St. George's Church, Kadamattom

St.George Orthodox Church
St.George Orthodox Church
	St.George Orthodox Syrian Church, Kadamattom
Religion
Affiliation	Christianity
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	Pilgrim Centre
Location
Location	Kadamattom, Ernakulam, Kerala
Geographic coordinates	9°58′39″N 76°29′54″E / 9.9774°N 76.4984°E
Architecture
Type	Church
Style	Kerala Architecture
Completed	9th century CE
Direction of façade	West

Kadamattom Church is an ancient Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, located in Kadamattom, Kolenchery near Muvattupuzha, in Ernakulam district, Kerala, India.

History

The church is believed to have been established in the 9th century by Mar Sabor.^[1]

Location

Kadamattom church is situated next to National Highway 49 (India) (Kochi-Madurai National Highway) between Kolenchery and Muvattupuzha towns in the Ernakulam District. While travelling from Kochi towards the east, the church is seen on the north side of the road 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) beyond the Kolenchery Medical College Junction. While travelling from Muvattupuzha towards Kolenchery, the church lies 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) after the Peruvammuzhi Junction.

Features

On entering the church, on the left, there is an icon of Mar Sabor Metropolitan, the Reverend Paulose, who was the mentor of Kadamattathu Kathanar. It is believed that Mar Sabor, a Persian high priest established the church with the help of Kartha, the then local ruler of Kadamattom. Mar Sabro was not only a theologian but also a conjurer. He stayed in a hut with a poor widow and her only son Paulose. Paulose assisted Mar Sabor for years and later Paulose was ordained a priest.^[2]

The tomb of Mar Thoma IX (formerly Pakalomattom Iype Kathanar) lies on the left side just outside the Madbaha or altar room.

A 9th-century stone Persian cross with four equal-size arms sits on the right wall of the Madbaha or altar room. The arms are tipped with floral designs and are claimed to have been made by Mar Sabor. Around the cross is engraved a Pahlavi inscription.

Kadamattom feast is one of the major festivals observed during the January – February period. It marks the death anniversary of Kadamattathu Kathanar.