KOCHI: POPE Benedict XVI on Monday elevated Angamaly St George Forane Church to the status of a Minor Basilica.
The forane church was elevated as Basilica on the basis of a request by Major Archbishop Varkey Cardinal Vithayathil, head of the Syro-Malabar Church.
It was announced at a specially convened meeting of the consulters, financial council of the Archdiocese of Ernakulam- Angamaly, the parish priest and the parish council of Angamaly.
The St George Church has a pivotal role in the history of the Syro-Malabar Church, the name of which carries the place name of Angamaly.
The decree was signed by the Prefect Cardinal Anonius Canizares Llovera of the Congregation for the Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments.
The present church is newly constructed under the leadership of Fr Paul Kariyatty in artistic style with an area of 24,000 sq ft accommodating 8,000 people. Angamaly parish with 2,400 catholic families is headed by parish priest Fr Joseph Kallarackal and two assistants.