5/5 Nikhil P T. 11 months ago on Google
St
George’s
Forane
Church
Aruvithura,
renowned
for
the
divine
intercession
of
St
George
and
marked
by
its
legacy
is
a
spiritual
haven
for
the
devotees
across
the
state
of
Kerala.
The
Christian
community
of
Kerala
prides
itself
on
the
faith
their
ancestors
embraced
from
St
Thomas,
the
disciple
of
Jesus
Christ.
True
to
his
missionary
zeal,
St
Thomas
travelled
far
and
wide
across
South
India
and
on
his
sojourn
in
Aruvithura,
it
is
believed,
that
he
erected
a
wayside
cross.
This
cross
which
was
exposed
to
the
vagaries
of
weather
and
natural
calamities
gradually
fell
into
ruins.
To
commemorate
and
enliven
the
celestial
memory,
a
167
feet
concrete
cross
was
erected
on
top
of
the
Kondoor
hills,
the
gentle
initiative
for
which
was
taken
by
Very
Rev
Fr.
Thomas
Olickal,
the
erstwhile
Vicar
of
St
George’s
Forane
Church.
St
George,
fondly
venerated
and
addressed
as
Aruvithura
Vallyachan
is
the
oft
frequented
divine
intercessor
for
people
belonging
to
all
castes
and
creeds.
The
shrine
houses
the
holy
statue
of
St
George
which
was
brought
here
from
Nilakkal
in
the
sixteenth
century.
The
hillock
where
the
cross
stands
is
named
after
Aruvithura
Vallyachan
and
thus
Kondoor
hills
was
renamed
as
Vallyachan
Mala.
Just
like
St
Thomas
and
St
George
who
kindled
the
faith
in
Jesus
in
many
a
hearts,
the
Cross,
the
divine
sign
of
salvation,
overlooking
the
city
from
atop
the
hill,
shines
like
a
lighthouse
leading
thousands
to
the
true
faith.
A
short
distance
of
500
metres
from
the
Forane
church
takes
one
to
the
foot
of
the
hill.
From
hence
forward
one
has
visuals
enough
to
drift
into
meditative
mood,
relishing
the
sculptural
beauty
of
the
Scriptures—the
fourteen
stations
in
the
Way
of
the
Cross,
Jacob’s
Well,
The
Agony
in
the
Garden
of
Gathsamen,
Jesus
on
the
lap
of
Mother
Mary,
Jonah
the
Prophet
and
the
whale,
The
Sermon
on
the
Mount,
the
Resurrected
Jesus—
the
long
array
of
visuals
creates
a
celestial
aura
to
the
place.
The
dizzy
raptures
of
nature
that
the
hills
offer
are
equally
rejuvenating
for
the
casual
tourists
and
devout
pilgrims.
The
serene
ambience,
accompanied
by
the
gentle
breeze
and
the
panoramic
view
from
the
hill
top
are
the
distinctive
features
of
this
divine
space.
The
Vallyachan
Kananam(VallyachanWoods)
is
a
home
to
a
wide
variety
of
plants
and
trees
that
add
to
the
pristine
purity
of
the
locale
The
walk
uphill
along
the
stone
clad
pathways
bordered
by
railings
and
punctuated
with
decorative
lights
is
a
heartening
experience.
The
nearby
Vallyachan
Village
with
its
numerous
houses
for
the
homeless
of
the
parish,
the
Church
which
is
a
replica
of
the
old
Aruvithura
Church,
the
Nalpamara
Cross(made
of
the
bark
of
four
medicinal
trees)
and
the
small
church
built
over
the
model
of
Jesus’
tomb
speak
volumes
about
the
architectural
beauty
of
the
place.
On
Fridays
,Way
of
the
Cross
followed
by
holy
mass
and
novena
is
conducted
which
is
an
occasion
of
purification
for
the
faithful.
Throughout
the
fifty
days
lent,
rosary
procession
is
conducted
from
the
church
to
the
foot
of
the
hill,
followed
by
Way
of
the
Cross
and
Holy
Mass
participated
by
thousands
of
devout
pilgrims.
On
the
40th
Friday
of
Lent
and
Good
Friday
the
pilgrims
are
served
rice
gruel
in
clay
pots
as
offering.
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