Edathua Church: Grandeur & Divinity

 

The beautiful Edathua church has a story that is a subject of dispute but what is true is the grandeur of this church & the divinity of St George. The church has been a place of solace for both devotees & others who come to attain mental harmony. The church which stands along the backwaters of Alleppey is a great sight for all who stand at the banks or who wade across the waters.

The church is named after the place and the history of its naming is based on a story of the way of life in these parts. Just like how it is now, trade usually happened along the waters with merchants moving around the land in their boats. This place was used by traders as a stop to rest on their journey as it was along the banks of the water & people were welcoming here. The place also was used by soldiers to rest on their way to other places. The small village thus became known as Edathavalam or shelter stop. The name of the village over the years became known as Edathua. The church was originally built in dedication of the ArchAngel Michael & has been rebuilt many times as the number of members of the church kept adding over the centuries. The first church was a small structure built in 1810 but was rebuilt again in 1824 and was called cemetery church. The current grand church one sees was built in the year 1839. The church at Edathua may have been built in the 19th century but people from the village were believers in Jesus Christ from long & went to the nearby Niranam church which is said to have been built by the apostle St Thomas himself. In the 5th century the famous Champakulam church was built & the people of Kuttanad under the regime of the Champakassery kings allowed their subjects to pray at the churches nearby. For many centuries this practice of the people of Kuttanad & village of Edatua was to visit nearby churches but as many people started following Christianity the need for a church in the village became vocal. This need of people in Kuttanad is what made the Parish decide to build this grand church. 

The story of the church’s divinity is based on the arrival of the statue or icon of St George which was placed in the church. There are two tales in respect to the events which resulted in the statue arriving at the church. As per one belief, the people of Edathua once on a visit to the Edappally church saw the glowing statue of St George in his most recognisable posture, riding the horse as he killed the evil snake. The parishioners attracted by the statue & its divinity are said to have forcibly taken the icon to Edathua in traditional snake boats. Another version of the story is more widely accepted where the icon of St George was in a state of neglect at the Edappally church. The parishioners of Edathua on seeing the icon realised its reverence & are said to have asked the parishioners of Edappally church to hand over St George to them. The parishioners of Edappally church without any thought handed over the icon. As St George left the church it rained heavily & fire erupted at the church which made the parishioners understand they had made a huge mistake. The people of Edathua brought the icon to the church on Snake Boats with pomp. This event is still celebrated and upon placing the icon at the church, it was ordained as St George Forane church.

The church architecture resembles that of any church in medieval Europe. The church is a grand structure which is built in Gothic style as the British engineers were given the task of designing the church. The church was built in such a way that it could accommodate a large set of worshippers. The church has a structure with two quarters, the entry is a narrow passage which opens to another long & wide wall facing the altar. The inside walls of the church are adorned with beautiful old paintings & religious art installations top to bottom. The altar is one among the most beautiful in South India. The altar is a 3 storey high which is painted impressively in gold. A veil separates the sanctuary & chancel & the statue of St George which is so revered is placed on the southern side of the altar. The altar roof & walls are also adorned with stucco images & angels praying. The church also stands on a scenic landscape facing the backwaters with steps which invite people who come by the water. 

The church is known all over for its healing powers for all who have mental insanity & infectious diseases. This belief came from the patron who resides here, St George who won martyrdom for believing in Christ. He was tortured to death by the Roman emperor but the belief of St George in Jesus made him endure all the physical & mental torture. It is said that many people over the centuries have been cured by praying at the feet of St George. The festival celebrated at the church is a grand event where people from all sects of the society come to the banks to carry the statue of St George as a procession. Pilgrims also endure a journey on their knee to feel the torture that St George felt to feel the divinity. They also carry bricks on their head as offerings to the church. The offerings made at the church range from money, gold, pulses, vegetables, fish, candles to replicas of human body or body parts praying for the betterment of the whole body or praying to cure any disease affecting a  certain part of the body. 

The Edathua church may have been standing on the banks of the Kuttanad backwaters for around 200 years but what the people of Edathua have imprinted on the social fabric of Kerala is for all to remember. Any visitor who travels to Alleppey should make it a point to come to the doors of the church & embrace divinity.