21) OPEN-AIR GRANITE CROSS OF ARAKUZHA, ST. MARY FORANE CHURCH & EDAMANA KURISHU (SYRO-MALABAR)

In front of Arakuzha church (now Major Archiepiscopal Pilgrim Church) there is an open-air granite cross with a Syriac inscription. The traditional date for Arakuzha church is 999 A.D., and its origin is attributed to a woman named Rathapalli Muthi (or Orathel Muthi) from Mylacombu. There is even a phrase about its origin that it is “A church built for 1000 Mappilas (Christians) in 1000 (A.D.)”. In Jornada (1606), Arakuzha appears as 'Araccre' or 'Aracore' church dedicated to Virgin Mary, indicating a pre-Diamper origin. Throughout this post, I have referred from the authoritative works of Fr. George Kurukkor (2002) and Fr. Abraham Pulickal ed. (1999, 2001-revised edition), and I would strongly recommend them to anyone interested in the detailed history of Arakuzha’s Christian origin. The first church of Arakuzha was built at where the present St Joseph Girl’s High School stands (Kurukkoor, 2002, p. 110; Pulickal, 2001, p. 23), but was shifted to the current location in 1780 (Kurukkoor, 2002, p. 119; Pulickal, 2001, p. 23).

The Cross-Age, History
The finely crafted cross has equal sized upper arms with tapering ends. At the intersection of the cross arms on the west side is the Christian monogram "IHS" referring to the first three letters of JESUS in Greek (IHΣΟΥΣ or Ιησούς). The IHS monograph is also used by the Jesuits in their official emblem. On the east side of the same region is an equal armed continuous Persian cross. Not many would notice a Syriac inscription at the base of the vertical shaft of the cross facing the west side. According to Pulickal (2001, p. 24) the verse can be translated as “Praise to the Lord”. The pedestal has a large dome shaped upper layer designed in the shape of fluted lotus to which the vertical pole of the cross joins. The round layer is followed by two square shaped mouldings. The upper square layer has four horned protrusions arising from each corners (see similar projections in Muthalakodam cross). At the centre of each rectangular panel in this layer are beautiful motifs, the engraving of Virgin and Child is particularly impressive. The lower square layer has a shallow niche on every side. These niches are bordered by pillars and adorned by angel motifs on top. A large angel head is carved on the east and west sides, whereas, the north and south niches have small twin angel symbols. The niches are flanked by motifs mostly faded out over time, but carvings of birds (peacock) and animals (lion, horse) are still traceable. The monogram IHS and the icon of Virgin and Child are definite indications that the cross is a post-Portuguese structure.

20) OPEN-AIR GRANITE CROSS OF PUTHENCHIRA, ST. MARY FORANE CHURCH (SYRO-MALABAR)

 

In this post, we will see the “double-cross" of Puthenchira, a cross with two horizontal members. The Puthenchira cross is not the same type as the ones we discussed at North Paravur, Kottayam, Koratty and Moozhikkulam, even though they are also frequently called as double-crosses. In fact, the more technically correct term for the latter group is "double superimposed T-shaped cross" as referred by Fr. Henri Hosten. In the ‘double-T-crosses’, the upper horizontal member is placed directly on the top of the vertical pole, whereas in the ‘double-cross’, the vertical shaft projects outside the upper cross beam. Thus, there are three separate pieces for the main shaft in a ‘double-cross’ (one up to the lower horizontal member; second up to the upper horizontal member; and the third over it), whereas, there are only two pieces in a ‘double T-shaped cross’ (the piece over the upper horizontal member is absent). James (1978, p. 61) speculates that the lower horizontal member in the open-air cross might have been intended as a wing found in the Persian crosses (eg. Kaduthuruthy, see Figure 8). He argues that by providing a wing-like horizontal member in between, the architects could achieve equal size for all the four arms of the cross on top resembling a Persian cross, and also achieve a considerable height for the upright shaft. In this context, it would also be important consider the stability added to the cross by two cross bars, and the convenience of erecting and transporting a long shaft in three pieces.

History

According to traditional accounts, the first church at Puthenchira was established in 400 A.D. and was dedicated to Virgin Mary, it remained functional until the 9th century, and was destroyed in a communal riot at Kodungallur area. The rebuilt church was lost in the flood of 1341. The third phase began in 1502 when a Portuguese traveller built a house and erected a cross at Puthenchira Kadavu (crossing), a Gothic style church and a presbytery were added later by the Portuguese Franciscan priest, Vincent de Lagos (1530-1545). Strangely, Puthenchira does not appear in the elaborate list of churches mentioned in Jornada (1606). From 1701 to 1777, Puthenchira became the headquarters of the Archdiocese of Cranganoore (Kodungallur). The last four Portuguese Padroado Archbishops of Cranganore (John Ribeiro, d. 1716; Antony Pimental, d. 1752; John Aloysius Vasconcellos, d. 1756; and Salvador dos Reis, d. 1777) ruled from Puthenchira and their tombstones are still preserved inside the church (Figure 5). The church is said to be destroyed by Tipu Sultan's army in 1789. The current church was built after demolishing the old church in 1909, and the consecration ceremony of the new church was held in May 30, 1915 (for more details, see Devassy, 1978, pp. 82-90; Smaranika, 1975, pp. 33-40; here etc.).