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THRISSUR Vishesham | |
1. Background information on the Church buildings / monuments which characterise the TRICHUR Church community. Consultant:Prof.George MENACHERY To gain a comprehensive idea concerning the cultural background and the buildings and monuments of the TRICHUR Church community it would be essential to understand 1) the story of the 1946 years old christianity itself in this area and 2) the cultural traditions and history of the area covered by our community. When the first Syrian Catholic diocese (Vicariate Apostolic of Trichur) was constituted in the fourth quarter of the last century that ecclesiastical division contained three of the seven locations where churches had been founded by Apostle Thomas, viz. Kodungalloor, Palayoor, and Parur, in addition to Malayattoor the location used by Apostle Thomas constantly as the place for his long periods of prayer. The churches at Quilon, Kokkamangalam, and Chayal were no more in existence then; and the Niranam church was part of the Jacobite Diocese of Niranam. Thus all the existing churches founded by Apostle Thomas coming under Catholic jurisdiction were in the Trichur diocese which also contained, in addition to the location of the first century Kodungalloor church, Kodungalloor township and environs which constituted the Capital of the Imperial Cheras during the first centuries of the Christian Era. The importance of Kodungalloor as the 2000 year old Imperial capital city gave the whole area great importance in matters of culture, art, architecture etc. The Trichur area today is the inheritor of this glorious tradition in art and culture and Trichur is today termed officially and otherwise the CULTURAL CAPITAL of Kerala. All the famous cultural institutions and organisations of the state are located here, such as the Kerala Sahitya Academy, The Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy, The Kerala Lalitkala Academy, the Kerala Kala Mandalam, the Trichur Museum, the Archaeological Museum, etc. Trichur was perhaps the first district of Kerala to achieve actual 100 % literacy. Some of the best educational institutions in the State are in Trichur, led by the first Catholic College of Kerala viz. the diocesan St. Thomas' College, Trichur. Trichur also led in women's education with its plethora of colleges and schools run mostly by the Church and now also by others. The gold and jewellery shops and the garments and textile shops of Trichur even today lead the state, and even the neighbouring states, in matters of fashion and aesthetics. The worksmanship of the carpenters, goldsmiths, bronzeworkers, ivory and horn craftsmen, and painters of the Trichur area are internationally approved and acclaimed.The importance enjoyed by Trichur in the fields of culture, finances, commerce, education, medical aid, social progress, etc. must be understood by anyone trying to evaluate the cultural contributions of the Trichur Diocese. To understand these and other aspects of the community's achievements the reader is referred to the following works: 1. Platinum Jubilee Souvenir of the Trichur Diocese (Ed. Fr. Jacob Manjooran etc.) 2. Diamond Jubilee Souvenir of the St. Thomas' College, Trichur, 1980 (Ed. P.Thomas & Prof. George Menachery) 3. The Papal Visit Souvenir of Trichur, 1986 (Ed. Dr.Paul Chittilappilly, Sr. Cleopatra, Prof. George Menachery, Dr. Andrws Thazhath, Dr. Louis Edakolathur, ....) 4. Trichur Diocesan Centenary Souvenir, 1991 ( Ed. Fr. Chazhoor, Sr. Cleopatra, Prof. George Menachery ,...) 5.The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopaedia of India, esp. vol.II Ed. Prof. George Menachery 1973. 6. The Nazranies (Indian Church History Classics, I) Ed. Prof George Menachery,1998 7. Ollur Church Souvenir Ed. Prof. George Menachery,1997 8. The curator's report on the Christian Cultural Museum of the Diocese of Trichur, 1981 by Prof. George Menachery 9. Report on the Christian Cultural Pavilion of the Pooram Exhibition, 1979 10.Report of the Reunion Golden Jubilee Exhibition, Kottayam, 1980 by Prof. George Menachery 11.Report on the First World Malayalam Conference Exhibition, Christian Pavilion, Trivandrum, 1977 by Prof. George Menachery and other similar works and records both by christian authors and by secular historians. | |
 Rediff On The Net Indian Christianity VATICAN ADVENTURE THOMAPEDIA NEWS DIGEST THRISSUR VISHESHAM Archdiocese of Trichur | |
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