History
Mor Pathros Mor Paulose Church at Kadungamangalam was established in 1867 Dhanu 10 (M.E) in the name of martyr Mor Behnam Sahdo, by Thuruthiyil Varkey Ulahannan, a trustee of Karingachira church, after securing an order from Cochin government (No. 3004/1042). He was motivated to do so following the dispute between the then Metropolitan Palakunnath Mathews Athanasius and Karingachira church in 1867 on the lease of church land. However, this church was destroyed in 1868 due to a fire sparked by fireworks on the church festival day. In 1873, the rebuilt church was consecrated by the Metropolitan Pulikottil Mor Dionysius Joseph in the name of St. Stephen (Mor Sthephanous Sahdo). The church building was modified in 1879 (M.E. 1054); later the church and the property was handed over to Mor Dionysius Shemvun, the first Metropolitan of Kochi, who initiated its reconstruction and named it after Apostles Peter and Paul. The thronos of the reconstructed church was consecrated by St. Gregorios Geevarghese Chathuruthil (Parumala Thirumeni). When the Metropolitan Mor Dionysius Shemvun passed away on 2nd October 1886, his mortal remains were interred in the Kadugamangalam church.
Mor Pathros Mor Paulose Church at Kadungamangalam was established in 1867 Dhanu 10 (M.E) in the name of martyr Mor Behnam Sahdo, by Thuruthiyil Varkey Ulahannan, a trustee of Karingachira church, after securing an order from Cochin government (No. 3004/1042). He was motivated to do so following the dispute between the then Metropolitan Palakunnath Mathews Athanasius and Karingachira church in 1867 on the lease of church land. However, this church was destroyed in 1868 due to a fire sparked by fireworks on the church festival day. In 1873, the rebuilt church was consecrated by the Metropolitan Pulikottil Mor Dionysius Joseph in the name of St. Stephen (Mor Sthephanous Sahdo). The church building was modified in 1879 (M.E. 1054); later the church and the property was handed over to Mor Dionysius Shemvun, the first Metropolitan of Kochi, who initiated its reconstruction and named it after Apostles Peter and Paul. The thronos of the reconstructed church was consecrated by St. Gregorios Geevarghese Chathuruthil (Parumala Thirumeni). When the Metropolitan Mor Dionysius Shemvun passed away on 2nd October 1886, his mortal remains were interred in the Kadugamangalam church.
The church was again remodeled in early 1980's. The foundation stone for the new church was laid on September 14, 1980 by Kassisso P K Sleeba Pattasseril (later ordained a Corepsicopa). On February 11, 1982, the Madbho of the newly built church was consecrated by His Holiness Ignatius Zakka I Iwas during H.H's first Apostolic visit as the Patriarch of Antioch & all the East. Again some modification of the church was made in 2006 under the leadership of Kassisso Kuriakose Ammencheril (later ordained a Corepsicopa) and was later consecrated with Holy Mooron by the diocesan Metropolitan H.E. Mor Gregorios Joseph, assisted by other Metropolitans of Malankara.
Mor Dionysius Shemvun who led the Kochi diocese for 9 years from 1877 was its first Metropolitan. He was born in the Karvattuveettil family of Kandanadu in 1822 (?). His baptismal name was Shemvun and was a parishioner of the Morth Mariam church at Kandanad.On 27th August 1835, Metropolitan Mor Dionysius IV (Cheppaud) ordained him Kooroyo at the Kandand church. After his religious studies he was ordained as Kassisso (Full Priest) and on 5th May 1847 the Reesh Episcopo to Malankara Mor Koorilose Yuyakim Bava elevated him to the order of Corepiscopo. The young Corepiscopo was greatly respected by all because of his strict ascetic life. When the dissident activities of Palakunnath methran was in its height in the mid-19th century, Shemvun Corepiscopo gave effective leadership to the faithful in north, reaffirming them in the apostolic faith of the Holy Church.
When the 'Jacobite Syrian Christian Association' was formed in 1876 as per the decision of the Mulanthuruthy Synod, Shemvun Corepsicopo was elected to its 24-member managing Committee. Patriarch Mor Ignatius Pathros IV who presided this historic Synod also decided to ordain the Corepsicopo as Metropolitan. Accordingly on Tuesday 5th September 1876, Shemvun Corepsicopo was ordained Ramban (Monk-Preist). Kochuparambil Paulose Kathanar (later Malankara Metropolitan Paulose Mor Koorilose) and Chalapurath Yakub Corepsicopo were also ordained as monk-priets together with him. Moran Mor Ignatius Pathros IV then appointed Shemvun Ramban as the Patriarchal Vicar for Vettikal Dayro which was under the direct jurisdiction of the holy Patriarchate.On Thursday 17th May 1877, His Holiness the Patriarch ordained Karvattuveetil Shemvun Ramban as Metropolitan by name 'Mor Dionysius' at the Kunnamkulam Chiralayam St Lazarus church. Murimattam Mor Ivanios Paulose was also ordained Metropolitan then. Prior to their ordinations both submitted Salmoosa (declaration of obedience to the supreme pontiff and the Church) before the Patriarch and the same was registered at the Kunnathunadu district registrar Office on 26th March 1877. The four Metropolitans who were ordained by the Patriarach in November 1876 and the Metropolitan Mor Gregorios Abdulla of Jerusalem (later Patriarch of Antioch) had assisted His Holiness during this Episcopal ordination. Two days after their Metropolitan consecration, on 19th May the holy Patriarch issued the Sthathikon (statement of empowerment in writing given to the new Metropolitans), appointing Shemvun Mor Dionysius as Metropolitan for Kochi diocese and Murimattom Paulose Mor Ivanios as Metropolitan for Kandanadu diocese respectively. The 21 parishes which were in the Kochi diocese at that time were the churches at Kochikotta, Mattanchery, Nadamel, Karingachira, Mulanthuruthy, Mathuruthu, Vadayaparabel, Arthat, Kunnamkulangara, Kunnamkulangara puthen, Kunnakulangara south, Chiralayathu, Pazaghi, Kunnathu puthen, porkulath, Chalasserry, Chalassery puthen, Chelakara, Thozhur, Srai, Srai puthen.
His tenure in office as Metropolitan lasted only for 9 years. On October 2, 1886 Metropolitan Mor Dionysius Shemvun passed away and his body was laid to rest at the Kadugamangalam St. Peter & St.Paul's church.
It was Mor Dionysius Metropolitan who took the initiative to reconstruct the Kadugamangalam church in the year 1878. On 22nd December 1878 the renovated church was consecrated by Mor Dionysius Shemvun and was renamed after St. Peter & St. Paul. The sacred tomb of the Metropolitan is located in the Kesthrumo in front of the left Madboho of the church.
When the 'Jacobite Syrian Christian Association' was formed in 1876 as per the decision of the Mulanthuruthy Synod, Shemvun Corepsicopo was elected to its 24-member managing Committee. Patriarch Mor Ignatius Pathros IV who presided this historic Synod also decided to ordain the Corepsicopo as Metropolitan. Accordingly on Tuesday 5th September 1876, Shemvun Corepsicopo was ordained Ramban (Monk-Preist). Kochuparambil Paulose Kathanar (later Malankara Metropolitan Paulose Mor Koorilose) and Chalapurath Yakub Corepsicopo were also ordained as monk-priets together with him. Moran Mor Ignatius Pathros IV then appointed Shemvun Ramban as the Patriarchal Vicar for Vettikal Dayro which was under the direct jurisdiction of the holy Patriarchate.On Thursday 17th May 1877, His Holiness the Patriarch ordained Karvattuveetil Shemvun Ramban as Metropolitan by name 'Mor Dionysius' at the Kunnamkulam Chiralayam St Lazarus church. Murimattam Mor Ivanios Paulose was also ordained Metropolitan then. Prior to their ordinations both submitted Salmoosa (declaration of obedience to the supreme pontiff and the Church) before the Patriarch and the same was registered at the Kunnathunadu district registrar Office on 26th March 1877. The four Metropolitans who were ordained by the Patriarach in November 1876 and the Metropolitan Mor Gregorios Abdulla of Jerusalem (later Patriarch of Antioch) had assisted His Holiness during this Episcopal ordination. Two days after their Metropolitan consecration, on 19th May the holy Patriarch issued the Sthathikon (statement of empowerment in writing given to the new Metropolitans), appointing Shemvun Mor Dionysius as Metropolitan for Kochi diocese and Murimattom Paulose Mor Ivanios as Metropolitan for Kandanadu diocese respectively. The 21 parishes which were in the Kochi diocese at that time were the churches at Kochikotta, Mattanchery, Nadamel, Karingachira, Mulanthuruthy, Mathuruthu, Vadayaparabel, Arthat, Kunnamkulangara, Kunnamkulangara puthen, Kunnakulangara south, Chiralayathu, Pazaghi, Kunnathu puthen, porkulath, Chalasserry, Chalassery puthen, Chelakara, Thozhur, Srai, Srai puthen.
His tenure in office as Metropolitan lasted only for 9 years. On October 2, 1886 Metropolitan Mor Dionysius Shemvun passed away and his body was laid to rest at the Kadugamangalam St. Peter & St.Paul's church.
