Arakuzha
village
Marth Mariam Syro-Malabar Church - Aayiram mappilamarku vendi aayirathil vacha palli (The church constructed for thousand Mappilas in AD 1000)
Marth Mariam Syro-Malabar Church - Aayiram mappilamarku vendi aayirathil vacha palli (The church constructed for thousand Mappilas in AD 1000)
Coordinates: 9°55′54″N 76°35′57″E / 9.931614°N 76.599094°E / 9.931614; 76.599094
Country India
StateKerala
DistrictErnakulam
Government
 • Bodypanchayat
Area
 • Total29.31 km2 (11.32 sq mi)
Population
 (2001)
 • Total15,000
 • Density510/km2 (1,300/sq mi)
Language
 • languagesMalayalam, English
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
686672
Telephone code91 485
Vehicle registrationKL-17
Nearest cityMuvattupuzha
Lok Sabha constituencyIdukki
Mar Gregory Karotemprel at Marth Mariam Church, Arakuzha

Arakuzha is a small village situated 6 km from Muvattupuzha in Kerala, India. The SH 41 connects Arakuzha with Muvattupuzha and Koothattukulam and Moozhi bridge connects Arakuzha to pineapple city of India, Vazhakulam town which is also 6 km from Arakuzha. It is located on SH 41 towards Koothattukulam, the alternate route for Main Central Road. St. Mary's High School and St. Joseph’s girls' school are the oldest high school in Arakuzha. Arakuzha is also home to two Christian pilgrim centres-St. Mary’s Forane Church and Malekurish Church. The chief festival is on the first Sunday after Easter.

History

Mar Varghese Payyappilly Palakkappilly

The village has a large population of Syrian Catholic Christians. Marth Mariam Syro-Malabar Catholic Forane Church has an important role in the life of the people. Saint Thomas Christians of Arakuzha have more than 1,500 years of recorded history. This region comprising Kothamangalam, Vazhakulam, Arakuzha, Mylakompu, Nagapuzha, Muthalakodam of erstwhile Travancore kingdom has some very old Syrian churches. Arakuzha, being an ancient Syrian Christian centre has given asylum to many migrant Syrian Christians during the Tipu's persecution of Nasranis. Venerable Mar Varghese Payyappilly Palakkappilly had served as the parish priest of Marth Mariam Church in Arakuzha (1920-22).[1] During his tenure in Arakuzha he started St. Mary's School there.[2] He also purchased 12 acres (49,000 m2) of land in M.C.Road for constructing St. Joseph's Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Meenkunnam.[3]

Several families migrated to different parts of Kerala, mainly to Malabar and high range areas, in search of agriculture land.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Former vicars - Payyappilly Varghese (1920-22)". Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  2. ^ "Deepika newspaper article". Archived from the original on 9 August 2018. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
  3. ^ Payyappilly Palakkappilly Varghese Kathanar Archived 2011-07-17 at the Wayback Machine
Category