Feast of St. Eldho Mor Baseliose – The Kanni 20 Perunnal

St. Basil’s Boston, the only church in North America named after  St. Eldho Mor Baseliose,  is celebrating the Feast of St. Eldho Mor Baseliose on Oct 2nd and  Oct 3rd of 2009. There will be Evening Prayer on Friday (Oct 2nd) and Holy Mass on Saturday morning (Oct 3rd). This reflects “Dhukrono” of St. Baselios Yeldho Bava celebrated in the Mor Thoma Cheriapally, Kothamangalam with spiritual grandeur every year on Oct 2nd and Oct 3rd and this feast is popularly known as “Kanni 20 Perunnal”.

The saintly father, Maphryono Mor Baselios Yeldho, left his mortal self for his heavenly home on Saturday afternoon on “Kanni 19” (Malayalam calendar), 1685 and was entombed on the very next day in the sanctuary of Mor Thoma Cheriapally, Kothamangalam. Though the Holy Father had lived in Malankara for only a few days, his name has spread far and wide leaving a lasting mark in the history of Malankara Syrian Church.

The people of Kothamangalam celebrate the Cheriyapally festival on October 2nd and 3rd with piety and festivity. The colourful ‘Rasa’ (Ceremonial procession) of the festival days is led by a Nair youth from the Chakkala family carrying a traditional lamp recalling how his ancestor escorted Bawa to the Church. The Kanni 20 Perunnal is an auspicious time to pay homage to Bawa. This brings devotees from near and far for a great religious and cultural meet.

MarThoman church (Cheria Palli) The final resting place of Maphriyono Mor Baselius Yeldho