St. Mary's Forane Church, Edoor

St. Mary's 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
Location	Edoor, Iritty, Kerala
Country	India
Denomination	Syro-Malabar Catholic Church
Tradition	East Syriac Rite
Website	stmarysshrineedoor.com
History
Founded	1946
Dedication	Saint Mary
Architecture
Architectural type	Modern
Administration
District	Kannur
Archdiocese	Thalassery
Parish	St. Mary's Forane Church, Edoor
Clergy
Archbishop	Joseph Pamplany
Vicar(s)	Thomas Vadakkemuriyil
Assistant priest(s)	Thomas Pookamala

St. Mary's Forane Church Edoor is one of the oldest churches and a notable Marian pilgrim centre in Kannur district 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]

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 new church was built.

Architectural Features

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 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.

Edooramma

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

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.^{[citation needed]}

Educational Institutions

This church has played a role in the educational landscape of the region. St. Mary's LP School, established in 1946, holds the distinction of being the oldest school in the area. Following this, St. Mary's UP School was founded in 1949, providing primary education. Subsequently, St. Mary's High School was established in 1957, and in 1998, St. Mary's Higher Secondary School expanded opportunities for higher education in the region. Today, St. Mary's Higher Secondary School integrates primary, secondary, and higher secondary education under one roof. Additionally, the church, through its leadership at CMC Convent, facilitated the establishment of St. Treesa’s Nursery School in 1972 and Vikas Bhavan Special School for differently abled children in 1984. Vikas Bhavan Special School is among the few specialized schools in Kerala.^{[citation needed]}

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 in the parish

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 (2010-2016)
16. Fr. Antony Muthukunnel from 2016-

References

[1] "Edoor St. Mary's Forane Church website".

[2] "History of Edoor Church".

[3] "Thalassery Arch-Diocese Website".

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[2]

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v t e 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 of God Jacobite Syrian Christian Church Kerala Brethren Latin Catholic Church Malabar Independent Syrian Church Mar Thoma Syrian Church Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church The Salvation Army St. Thomas Evangelical Church of India Syro-Malabar Church Syro-Malankara Catholic Church The Pentecostal Mission
Religious organisations	Divine Retreat Centre, Muringoor Jerusalem Retreat Center Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council Parumala Seminary Potta Ashram Thrikkunnathu Seminary
Related	All India Catholic Union Angamaly police firing Arnos Pathiri Benjamin Bailey (missionary) Bible translations into Malayalam Carmelites of Mary Immaculate Christianity in India Congregation of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux Hermann Gundert Malankara-Persian ecclesiastical relations Maramon Convention Pentecostalism in Kerala Saint Thomas Christians Sister Abhaya murder case Sisters of the Destitute Synod of Diamper Syrian churches of Kerala Syrian Malabar Nasrani Varthamanappusthakam Niranam Grandhavari
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v t e Church buildings in Kerala, India
Kasaragod	Bela Church
Kannur	St. Mary's Forane Church, Edoor
Wayanad	Pallikunnu Church St. Jude's Church, Chundale St. Mary's Church, Meenangadi St. George Forane Church Kallody, Wayanad
Kozhikode	St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Maikavu St George's Syro-Malabar Forane Church, Kulathuvayal Vattal Kurishu Palli
Malappuram	Little Flower Forane Church, Nilambur St. George Orthodox Church, Chungathara St. Gregorios Orthodox Church, Velamcode
Palakkad	St. Raphael's Syro-Malabar Catholic Cathedral
Thrissur	Basilica of Our Lady of Dolours, Thrissur Fathima Matha Chapel, Kandeswaram Mar Sleeva Syro-Malabar Church, Mapranam Marth Mariam Cathedral Marth Mariam Cathedral Mary Matha Syro-Malabar Church, Ollur Our Lady of Lourdes Metropolitan Cathedral Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, West Chalakudy Pazhanji Church Pazhuvil Church St. Antony's Forane Church St. Francis Xavier's Church, Sampaloor St. Francis Xavier Forane Church, Velur St. Joseph Chapel, Americankettu North West St Mary's Church, Cheloor St. Mary's Syro-Malabar Forane Church, Chalakudy St. Thomas Cathedral, Irinjalakuda St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Church, Palayoor
Ernakulam	Marthoma Cheriapally Kothamangalam St.Mary's Cathedral Kothamangalam Mar Sabor and Mar Proth Church, Akaparambu Church of Our Lady of Hope CSI Immanuel Church, Ernakulam Don Bosco Church, North Paravur Holy Magi Syro-Malabar Forane Church, Muvattupuzha Kadamattom Church Karingachira Church St. Peter and St. Paul's Church, Kolenchery Kottakkavu Mar Thoma Syro-Malabar Church, North Paravur Little Flower Church, Kaprassery Mar Hormizd Syro-Malabar Church, Angamaly St. Mary's Forane Church, Arakuzha Marthoma Cheria Pally Kothamangalam Mary Queen Church, Thoppil Nadamel Marth Mariam Church Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica, Kochi Vallarpadam Basilica Varapuzha Basilica St George church, Vypin St Louis Church, Mundamveli St Thomas' Church, Thuruthur Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church, Manjummel St. Antony's Church, Kodanad St. Francis Church, Kochi St. George Syro-Malabar Basilica, Angamaly St. George's Forane Church, Edappally St. George's Syro-Malabar Church, Thalayolaparambu St. John the Baptist Church, South Parur St. Jude Church, Kidangoor St. Mary's Simhasana Church, Veliyanad St. Sebastian's Church, Udayamperoor St. Thomas More Syro-Malabar Church, Alakode (Meenmutty) St. Thomas Church, Kokkamangalam St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Church, Malayattoor St. Philomena's Forane Church, Koonammavu St.Thomas Dayara, Vettikkal
Idukki	Pattumala Matha Church St. Mary's Forane Church, Karimannoor St Sebastian's Church, Neyyassery
Kottayam	Holy Family Syro-Malabar Church, Mannila Immaculate Heart of Mary Cathedral, Kottayam Mar Aphrem Church St Antony's Syro-Malabar Forane Church, Kurumpanadam St. George Orthodox Church, Puthuppally St. George's Syro-Malabar Catholic Forane Church, Aruvithura St. Mary's Church, Kottayam St. Mary's Jacobite Syrian Cathedral, Manarcad St Mary's Metropolitan Cathedral, Changanassery St. Mary's Syro-Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Church Kuravilangad St. Thomas Cathedral, Pala St. Thomas Church, Arunoottimangalam Vettikkunnel church
Alappuzha	Basilica of St. Mary, Champakulam St. Andrew's Basilica, Arthunkal Kattachira Church Marthoma Church, Cheppad Pazhaya Suriyani Pally St. Bursouma's Church, Attuva St. George's Church, Cheppad St. George Orthodox Church, Cheppad St. Mary's Orthodox Cathedral, Puthencavu St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church, Pallipad
Pathanamthitta	Arohana Marthoma Church, Anicadu Bethel Marthoma Church, Chengara Holy Innocents' Church, Mezhuveli Kadammanittapally Kadampanad Church Kannamcode Cathedral Mar Thoma Sleeha Syro-Malabar Church, Thulappally Nilackal St.Thomas Church Sacred Heart Church, Mylapra St. George Orthodox Church, Chandanapally St. George Orthodox Church, Mylapra St. Ignatius Monastery Manjinikkara St. John's Cathedral, Tiruvalla St. Mary's Church, Niranam St Mary's Orthodox Church, Kallooppara St. Thomas Marthoma Church, Kozhencherry
Kollam	Dutch Church, Munroe Island Infant Jesus Cathedral Mount Tabor Monastery, Pathanapuram St Andrew's Church, Kovilthottam St Antony's Church, Kanjiracode St Elijah Orthodox Syrian Church St. George's Church, Chathannoor St. Mary's Cathedral, Kundara St. Mary's Cathedral, Punalur St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Avaneeswaram St. Mary's Salem Orthodox Church, Manappally
Thiruvananthapuram	All Saints Syro Malabar Church Cathedral of Saint Mary, Pattom Mateer Memorial Church Pentecostal Maranatha Gospel Church St. Joseph's Cathedral, Trivandrum St. Mary, Queen of Peace Basilica St. Theresa of Lisieux Catholic Church, Vellayambalam St. Xavier's Church, Peyad
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