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St. George Orthodox Church Kadamattom
The St. George Orthodox Church at Kadamattom dates back to the late 9th Century. The tale of the legendary Kadamattathu Kathanar is something every child in Kerala reads about while growing up. But when you look at the quaint church, walk down to the adjacent Poyedam Chappel and the Pathala Kinar, you are left wondering if all those stories of demons and sorcery really took place.
The history of Kadamattom Church goes back as far as the 9th century. The prominent family around that era was the ‘Kartha’ family. When one of the children in the family fell ill, the local doctors were incapable of identifying the ailment or cure for the child. Mar Sabor, an East Syrian monk, was visiting the area, and cured the child. Out of gratitude, the Kartha family gifted the monk with land, where he built Kadamattom Church, one of the oldest churches of the country.
Inside the church, on the left, there is a picture of Mar Abo Metropolitan, who is the mentor of Rev. Paulose alias the legendary Kadamattathu Kathanar. Mar Abo was not only a theologian but also believed to be a conjurer. He stayed in a hut with a poor widow and her only son, Paulose. Paulose assisted Mar Abo for years and later was ordained as a priest. The famous pathala kinar (well) lies near the Poyyedom church. The Poyedam chapel and the Pathala Kinar are so linked to the lore of the Kathanar. The Pathala Kinar , or the well, it is believed, was the portal through which the Kathanar went to the underworld to entrap the demons. He could also travel through this to the forest nearby. There is a scroll kept safely in the chapel which is in a script that no one can decipher now.
Getting there
Nearest railway station: Ernakulam Railway Station, about 31 km
Nearest airport: Cochin International Airport, about 35 km
Google map coordinates: XFGX+XC Kochi, Kerala
