Anchal Achan (Rev: Younan

Kathanar Kathanar () is an ancient Nasrani Mappila term in Malayalam that means ''priest''. The term is still in colloquial usage, although not in regular formal use. It was anglicized in archaic English texts as ''Cattanar'' or ''Kattanar'', especially ...

) (Mor Yaunan Kasheesho) is a

saint In Christianity, Christian belief, a saint is a person who is recognized as having an exceptional degree of sanctification in Christianity, holiness, imitation of God, likeness, or closeness to God in Christianity, God. However, the use of the ...

of Anchal. He lived in the first half of 19th century. The saint was born in Marunthalizhikathu family in Anchal. The exact date of his birth is unknown. According to historic assumptions he was born sometime around AD 1770-80.

Ordination

He started his life as a priest in the

Kottarakkara Kottarakkara (IAST: Koṭṭārakkara), also transliterated as ''Kottarakara'', is a town and municipality in the Kollam district of Kerala, India. Kottarakkara lies to the east of Kollam city centre. History Kottarakkara, also known in the ...

church. He used to go 16 km to Kottarakkara by walking from Anchal. Later he moved to the church compound.

Lifestyle

He used to do all of his work on his own. One day after returning from his morning bath, he saw his elder brother's wife sweeping his room. Standing outside, (without entering the room), he asked for his Bible and other books and he left for Kottarakkara. He stayed the whole of his remaining life at Kottarakkara church. Kottarakkara church made all arrangements for his stay in the premises of the church itself.

Death

Before his death he asked his church people at

church to open his "kabar" on 41st day of his death and will find his body intact position. He died on one "Karkidakam 22". After his death on 41st day the people of

Kottarakara Kottarakkara (IAST: Koṭṭārakkara), also transliterated as ''Kottarakara'', is a town and municipality in the Kollam district of Kerala, India. Kottarakkara lies to the east of Kollam city centre. History Kottarakkara, also known in the ...

church opened the kabar and found the body intact position, except the top of the nose and top of two fingers decayed, the reason for that says-one day he plucked a rose flower before Kurbana) However, later the Orthodox Church lost the

Church to Marthoma Church on litigation. Now it is a Marthomite church. The Kabar of Anchal achan is situated in the altar of Kottarakkara Marthomite church.

Anchal Orthodox Valliya Pally

Anchal St. George Orthodox Valiya Pally is one of the prominent churches in south

Kerala Kerala ( , ) is a States and union territories of India, state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile ...

. It gets its fame from the spiritual presence of St. George and St.Anchal Achan. Recognizing the importance of this spiritual place, the Catholicos of East Mor Baselios Thoma Didymos I declared the parish as Valiya Pally (Great Parish) and a Georgian Pilgrim Centre.

Sources

*''Annammayum Pasterum'' by Father K. Gheevarghese, Manoor, Anchal *''The Mirror of Apostolic Faith'' by Shri E.S. John

External links