St George’s Forane Church Aruvithura, renowned for the divine intercession of St George and marked by its legacy is a spiritual haven for the devotees across the state of Kerala. The Christian community of Kerala prides itself on the faith their ancestors embraced from St Thomas, the disciple of Jesus Christ. True to his missionary zeal, St Thomas travelled far and wide across South India and on his sojourn in Aruvithura, it is believed, that he erected a wayside cross. This cross which was exposed to the vagaries of weather and natural calamities gradually fell into ruins. To commemorate and enliven the celestial memory, a 167 feet concrete cross was erected on top of the Kondoor hills, the gentle initiative for which was taken by Very Rev Fr. Thomas Olickal, the erstwhile Vicar of St George’s Forane Church.
St George, fondly venerated and addressed as Aruvithura Vallyachan is the oft frequented divine intercessor for people belonging to all castes and creeds. The shrine houses the holy statue of St George which was brought here from Nilakkal in the sixteenth century. The hillock where the cross stands is named after Aruvithura Vallyachan and thus Kondoor hills was renamed as Vallyachan Mala. Just like St Thomas and St George who kindled the faith in Jesus in many a hearts, the Cross, the divine sign of salvation, overlooking the city from atop the hill, shines like a lighthouse leading thousands to the true faith.
A short distance of 500 metres from the Forane church takes one to the foot of the hill. From hence forward one has visuals enough to drift into meditative mood, relishing the sculptural beauty of the Scriptures—the fourteen stations in the Way of the Cross, Jacob’s Well, The Agony in the Garden of Gathsamen, Jesus on the lap of Mother Mary, Jonah the Prophet and the whale, The Sermon on the Mount, the Resurrected Jesus— the long array of visuals creates a celestial aura to the place.
The dizzy raptures of nature that the hills offer are equally rejuvenating for the casual tourists and devout pilgrims. The serene ambience, accompanied by the gentle breeze and the panoramic view from the hill top are the distinctive features of this divine space. The Vallyachan Kananam(VallyachanWoods) is a home to a wide variety of plants and trees that add to the pristine purity of the locale
The walk uphill along the stone clad pathways bordered by railings and punctuated with decorative lights is a heartening experience. The nearby Vallyachan Village with its numerous houses for the homeless of the parish, the Church which is a replica of the old Aruvithura Church, the Nalpamara Cross(made of the bark of four medicinal trees) and the small church built over the model of Jesus’ tomb speak volumes about the architectural beauty of the place.
On Fridays ,Way of the Cross followed by holy mass and novena is conducted which is an occasion of purification for the faithful. Throughout the fifty days lent, rosary procession is conducted from the church to the foot of the hill, followed by Way of the Cross and Holy Mass participated by thousands of devout pilgrims. On the 40th Friday of Lent and Good Friday the pilgrims are served rice gruel in clay pots...
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