St. Mary's Syro-Malabar Forane Church Edoor

St. Mary's Forane Church Edoor
St. Mary's Forane Church Edoor
St. Mary's Forane Church Edoor
11°59′53″N 75°43′34″E / 11.998038°N 75.726163°E / 11.998038; 75.726163Coordinates: 11°59′53″N 75°43′34″E / 11.998038°N 75.726163°E / 11.998038; 75.726163
Location	Edoor, Iritty, Kerala
Country	India
Denomination	Syro Malabar Catholic Church
Website	stmarysshrineedoor.com
History
Dedication	Saint Mary
Architecture
Architectural type	Modern
Administration
Parish	St. Mary's Forane Church, Edoor
Archdiocese	Thalassery
District	Kannur
Clergy
Vicar(s)	Fr. Andrews Thekkel
Assistant priest(s)	Fr. Joseph Koluthapally

St. Mary's Forane Church Edoor is one of the oldest churches and a notable Marian pilgrim centre in North Malabar of Kerala. It is near Iritty, the eastern town of Kannur district. This church is the first church in the name of St. Mary under the archdiocese of Thalassery. It is also the largest parish in the archdiocese. It is situated about 6.5 kilometres from the town of Iritty, which is also known as 'The Coorg valley in the God's own country'.

Basic Information

Edoor town is a small marketplace for the farmer communities of the surrounding regions. This place is well-connected to any part of Kannur and other parts of Kerala by road.^[1] In fact, this church has a great influence in the spiritual life and social development of that locality.

History

This parish was established in 1946. In its initial times, it was under the Latin Catholic Diocese of Kozhikode. Later, it came under the Syro-Malabar Catholic Archdiocese of Thalassery.^[2] In those times, the members of the parish were the Christian people who had migrated from Travancore. In 1970, the most beautiful new church was built. Still, it is one of the most beautiful churches in Kerala. The architectural beauty of this church attracts the tourists to come here.

Architectural Features

The interior of 'St. Mary's Forane Church Edoor' with a far view of the altar.

The church is in a circular shape and it has a dome in the centre. As it is circular, it has a large area and a wide angle of viewing the altar. It is also one of the largest churches in Malabar. The altar of this church was renovated in 2012, which creates a heavenly feeling in our mind. The altarpieces include the sculptures of various saints. The church has entrances from three directions; viz. West, South and North. Above the main entrance which is from the south, we can see a Latin text: "VENITE ADOREMUS", meaning Come, Let us worship. Above the entrance from the south, we can see the text: "AVE MARIA", and above the northern entrance we can see the text: "MY LORD, MY GOD", which is a declaration by St. Thomas, who is the apostle of India and the father of the Syro-Malabar Church.

Special Features

The major attraction here is the presence of Mother Mary, The Immaculate. Here is a charming statue of Mother Mary which may not be seen anywhere else. The people here call it as 'Edooramma (എടൂരമ്മ)', meaning 'The Mother of Edoor'.
Another feature of this church is the wooden statue of crucified Jesus. Unlike other statues, here we can see Jesus crucified on 'four' nails.
Unlike most of the churches in Syro-Malabar Church, this does not have a veil (curtain) in between the 'Madbaha' (altar) and 'Haikala' (the place in the church where people stand).
The feast of St. Mary is held in the first week of January always. Thus it is also considered as the thanksgiving feast for the New Year. People from various parts of the district including those who belong to other religions come here to celebrate this festival.

Night View of 'St. Mary's Forane Church Edoor' on the feast day in 2012.

Edooramma

Edooramma, The mother of Edoor.
Numbered list item

The presence of St. Mary is the reason for its popularity. The statue of Mother Mary or Edooramma which may not be seen anywhere else is the most beautiful thing in this church.

Edooramma wearing a blue gown means that 'the gown is the sky which covers Earth. So, the whole Earth is protected by her presence.'
In the left hand, Edooramma holds a 'white dove', and in her right hand there is a rosary. This means that she spreads peace on earth. It is through the way of rosaries that she spreads the peace.
She wears a golden crown with twelve stars around it, showing that she is the queen of the Heaven and the Earth.
There is always a charming smile in her face. It really feels like she is staring at us if we kneel in front of her to pray.

This statue was made in foreign country and brought here by the European Missionaries who were working in this region. Actually it was decided to place it in a nearby church and not in St. Mary's Church. It is said that while it was transported to another church via Edoor, the vehicle had a breakdown when it reached Edoor. As the defect could not be solved soon, they placed the statue in the Edoor Church. This is the story how Edooramma reached here.

Many devotees from various parts of Kerala including the ill and the infirm and the distressed, come here and returns with peace and cure from the laps of Edooramma.

Educational Institutions

This church has an important role in the education sector of the region. St. Mary's LP School was established in 1946 by the church. This is the oldest school in this region. Then St. Mary's UP School was established in 1949. Thus it became a great blessing for the people as the primary education was available there. Later, in 1957 St. Mary's High School was established. In 1998, St. Mary's Higher Secondary School came in eDoor opening the Door of the higher education. Now, St. Mary's Higher Secondary School is a single institution consisting UP, Higher Secondary and High school. These institutions provide good education. These are the most famous educational institutions in the district. Along with these, in 1972 a nursery school named 'St. Treesa’s Nursery School' and in 1984 'Vikas Bhavan Special School' for the differently abled children, were established under the leadership of the 'CMC Convent'. Vikas Bhavan Special School is one of the very few special schools in Kerala. Thus this church plays a key role in the human resource development of the region.

Parishes Under Edoor Forane

1. St. Thomas Church Karikottakkari
2. St. Sebastian's Church Velimanam
3. St. Mary's Church Mangode
4. St. Mary's Church Uruppumkutty
5. St. Sebastian's Church Chedikulam
6. Bl. Chavara Kuriakose Elias Church Keezhpally
7. St. Sebastian's Church Vattiyara
8. St. Joseph Church Edappuzha

Major Institutions under the church

CMC Convent
Vikas Bhavan Special School
St. Treesa's Nursery School
St. Mary's LP School
St. Mary's Higher secondary School
St. Mary's Sunday School
Alphonse Bhavan
Don Bosco Convent
Sneha Bhavan Orphanage
Mythree Bhavan Old age Home
Friends Credit Union (TSSS)
Carmel Homeo Clinic

Priests Served in the Parish

1.Fr.Kudakkachira Kuriakose(1945-47)
2.Fr.Kuzhikkalathil C.J.Varkey(1947-49) ^[3]
3.Fr.Kattakkayam Joseph(1949-54)
4.Fr.Elamthuruthiyil Sebastian(1954-59)
5.Fr.Moongammackal Abraham(1959-65)
6.Fr.Kollamparambil Joseph(1965-72)
7.Fr.Koottiyani Peter(1972-77)
8.Fr.Kadukummackal John(1977-80)
9.Fr.Kattackal Zacharias(1980-84)
10.Fr.Kunnapallil Varkey(1984-90)
11.Fr.Kollakombil George(1990-93)
12.Fr.Kavalakkattu Kuriakose(1993-99)
13.Fr.Purayidam Antony(1999-2005)
14.Fr.Emmanuel Poovathinkal(2005-2010)
15. Fr. Andrews Thekkel from 2010 -

References

Christianity in Kerala

Denominations	Assemblies of God in India Chaldean Syrian Church Church of God (Full Gospel) in India Church of South India Indian Pentecostal Church Malankara Jacobite Syrian Church Kerala Brethren Latin Catholic Church Malabar Independent Syrian Church Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Salvation Army St. Thomas Evangelical Church of India Syro-Malabar Catholic Church Syro-Malankara Catholic Church The Pentecostal Mission

Religious organisations	Christian Association for Social Action Divine Retreat Centre, Muringoor Jerusalem Retreat Center Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council Parumala Seminary Potta Ashram Thrikkunnathu Seminary

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Churches of Kerala

Kasargod	Bela Church

Kannur	Pallikunnu Church St. Mary's Syro-Malabar Forane Church Edoor

Wayanad	St. George Syro-Malabar Forane Church Kallody, Wayanad St. Mary's Church Meenangadi

Kozhikode	St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Maikavu St George's Syro-Malabar Forane Church, Kulathuvayal Vattal Kurishu Palli

Malappuram	Little Flower Syro-Malabar Catholic Forane Church, Nilambur St. George Orthodox Church, Chungathara St. Gregorios Orthodox Church, Velamcode

Palakkad	St. Raphael's Syro-Malabar Catholic Cathedral

Thrissur	Fathima Matha Syro-Malabar Chapel, Kandeswaram Holy Cross Shrine Mapranam Mart Mariam Cathedral Marth Mariyam Church Mary Matha Syro-Malabar Church, Ollur Our Lady of Dolours Syro-Malabar Catholic Basilica Our Lady of Lourdes Syro-Malabar Catholic Metropolitan Cathedral Our Lady of Perpetual Help Syro-Malabar Church, West Chalakudy Pazhanji Church Pazhuvil Church St Mary's Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Cheloor St. Antony's Forane Church St. Joseph Chapel, Americankettu North West St. Mary's Syro-Malabar Forane Church, Chalakudy St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Cathedral, Irinjalakuda St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Palayoor

Ernakulam	Marthoma Cheriapally Kothamangalam St.Mary's Cathedral Kothamangalam Church of Our Lady of Hope CSI Immanuel Church, Ernakulam Don Bosco Church : North Paravur, Kerala, India Holy Magi Syro-Malabar Catholic Forane Church, Muvattupuzha Kadamattom Church Karingachira Church Kolenchery Pally Kottakkavu Mar Thoma Syro-Malabar Pilgrim Church, North Paravur Little Flower Syro-Malabar Church, Kaprassery Mar Hormiz Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Angamaly Marth Mariam Syro-Malabar Catholic Forane Church, Arakuzha Marthoma Cheria Pally Kothamangalam Nadamel St Mary's Church Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church, Manjummel Santa Cruz Basilica St George church St Louis Church, Mundamveli St Thoma's Church, Thuruthur (Diocese of Kottapuram) St. Andrew's Basilica, Arthunkal St. Antony's Syro-Malabar Church, Kodanad St. Francis Church, Kochi St. George Syro-Malabar Catholic Basilica, Angamaly St. George Syro-Malabar Catholic Forane Church, Edappally St. George Syro-Malabar Church Thalayolaparambu St. John The Baptist Jacobite Syrian Church, South Parur St. Jude Church, Kidangoor St. Mary's Simhasana Church, Veliyanad St. Sebastian's Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Udayamperoor St. Thomas More Syro-Malabar Church, Alakode (Meenmutty) St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Kokkamangalam St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Malayattoor St.Philomena's Forane Church, Koonammavu St.Thomas Dayara, Vettikkal Vallarpadam Church

Idukki	Pattumala Matha Church St. Mary's Syro-Malabar Forane Church, Karimannoor St Sebastian's Syro-Malabar Church, Neyyassery

Kottayam	Aruvithura St. George's Syro-Malabar Catholic Forane Church Holy Family Syro-Malabar Church, Mannila Immaculate Heart of Mary Cathedral Kottayam Cheriapally Manarcad Church Mar Aphrem Church St Antony's Syro-Malabar Forane Church, Kurumpanadam St Mary's Syro-Malabar Catholic Metropolitan Cathedral St. George Orthodox Church Puthuppally Pally St. George's Orthodox Church, Puduppadi St Thomas Church Arunoottimangalam St. Thomas Orthodox Church, Nellippoyil St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Cathedral, Pala Vettikkunnel church

Alappuzha	Kattachira Church Marthoma Church, Cheppad St. Bursouma's Orthodox Church St. George Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church, Cheppaud St. George Orthodox Church, Cheppad St. Mary's Orthodox Cathedral, Puthencavu St. Mary's Syro-Malabar Catholic Forane Church, Champakulam St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church, Pallipad

Pathanamthitta	Manjanikkara Dayara Arohana Marthoma Church, Anicadu Bethel Marthoma Church Holy Innocents' Orthodox Church Kadammanittapally Kadampanad Church Kadampanad Church Kallooppara St. Mary's Orthodox Church Kannamcode Cathedral Mar Thoma Sleeha Syro-Malabar Church, Thulappally Nilackal St.Thomas Church Niranam Church Sacred Heart Malankara Catholic Church, Mylapra Saint Paul's Orthodox Church St Mary's Orthodox Church, Kallooppara St. George Orthodox Church, Chandanapally St. George Orthodox Church, Mylapra St. John's Cathedral, Tiruvalla St. Thomas Marthoma Church

Kollam	Dutch Church, Munroe Island Infant Jesus Cathedral Mount Tabor Dayara St Andrew's Church, Kovilthottam St Antony's Church, Kanjiracode St Elijah Orthodox Syrian Church St George Orthodox Church, Chathannoor St. Mary's Cathedral, Punalur St.Mary's Cathedral Kundara

Thiruvananthapuram	All Saints Syro Malabar Church Mateer Memorial Church Pazhaya Suriyani Pally Pentecostal Maranatha Gospel Church St. Joseph's Cathedral, Trivandrum St. Mary, Queen of Peace Basilica St. Mary's Cathedral, Pattom, Trivandrum St. Theresa of Lisieux Catholic Church, Vellayambalam St. Xavier's Church, Peyad

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