Seventeen years after the horrific anti-Christian riots in Kandhamal, Odisha, a new church has risen in the village of Gudrikia, marking both a site of tragedy and a powerful symbol of faith and resilience.
The church has been built in memory of Mathew Nayak, a schoolteacher and pastor affiliated with the Church of North India, who was brutally killed during the 2008 pogroms. Nayak had taken shelter inside a Catholic church when a mob attacked. He was set on fire and died a martyr’s death. His story continues to echo across the region, where many Christians still bear the scars of those dark days.
On 26 May, the new Archangel Michael Church was officially opened, with more than 500 Christians attending a deeply emotional dedication ceremony. Priests, nuns, and parishioners gathered for Mass, hymns, and cultural performances. Archbishop John Barwa, who led the service, called the new church a “testament to God’s enduring presence” despite the horrors the community has endured.
"This church stands where violence tried to silence us," said Fr Sebastian Thottamkara, who led the church’s reconstruction efforts. "But our faith was not extinguished. It has been rebuilt, brick by brick, in this house of prayer."
Local families played a key role in rebuilding the church, offering their time and resources freely. Many see it as a long-overdue homecoming—a return to the site where they once gathered in fear but now unite in peace. For Gudrikia’s 45 Catholic families, surrounded by a predominantly Hindu population, the church is not just a place of worship but also a statement of their identity and perseverance.
Padang Parish, which oversees the Gudrikia church, has deep roots in Odisha’s Christian history. Once established by Fransalian missionaries, it now operates under the guidance of the Congregation of the Mission. The new church joins ten other substations under the parish’s care.
The memory of the 2008 violence still lingers in Kandhamal. Yet, with every stone laid and every hymn sung in Gudrikia, the community is reclaiming its faith—and declaring that even in the face of hatred, hope will have the final word.
Adapted from AisaNews.it.
