Sacred Heart Church, Mylapra


Sacred Heart Malankara Syrian Catholic Church or referred as S H Church is located in the village of Mylapra, near Pathanamthitta on the road side of the Main Eastern Highway in the Indian state of Kerala. It is home to one of the oldest Malankara Syrian Catholic group. This is the biggest and oldest established church in the Eparchy of Pathanamthitta. This church is the patron for the Educational Institutions namely, Mount Bethany EHSS and S H Higher Secondary School.

Etymology

Soon after the reunion movement in 1930 by Archbishop Geevarghese Mar Ivanios, about five families from mylapra reached thirumoolapuram and behold the Catholic Faith in the presence of Jacob Mar Theophilos. They established a small chapel named St. George Malankara Catholic Church in Mylapra on 9 June 1932 with 29 families and 106 members. Rev.Fr. M.T Philipos served as the first Vicar of the parish. The history of the Catholic Church in Mylapra took a diversion on 19 January 1936 when Rev.Fr. A G Abraham Thengumtharamedayil with a large group of more than 100 families embraced the Catholic Church before Archbishop Geevarghese Mar Ivanios, at a ceremony held in the mylapra school. When the community grew up, it was essential to build a large church to accommodate the faithful and so on 13 March 1941, foundation stone for the church was laid by Archbishop Geevarghese Mar Ivanios. It was the diligent works of Rev.Fr. A G Abraham Thengumtharamedayil and Mr. K I Thomas Kalayil which made the ambiguous task possible. Thus one of the largest Church at that time was constructed on 15 September 1944. But the name changed to Sacred Heart Malankara Catholic Church, due to the request made by a German Family who was the main sponsors. Rev.Fr. A G Abraham Thengumtharamedayil was the first vicar of this church. After 58 yrs, in 2002, the parish vicar and the committee members decided to reconstruct the church due to the lack of space. The foundation stone was laid by Moran Mor Cyril Baselios Catholicos on 12 January 2003 and was reconstructed under the leadership of Rev.Fr. John G Vadakepuram and Mr. M T Thomas Mannil. The church was consecrated by Moran Mor Baselios Cardinal Cleemis Catholicos along with Joshua Mar Ignathios and Yoohanon Mar Chrysostom in a ceremony held on 28 and 29 December 2007. This is a major eclectic powerhouse in the Eparchy of Pathanamthitta.

Educational institutions