KOCHI: The architectural value of Nadamel St Mary’s Jacobite Syrian Church, Tripunithura, is evident in the wood work in the main church as well as the manimalika situated in front of the main church building. As the age-old manimalika was included in the protected monuments in Tripunithura, the church authorities recently renovated the entire structure of this beautiful building spending nearly Rs seven lakh.
The gigantic doors of the church were renovated with teak panelling and other decorative work. The teak panelled kilivaathil (small entrance into the parish hall) also has some wood carvings. The ceiling is decorated with wooden doves, chiseled out of teak. The most attractive part of the church is the holy madhbaha (altar) designed in ancient Gothic style with three thronos. The three thronos are painted in an attractive colour mix of golden yellow with alternate lining of brown. The glazing of this mystic colour combination remains fresh even after two hundred years.
The church authorities are trying to renovate the thronos with a fresh coat of golden paint. “The unique formula used for making this golden paint is a mystery even for experts in mural painting,” said Fr Shammy John Eramangalathu, vicar of the church. According to ancient documents kept in the church, a major ingredient of the golden paint is the precious thankabhasmam (gold powder).
The documents also give information on the nature of the work contract signed in 1891 according to which the total expenditure for the painting work was Rs 47. However nothing has been written about the mix used for making the golden paint. The same golden paint is used in the murals of the St Mary’s Jacobite Church in Morakkala near Peringala.
These murals depict immortal sequences from Holy Bible. The saturation of the golden paint used in these murals and thronos is so deep that they still glitter in the aura of candle light.
The church authorities have decided to find out the formula used two hundred years ago to make the ever-glittering golden paint. Once this secret combination is found, those murals and thronos will get a new lease of life.
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