KOCHI: The consecration and sanctification of the renovated St George Orthodox Church, Mattancherry, popularly known as Koonankurishu Pally, a revered pilgrim centre, will commence under Baselios Mar Thoma Paulose II, Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan, on Friday.
A convention of the pilgrims and religious harmony meet will also be held on the occasion.
The ceremonies will begin with the congregation of the torch relays from the tombs of Baselios Sacralla at Kandanad St Mary’s Church, Archdeacon Mar Thoma I and Cheralayam St George Church, the procession carrying holy remains of St Geevarghese Mar Gregorios and St Geevarghese Mar Dionysius Vattasseril and the Catholicate flag-bearing procession from Thrikkunnathu Seminary at Pazhayannur Mahavishnu Temple ground on Friday.
The first phase of consecration and sanctification will be held at 6 pm on Friday. A talk by Abdussamad Samadani on the history of Christianity in Kerala will follow.
The second phase will commence at 6 am on Saturday, which will be followed by a convention of pilgrims from Kadeesa Orthodox Cathedral Kayamkulam, where Baselios Sacralla lived, St Thomas Church, Niranam, tomb of Mar Thoma V and tombs of reverent priests at Old Seminary.