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Patron Saint |
St. Gervasis Prothasis church,
Kothanalloor.
Born in a noble family at Milan, in Italy in the second
century A.D.
St.Gervasis and Prothasis were the twin sons of
Vithilas and Valeena a highly respected couple of those times.
The twins were popularly and reverently known as Kantheesangal
(believed to have derived from the Syrian word kantheesangal
that denotes a saintly person). Their parents lead exemplary
lives in the true Christian spirit throughout their lives and
became martyrs for their cause when Gervasis and Prothasis
were still at a tender age.
They grew up in age when persecution of the followers of Jesus
Christ was raging throughout the Roman Empire. Their faith in
God and the inspiration left behind by their parents made them
spurn the lucrative offers to worship the pagan god of the
Roman Emperors. They readily prepared to shed their blood and
sacrifice their lives for Jesus Christ rather than worship a
pagan God. Yet they were veiled in obscurity till the
beginning of the 4th century even among the natives of Milan.
Gradually they dawned out of oblivion as the nascent church
began receiving heavenly blessings through these saintly
brothers.
As per a divine revelation received by St.Ambrose the tomb of
Kantheesangal was exhumed for examination .The heads were
found separated with stains of blood and the church took
cognizance of the holy remnanents. A large number of miracles
were witnessed on the occasion of the transfer of the relics
to the Basilica of St.Ambrose on June 18th, 386 A.D. The blind
were able to see again, the lame started to walk and many
freed themselves from the clutches of the evil spirit. People
from all corners of the then known world started pouring in
and received heavenly favors through their intercession. The
feast of the Kantheesangal is celebrated on 19th June
throughout the Christian world and Kothanalloor church is the
only one in the entire Palai diocese having Kantheesangal as
their patron saint. |
