr. Alaxanthrayose Mattackal (popularly known as Mattackal Malpanachan) celebrated the inaugural Holy Mass (Vishudha Kurbana) in this Church. This milestone turned to be a watershed of the church for starting the Divine Liturgy and for gathering the related spiritual practices in an order.

HISTORY

Many years ago, towards the end of eighteenth century, a gentleman, Mr. Kurian Itty of Thekkunkal Tharavaadu by name, who was one of among the founding members of the church, granted from his property, a portion of land on the eastern slope of Ponkunnu, for worshipping and building a church. In this graciously granted land, our forefathers who were filled with Holy Spirit and faith, founded a church in the name of St George the Martyr who is commonly known as Mor Geevarghese Sahada. The other name for St George Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church is Ponpally, a name rooted on many legends, one of which must be the aforementioned tradition, which has historic credibility to an extent. In the early periods, for some reason, the Church was as well, known as ‘Kallumkal Palli’.

The land where the church is located, was registered in Kottayam Sub Registrar Office on 16th of January 1897 ( Kollavarsham 1072, Makaram 5th) under the names of fifty six persons who were the founding members of the church.

The formation of Ponpally was a result of continuous fasting, prayers and hard work of our predecessors who used to go to St Mary’s Church Kottayam (Cheriapally), St Mary’s Church Manarcadu (Manarcadupalli) and St Johns Church Parampuzha for the Sunday worship, as they did not have a place of their own. In 1898 AD (Kollavarsham 1074), the first church was built and it was located some 150 meters away from the spot where the current church is constructed. It was the Rev. Fr. O.C. Kuriakose Onaattukunnel who had started the Divine Liturgy in the church to quench the spiritual thirst, of the humble men, women and children who originally gathered in the old church.

In 1907 ( Kollavarsham 1083) a second church, a thatched church building, was completed at the same place where the current Church is situated. It took nine years for the construction. On the 27th of October 1907 (Kollavarsham 1083, Thulam Masam 11) the Rev. Fr. Alaxanthrayose Mattackal (popularly known as Mattackal Malpanachan) celebrated the inaugural Holy Mass (Vishudha Kurbana) in this Church. This milestone turned to be a watershed of the church for starting the Divine Liturgy and for gathering the related spiritual practices in an order.