Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi
Pics: Zion Digital Studio
Udupi, Jan 10: St Mary's Orthodox Syrian Cathedral, Brahmavar, is the only Konkani Orthodox Church in the entire world with 125 years of glorious past as a part of the 2000 year old Indian Church, namely the Indian (Malankara) Orthodox Church, which was found by St Thomas the Apostle in 52 AD in India. St Thomas was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ.
It was the epicenter of independent Catholic Mission in the late 19th century. It is from here the mission spread to numerous places in India (Goa, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala etc.), Ceylon, far east Asia, Europe and America.
Over the years, the Cathedral has grown as centre of piety and devotion. Thus, it has been attracting thousands of devotees every year from all caste, creed and religion.
The cathedral has six chapels atn Kolalgiri, Kurady, Sastan, Kandlur, Hosangady and Hulikel, Shimoga and five congregations in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Mandya, Kuwait and UAE.
As much, it's a centre of religious fervor. It is also a symbol of cosmopolitanism. Its institutions have deep impact in the field of education and the economic growth of Brahmavar and beyond. The cathedral has around eight educational institutions ranging from kindergarten to post graduate studies.
Origins
The Brahmavar Konkani Orthodox Christians are descendants of migrants to coastal area of Karnataka from Goa and Maharashtra. A significant proportion of Christian Konkanis trace their origin to the Apostolic Tradition of St Thomas and St Bartholomew. There is a tradition that Christianity existed in and around Brahmavar, due to the apostolic activities of St Bartholomew. But, very few evidences substantiate the claim.
In 16th century and later, with the influx of many western Christian missionaries, Konkanis in Goa and Mangaluru were converted to western denomination. Out of which it is stated that it included the native apostolic Christians who joined the sect.
With the internal rift in this Western Church in 1880s, a large number of families and the faithful in the coastal areas from Maharashtra, Goa, Mangaluru (including Brahmavar Konkani Christians), Kerala and Tamil Nadu in the then British and Portugal India and Ceylon joined Fr Alvares and pledged their loyalty and support to him.
These people, numbering about 5000 families alone in Brahmavar moved out of the western denomination and formed the ‘Independent Catholic Mission’ under the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church.
The reason behind joining specifically the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, was the fact that it was the only Apostolic Indigenized Church established in India in 52 AD by St Thomas, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ, and had its own long history of revolt against the western colonial powers.
St Mary's Cathedral through the ages
In 1887, Fr Alvares, travelled from Ceylon and arrived at Kalianpur, near Udupi, a village in South Kanara district. He moved out from there to a nearby village, Brahmavar, took 97 cent of land on lease from a local friend, at a lease fee of 50 paise (eight annas) per year, and built a small temporary thatched shed with coconut leaves for roof and dedicated to ‘Our Lady of Miracles’ for worship. He celebrated the first holy mass in the said shed in 1887. The same church later came to be known as St Mary’s Orthodox Syrian Church.
In 1888, Fr Alvares founded the Brahmavar Mission, for the welfare and spiritual upliftment of faithful under his care. Fr Alvares procured 14 acres of land from the then British government at Brahmavar for his mission activities, in the name of St Mary’s Syrian Church, adjacent to the leased land. He constructed a new Church in the newly acquired plot and celebrated the holy mass. Later, the leased plot of 97 cent land was earmarked for the purpose of cemetery for the new parish church. The same plot is still used as cemetery and the temporary thatched shed constructed by Fr Alvares, where he celebrated the first holy mass still stands there as a monument. It is here that the history of Brahmavar Mission and the Brahmavar parish begins.
On 29 July 1889, Fr Alvares was consecrated as Archbishop of India, Goa & Ceylon (excluding Malabar) with title Alvares Mar Julius I at the Old Seminary, Kottayam.
Soon, Archbishop Alvares named Blessed Fr RZ Noronha as the first Vicar of St Mary’s Cathedral. He offered the first holy mass on the Easter of 1889 at the temporary thatched shed. Later on Fr Noronha constructed a church in 1889 at the same place, after acquiring 14 acres of land from the then British government. The present St Mary’s Cathedral stands at the very same place.
Fr Noronha was the real force that kept the faithful of Brahmavar intact. He had to work hard and suffer persecution to protect the faithful from powerful outside forces. He even started a school to educate the local population.
A new chapter began with the charismatic priest, Fr PG Koshy. He continued the work of Fr Noronha and established more schools around Brahmavar and built chapels. In 1950, he completed the renovation work of the Old St Mary's Cathedral, and made it large.
A great achievement of his time was the establishment of the Orthodox Syrian Catholic Educational Society in 1953. The main objective of the society was to spread education among the masses by starting educational institution in and around Brahmavar.
In 1953, with Fr KK Kuriakose most of the church buildings and educational institutions got a new look.
After Fr KK Kuriakose, Fr KT Varghese, Fr Dr NJ Thomas Ramban, Fr TM Kuriakose, Fr Lazarus, Fr GM Skaria Ramban and Fr David Crasta became Vicars over the time. Each had their own significant contribution towards development of Brahmavar Syrian Community and its educational institutions.
It was during the tenure of Fr Lawrence D’Souza, foundation for the renovation of the present Cathedral was laid by the Brahmavar diocesan Bishop, HG Yakob Mar Elias, on August 4, 2013.
And now during the tenure of Fr CA Isaac, the cathedral is all set to lay a new milestone. The Renovated Cathedral will be consecrated and inaugurated on January 11th & 12th, 2018.
The Primate of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Paulose II (Catholicos of the East & the Malankara Metropolitan) will lead the consecration. He will be joined by the Brahmavar diocesan Metropolitan, HG Yakob Mar Elias; HG Geevarghese Mar Coorilose, Metropolitan, diocese of Bombay; HG Joseph Mar Dionysius, Metropolitan, diocese of Kolkota; HG Geevarghese Mar Yulios, Metropolitan, diocese of Ahmadabad and HG Abraham Mar Seraphim, Metropolitan, diocese of Bengaluru.
Programme Schedule
Consecration has begun officially by flag hosting after the holy mass on Sunday January 7.
From Monday January 8 to 10 there will be holy mass at 8.00 am and special evening prayers at 6.00 pm.
On Thursday January 11, the main festivities will begin by ‘Hore Kannike’ procession from Akashvani Circle to Cathedral at 03.00 pm which will be flagged off by HG Yakob Mar Elias (Bishop, Brahmavar Diocese).
At 5.30 pm, consecration prayers will begin, followed by supper at 8.30 pm.
On Friday January 12, the second part of the consecration prayers will begin by 6.30 am, followed by holy mass at 8.30 am.
After the holy mass, there shall be a public meet.
The public meet shall be presided by HG Yakob Mar Elias (Bishop, Brahmavar Diocese). The meet shall be inaugurated and inaugural address shall be delivered by the Catholicos Baselios Marthoma Paulose II.
The other dignitaries for the meet shall be Ramalinga Reddy (Home Minister, Govt of Karnataka), KJ George (Minister for Bengaluru Development and Town Planning, Govt of Karnataka), Pramodh Madhwaraj (Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and District In-Charge for Udupi, Govt of Karnataka) HG Dr Geevarghese Mar Coorilose (Bishop, Diocese of Bombay), Dr Gerald Issac Lobo (Bishop, Udupi Diocese, RC), Oscar Fernandes (MP of Rajya Sabha For Karnataka), Shobha Karandlaje (MP, Udupi-Chikkamagluru Constituency), Vinaya Kumar Sorake (MLA, Kapu Assembly Constituency, Karnataka), J R Lobo (MLA, Mangaluru South Assembly Constituency, Karnataka), Ivan D'Souza (MLC & Govt Chief Whip in the State Legislative Council Govt of Karnataka), Priyanka Mary Francis (Deputy Commissioner, Udupi District), Sri Sri Laxmivar Thirtha Sripadangalavar (Sri Shiroor Matt, Udupi), Sri Haji K Ismail Navoonda (Musliyar Mohmadiya Jumma Masjid, Akalbail, Kirimanjeshwara), Jayaprakash Hegde (Ex-MLA Brahmavar, Ex-MP Udupi-Chikkamagluru Constituency), Navin Nayak (President, Varambally Panchayath, Brahmavar), Fr Dr MO John (Priest Trustee Malankara Orthodox Syrian Association), George Paul (Lay Trustee, Malankara Orthodox Syrian Association), Biju Oommen (Secretary, Malankara Orthodox Syrian Association).
Uniqueness of the Renovated Church
The Church has a blend of Portuguese, Kerala and modern architecture. Thus elegance and purposefulness both are well maintained. The beautiful front elevation, with rising in the middle, is a reminder of Portuguese architectural influence over the Konkani Christians of Mangaluru. The huge blue dome above the altar is the influence of Orthodox Church architecture, found mainly in Byzantine Churches. The Front Stone Cross, Seven step Stone oil lamp and the 40 ft Steel Flag Post with Golden coat bring in the feel of Classical Indian/Kerala architecture, thus resonating the Indian-ness of the Malankara Orthodox Church. Inside the Church, we can see beautiful stained glass paintings, a key feature of European churches. And the most beautiful part of this entire structure is the altar, completely decorated with wooden designs, first of its kind in Karnataka.
Cathedral: A Pilgrim Centre
St Mary's Orthodox Syrian Cathedral, Brahmavar houses the relics of Blessed Alvares Mar Julius and tomb of Blessed R Z Noronha, who were declared as regional saints (Blessed) in 2013 and 2015 respectively.
Padre Antonio Francisco Xavier Alvares (later known as Archbishop Alvares Mar Julius) and Padre Roque Zephrino Noronha, two founder Charismatic Saintly leaders of Brahmavar Orthodox Community were rigorous in their piety, poverty and patriotism. Their life is marked with service to downtrodden, sick and poor and a continuous fight against colonialists. Both had to face excommunication and severe persecution. Padre Alvares was even jailed, beaten and made to roam nude on streets of Panjim. Yet, they continued to empower the common people, through journalism, education and health care.
Blessed Alvares Mar Julius
Born on 29th April 1836 in Goa, Blessed Alvares Mar Julius was ordained as priest in 1869. As a priest and a staunch freedom fighter of Goa, the eminent personality, Padre Alvares, served in his land for spiritual and social upliftment of his countrymen for a span of eighteen years during 1869-1887. His philanthropy, patriotism and yearning for freedom from foreign Portuguese yoke, journalistic acumen and his aristocratic birth had won a good number of followers for him in Goa and South Canara. Padre Alvares left to Brahmawar in 1887 to lead the Independent Catholic Mission.
On 29 July 1889, Padre Alvares was consecrated as a Archbishop of India (excluding Malabar), Goa and Ceylon with the title Alvares Mar Julius at the Old Seminary, Kottayam. Being the Archbishop, he travelled far and wide. He also consecrated Rene Villate to Bishophood to serve in Europe and America. As the Archbishop, he fought firmly for retaining the autonomous status of the Malankara Church, which was constantly under attack from colonialists and others. In early 1900s he returned to Goa and spent the rest of his life collecting food for the beggars of Panjim and taking care of the sick and destitute. Blessed Alvares entered eternal abode on 23rd September, 1923 at Ribandar, Panji, Goa.
During his lifetime he was known as educator, social worker, apostle of charity and patriot.
Posthumously, he came to be known more as martyr and saint. With time, more and more miracles were testified through his intercession. In 2013, the Catholicos His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Paulose II (Supreme Head, Malankara Orthodox Church) raised him to status of regional saint (Blessed).
Blessed Roque Zeferino Noronha
Fr Roque Zeferino Noronhawas born on 20th Oct 1850 was ordained as priest in Goa. Padre Noronha was greatly influenced by his mentor Blessed Alvares and joined together with him in the mission. It is he who laid strong foundation of ‘Orthodox Faith’ in the coastal belt of Udupi. It was Padre Noronha who built the first Church building of St Mary's Cathedral, Brahmavar.
He was a good educationist and with an aim of providing education to the poor and needy, he founded the Cosmopolitan Higher Primary School in the year 1916, which later blossomed into seven more educational institutions.
Right from the time he settled in Brahmavar, the place turned into holy and historical pilgrimage centre.
Padre Noronha was also known for his medication, which he gave free of cost to people of all caste, creed and religion.
During his lifetime itself he was known as saint for the amount of healings and miracles that happened through him. Thousands who gather every year at his tomb in St Mary's cathedral, Brahmavar are witness to his miraculous powers.
In 2015, the Catholicos His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Paulose II (Supreme Head, Malankara Orthodox Church) raised him to status of regional saint (Blessed).
(With Input from Media Release)