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Catholicism, such as the Syro Malabar Church and the Syro Malankara Church in India. In Kerala There are countless shrines to St. George in Kerala, India. For example, Puthiyathura, one of the famous pilgrim centers of Saint George, is in India. Here they celebrate his feast on the first Saturday and Sunday during the month of May. A huge number of people from Kerala and Tamilnadu visit this church on this special occassion. And everyday a lot of people visit and pray for their wishes. There is also a belief in Kerala, contrary to the teaching of the church, that Saint George is the brother of the Indian deity Kali. Kali is a goddess with a long and complex history in Hinduism . She is venerated in various forms all over India. In Kerala she is often Bhagavathi. Social and Communal impacts: George is the most popular or common christian baptismal name in Kerala. George includes, of course, Varghese, Verghese, Geevarghese, Varu, Varuthunny, Varappan, Varachan, Kunjuvareed, Kunjivaru, . It is funny that just because the Vatican took a somewhat negative view on St. George's history - although George is an Eastern Saint of high repute down the centuries- some Churches and persons are reluctant to give this most reputed and renowned name to their adherents or children!!! Please remember that there are so many Georges in Kerala not because it is the name of the Patron Saint of England. The other popular names in Kerala before the west arrived here were Kuriakose or Cyriac or Kurien, Kuriakku, Kuriappan, Kuriachan and perhaps Thomas - Thoma, Thomman, Thommy. It might appear strange but is true that while the English patron saint's name is the most popular in Kerala, in England itself the most popular and most common baptismal or Christian name is that of the father of Kerala Christianity viz. Thomas. Of course we have all heard about the Thomas Cromwells, Thomas Beckets, Thomas Carlyles, the Thomas Mores. All because King Alfred the Great of England, by the way the only English king designated "THE GREAT" was able to win his war only after he promised to St. Thomas that if he won the war he would send offerings to Peter in Rome and to Thomas in India. and this is well documented in the Anglosaxon Chronicles. After he won the war he probably encouraged devotion to this most helpful saint - Thomas, and today it is the most popular name in England. Strangley the English phrase Every TOM, Dick, and Harry begins with the name of Thomas. The popularity of "THOMAS" in England was verified by Author Prof. George Menachery in 1975 from the British Census Reports of Various years in the British Museum Library - now the British Library. St. George is the patron saint of many old churches in Kerala. Here are some that readily come to mind: St.George's Forane Church, Edappally (AD 503 ); St. George's Church, Karingachira (722 AD); St.George Forane Church, Aruvithura (1st centaury ); St. George Church, Kadamattam (1st centaury ); St. George's Church (Valiyapalli), Kottayam (1550); St. George Church, Edathua (1810 ); St. George's Church, Angamally; St. George's Church, Kumbalangi; St.George Church, Puthuppally; St.George Church, Muthalakodam; St. George's Cathedral, Thozhiyur;
St. George's Church, Chandanapally... St. George became so popular in Kerala perhaps because Kerala was infested with snakes and many including many early Brahmin settlers fled the land for fear of snakes. The existence of ever so many Sarpa Kavus and Snake temples in Kerala speaks volumes for the early fear of snakes in Kerala. More info on St. George at http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Saint_George http://www.indianchristianity.com