Manjanikkara Dayara & the Feast of Mar Ignatius

Manjanikkara is one of the renowned pilgrim centres of the Jacobite Syrian Christians located in  Pathanamthitta District. History says that Scaria Malpan constructed a church atop Manjanikara hill in the name of Mar Esthapanos in 1925 for 30 families. In 1931, Mar Ignatius reached Kerala to visit the Malankara Church. He died on February 13, 1932 and was laid to rest at Manjanikkara church. This church has now become a place of worship that offers blessings to scores of faithful.

The Feast of Mar Ignatius is observed on February 13. On that day, the hill and its surroundings would overflow with hundreds of pilgrims who come from different parts of Kerala by foot. Mar Ignatius Dayara, the Mar Esthapanos church, and the residents of Omalloor provide all facilities for the pilgrims.  Mar Ignatius is the only Patriarch of Antioch to have been laid to rest at Malankara.