5/5 Nikhil P T. 11 months ago on Google
Aruvithura
Church
is
one
of
the
two
oldest
churches
in
Pala
Diocese.
Traditionaly
it
is
believed
that
the
Catholic
Church
at
Aruvithura
was
established
in
AD
151.
It
is
assumed
that
a
group
of
Christians
who
were
baptised
by
St.
Thomas
lived
here.
All
the
major
churches
in
Pala
Diocese
have
their
cultural
and
spiritual
inheritance
from
Aruvithura
Church.
Pala,
Bharananganam,
Plassanal,
Poonjar,
Thidanad
,
Kanjirapally
etc
came
under
Aruvithura
Church.
Going
through
history
it
is
clear
that
the
oldest
churches
were
in
the
name
of
Martha
Mariam.
Aruvithura
Church
also
was
in
the
name
of
Martha
Mariam
until
the
13th
century.
The
statue
of
St
Mary
placed
at
the
centre
of
the
main
altar
is
a
clear
proof
of
this
fact.
During
the
13th
century,
a
group
of
Chriatians
,
who
had
to
elope
from
Nilackal
to
save
themselves
from
the
hands
of
enemies,
brought
the
statue
of
St
George
from
Nilackal
and
placed
it
in
Aruvithura
Church
for
veneration.
From
that
time
onwards
Aruvithura
Church
came
to
be
known
on
behalf
of
St
George.
People
in
and
around
Aruvithura
were
blessed
with
a
lot
of
blessing
from
God
as
they
sought
the
help
from
St
George.
Slowly
St
George
at
Aruvithura
came
to
be
known
as
"Aruvithura
Valliachen".
The
statue
that
was
brought
from
Nilackal
is
still
preserved
in
the
Aruvithura
Church.
No
repainting/
modifications
were
made
on
the
statue
till
now.
That
is
the
statue
is
maintained
as
such
painted
in
the
13th
century.
During
the
festival
season
the
statue
is
brought
forward
from
the
altar
and
placed
for
public
veneration.
A
rare
custom
that
is
followed
in
this
church
alone
is
that
the
statue
is
brought
forward
from
the
altar
and
replaced
on
the
altar
by
Rev.
Fathers
alone.
The
present
church
is
the
fourth
church
built
in
this
location.Details
about
the
first
church
is
unavailable.
The
second
church
was
built
in
the
form
of
a
temple.
The
third
church
was
built
in
Portuguese
model.
The
altar
of
the
third
Church
is
still
preserved
in
the
present
church.
The
present
church
was
built
in
1951.
It
is
170
feet
long
and
50
feet
broad.
An
aerial
view
of
the
church
has
the
shape
a
Cross.
The
"
Manimalika'
in
front
of
the
church
is
120
feet
high.
the
statue
of
Christ
at
the
top
of
the
Church
is
15
Feet
high.
St
George
of
Aruvithura
is
the
patron
saint
of
the
people
of
Aruvithura
and
all
those
who
seek
assistance
from
St
George.
A
lot
of
miracles
take
place
here
and
the
Festival
of
St
George
of
Aruvithura
(Aruvithura
vallyachan
)
celebrated
during
April
15
–
May
1
is
a
symbol
of
thanks
giving
for
all
the
blessings
received
through
St
George.
St
George
pray
for
us
is
a
prayer
of
all
wounded
and
bereaved
souls
who
come
for
consolation
from
the
hand
of
Aruvithura
Vallyachan.
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