Cardinal rededicates historic Angamaly church

Mangalore Today News Network

Kochi, Jan 12, 2016: Cardinal George Alencherry has rededicated the historic St. Hormis’ Church at Angamaly, that houses the tomb of 16th century Archbishop Mar Abraham.

Cardinal Alencherry, who is also the Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church, said in his benedictory address that history was reborn on Jan. 10 with the rededication of the historic church.

The Angamaly church has great significance in the history of Christianity in India because Mar Abraham was the last Persian Chaldean bishop in Kerala. He is believed to have died in 1597 in Angamaly where he had taken refuge from the Portuguese. The administrators of the church accidentally discovered the tomb, believed to be that of Mar Abraham, while the renovation work was on. The tomb was discovered in the sanctuary of the church.

The characteristics of the old church had been maintained while the church was renovated. The St. Hormis’ Church, also called Kizhakkepalli, was built in 1577 and blessed in 1583 under the leadership of Mar Abraham.

A five-member committee has been constituted by Cardinal Alencherry to study the tomb and determine its antiquity. A book on the reign of Mar Abraham as archbishop and the history of the Kizhakkepalli was also released on the occasion.