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 About
our Church |
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History
of Mar Elia Cathedral and M.D. Seminary Campus Joseph
Mar Dionysius of Pulikottil II was instrumental in establishing
an institution of Syrian Christians in the heart of Kottayam Town.
The campus, an area of 22 acres with a Bungalow, was known as Woodland
Estate. An English man named Hugh Crawford, a commercial agent in
Alleppy, owned it. He had given James Darah an American trader the
power of attorney to sell the property and he sold the Woodland
Estate to a joint Association of Syrian Christians and the Romo-Syrians
called Jathyaikya (ecumenical) Sangam organized by Mar Dionysius
and Nidhiri Mani Kathanar of Roman Catholic Church at a cost of
Rs 3541 and paise four. The deed was executed on ‘Thulam’
24, 1064 (November, 1888). Subsequently, Mar Dionysius paid off
the share of Fr. Nidhiri since the Roman Catholic Church did not
approve of the joint venture. Thus, the campus became Malankara
Church property and was called Mar Dionysious Seminary as it used
to provide theological training. |
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M.D. School for matriculate education was started
on January 30, 1893 in the M.D. Seminary campus by Pulikottil Dionysius
II. Malyala Manorama Weekly was started from the Bunglow of M.D.
Seminary on March 22, 1890 by Kandathil Varghese Mapilla. The Malayala
Manorama press was later shifted to the present location when the
School was started at the M.D. Seminary Campus. Vattaserryl Geeverghese
Malpan (St. Geeverghese Mar Dionysius) was the first Principal of
M.D. School. He started regular Holy Service in the Chapel and students
and Syrian Christians near by started attending the Holy Service.
Because of the Church litigation, near by churches were closed and
only this chapel was available and many more people started to attend
the Holy Service. |
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The various stages of the construction of Mar Elia Cathedral
may be summarized as under:
• In 1932 The Malankara Metropolitan Geverghese Mar Dionysious (Vattaseryl Thirumeni) renovated the Chapel and the Seminary building. • In 1956 the porch (Nadaka sala) and verandah on either sides were constructed for the Chapel • The extension to the east by constructing a new Madubaha
(Alter) to the chapel was started in 1962; however, it could be
completed only in 1966. It was consecrated by H.H. Baselious Augen,
the Catholicose with the assistance of Mathews Mar Evanious (Paratu)
and Mathews Mar Athanasious (Vattakunnel Bava) and raised the
Chapel as the Official Cathedral of Catholicose.
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Mar
Elia Cathedral is situated in the Heart of Kottayam Town in M.D.
Seminary Campus. It is the Official Cathedral of Catholicose, the
head of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. Mar Elia Chapel was
consecrated by Malankara Metropolitian Pulikottil Joseph Mar Dionysius
II and St.Gregorious of Parumala on December 6, 1896. In 1898 this
chapel was dedicated in the name of Prophet Mar Elia by St. Gregorious
of Parumala. Vattaserryl Geeverghese Malpan (St. Geeverghese Mar
Dionysius) renovated the Chapel in 1932. H.H. Baselious Geevergese
II Catholicose granted permission by Order (Kalpana) 162 on 1112
‘Kumbum’ 30 (March 13, 1937) raising the Chapel to a
Parish. In 1966 H.H. Catholicose Augen consecrated the newly constructed
Madubaha and raised the Chapel as the Official Cathedral of Catholicose.
The renovated Cathedral was consecrated on 1984 November 18 by the
Catholicose H.H. Baselious Marthoma Mathews I. H.H. Baselious Marthoma
Mathews II consecrated the renovated Madubaha on September 16, 2001.
A
room of the Woodland Bungalow was temporarily improvised to serve
as a chapel initially by Ramban Paulose (later Mar Kurilose). The
Chapel was modified and consecrated by Joseph Mar Dionysius (Pulikotil)
and Geverghese Mar Gregorious (Parumala Thirumeni) on ‘Vruschikom’
23, 1072 (December 6, 1896). In 1898 this chapel was dedicated to
Prophet Mar Elia by Mar Gregorious of Parumala on return from a
pilgrimage to the Holy Lands. Mar Gregorious Thirumeni was caught
in a storm at sea during the voyage and sought the intersession
of Prophet Mar Elia and vowed to raise a church in his name. The
ship came out of danger and Thirumeni reached Kerala coast safely.
In remembrance of the incident Mar Gregorious Thirumeni dedicated
the Chapel to Mar Elia.
A
shrine in the name of St. Mary and St. George was erected at the
Manorama Junction in 1942.
•
The Chapel was consecrated by Joseph Mar Dionysius (Pulikottil)
and Geverghese Mar Gregorious (Parumala Thirumeni) on December
6, 1896.
Malankara
Metropolitan Geverghese Mar Dionysius (Vattasseril) began a Seminary
for theological studies in 1933 in M.D. Seminary. This seminary
was shifted to Old Seminary in 1937. However, due to the litigation
going on in the Church, the seminary was closed in 1940. The Theological
Seminary was restarted in M.D. Seminary in 1941. Fr. K. David
Chandanapally was the Principal of the seminary. Rev. Fr. C. J.
Skariah Cheriamadathil, V.K. Mathews Vattakunnel (Vattakunnel
Bava), Dn. Philipose Kallupurakal (Philipose Mar Theophilose )
, Rev. Dr. C.T. Eapen Nellimootil, Adoor, A.M. Varkey were the
teachers in the seminary in those days. Augen Mar Themothiose
(Catholicose Augen) joined the Theological College in 1946. Rev.
Fr. M.V. George (Dr. Geverghese Mar Osthatheose) and Rev. Fr.
K.M. Alexander, Rev. Fr. T. J. Joshua were also professors in
the seminary during those days. The Theological College was shifted
to Old seminary in 1958 once the litigation in the Church came
to a close. 
