The Holy Soonooro

When the time came for the holy mother to depart from the world there assembled the heavenly host, souls of prophets, apostles and humans. Amidst their prayers the Holy Mother left the worldly abode and her sepulcher was done in the Gathsemone. On the third day her son-Jesus-sent angels from Heaven to take the mortal remains of the Mother to the Heaven.

It was when the mortal remains of the Holy mother were being lifted to the Heaven that St. Thomas came to Bethlehem; he had the privilege of witnessing this heavenly sight. He prayed that he might be given something as evidence for this miracle to be presented to the other disciples. It was now that he obtained the Holy chord- Soonorou- of the Mother. He showed this to the disciples and then brought it to India.

Later, St. Thomas died as martyr and his mortal remains were placed in sepulcher in Mylapoor. Still later, this mortal remains were taken to Uraha and along with, taken the Holy Soonorou too.
In 1852 this soonorou was laid in the central altar of the church of the Holy Mother in Homes.

In April 1953 when the Patriarch of Antioch His Holiness Mar Ignatious Aprem examined the ancient remains he got information about the Soonorou; as ordered by him the altar was opened and the Soonorou taken out. It was then laid in a stone casket (petakam). Along with the Soonorou was also discovered relics (bone) of St. Thomas from a tube (Kuzhal) in 1965 when the Catholicos of the East His Excellency Baselious Augen visited the Holy Throne of Antioch at Damascus he received from Holy Father a portion of the Soonorou which he brought to India.

In 1982 When the holy Partriarch His Excellency Moran Mor Ignatius Zaka I visited Malankara, on February 26, he laid a portion of the holy Soonorou in St. Mary’s church, Manarcad.  Every year, 26th February is being celebrated as the ‘Feast of the Holy Soonorou’. This is how this holy church came to be known as Soonorou Church.