The Leaning Cross Orthodox Church wins NDTV Architecture Award 2015

Dr Ajesh T Phillip (OCP Delegate of the Indian Sub-Continent)
27/1/16- OCP News Service

“ By the Father, Son and Holy Spirit that henceforth we would not adhere to the Franks, nor accept the faith of the Pope of Rome, nor any foreign rule.” – From the Event of Leaning Cross Oath of 1653.  

See NDTV Link Here: 
http://sites.ndtv.com/daawards/awards-2015-architecture-award-institutional/

The 2015 NDTV architecture award goes to the historic  Mattamchery St George  Indian Orthodox Church  (Koonenkurish Palli). This historic church belongs to the Indian Orthodox Malankara Church.   The building was  renovated as per the 15th-century architecture style with eco-friendly construction process using compressed soil bricks with no steel and very less cement, reducing the CO2 emission. Importance is given to natural lighting and air circulation. This endeavor was  fulfilled  with the generosity and support of the faithful.

Leaning Cross Oath: Mass Revolt against Roman Catholic & Western Imperial Domination

The Koonankurish Oath (Leaning Cross Oath) of 1653 is the first recorded mass revolt against the western colonialism in history. This heroic declaration of independence by the Malankara Christians (also known as Malankara Nazrani’s) was to save themselves from the imposition of the western Roman Catholic supremacy in matters concerning the Church and its practices. In 1652, the Persian Catholicos sent Metropolitan Mar Ahatallah from Syria to India. He was however, arrested by the Jesuits at Mylapore and handed over to the Portuguese who then put him in a ship at Madras, bound to Goa. Enroute its journey the ship stopped by Cochin. Hearing this, 25000 strong Nazrani Christians marched to Cochin Harbour and demanded the release of Mar Ahatallah.

The Portuguese pushed the ship off to Goa and on the way drowned the Persian Bishop. Hearing this, thousands of St. Thomas Nazrani’s assembled at Mattanchery church on the 3rd of January 1653 and took an oath under a big cross. Since all gathered could not touch the cross simultaneously, they held onto ropes that were tied to the cross in all directions. They then took the historical oath to break free from the clutches of the Roman Catholic supremacy and follow the true Orthodox faith, Malankara Nazrani traditions as well as obey the Marthoma Arch Deacon Thomas I. The Koonankurish Oath was the first proclamation of independence of the Malankara Orthodox Church and it was the first revolt against the colonial rulers of India. The Koonankurishu Oath preserved the St. Thomas tradition and protected the Malankara Orthodox Church from losing its heritage and ancient history.

Source:
OCP News Service