Showing posts with label Edapally. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Edapally. Show all posts

Sunday, May 6, 2018

Miraculous St George (Geevarghese Sahada) Churches in Kerala

St George is probably the most venerated Saint in Kerala after the Blessed Virgin Mother. St George is called in Latin as 'Georgios' and it may have turned into 'GeeVarghese' in Malayalam. Geevarghese Punyavan [who was a Roman officer in the guard of emperor diocletian and embraced martyrdom for not renouncing his faith in Lord Jesus Christ and his Church] is honored and considered as a miracle performer in Kerala, not only by the faithful of the Syro-Malabar, Malankara and Latin Catholic Churches but also by other Churches like Jacobite, Orthodox, Knanaya etc. 

Most of the Churches dedicated to St George are centers of performance of countless miracles. People of Kerala and its neighboring states without any religious differences see in Geevarghees Sahada an answer from God in their various needs and honors him as the patron saint to get protection from the fear of snakes and other harmful animals and creatures.

There are many great Churches dedicated in honour of St George in Kerala. They include the one at Edapally, Kochi (which is the biggest St George Church in India), Edathua near Thiruvalla in Alappuzha district (very famous among the devotees of Kerala and Tamil Nadu), Aruvithara in Erattupetta, Muthalkodam near Thodupuzha (one of the ancient Churches), Puthupally near Kottayam (by Malankara Orthodox), Kadamattom (by Jacobite Syrian Orthodox), Ponpally near Kottayam ( Jacobite Syrian Church) etc.

The feast (Martyrdom) day of St George is commemorated on the 23rd of April every year. The annual festival of the Saint is celebrated in the last week of April and/or the first week of May in many popular Churches. In Edathua Church the celebrations commence on the 27th of April and ends on the 7th of May every year following a grand procession with the powerful Statue of the saint. The privilege to carry the statue is granted to the devotees of Kanyakumari, Nagarcoil and other districts of the Tamil Nadu state.
St George our helper, please pray for us and protect us.

Please watch the short film of St George killing the dragon (with the Help of Holy Mother Mary) after a fierce fight!