Twin brothers married twin sisters at the Changanassery Metropolitan Church in Kerala’s Kottayam district on July 30, in a wedding that has drawn attention for one reason: twins filled almost every key role at the altar, not just that of bride and groom.
The wedding was reported by the Times of India and Moneycontrol, which carried reports of the ceremony on August 23 and August 24 respectively.
The grooms, Akhil K Thomas and Nikhil K Thomas, are twin sons of Kunjumon Thomas and Jomol from Vettuparambil, Changanassery. Their brides, Magi Mary Thomas and Maria Mary Thomas, are twin daughters of Tomichan and Marykutty from Kumbuluvelil, Kulathoor, in Pathanamthitta district. Akhil took Magi’s hand at the altar, while Nikhil stood alongside with Maria.
Officiating the marriage were twin priests, Fr Anto Pezhumkattil and Fr Ajo Pezhumkattil of the Kanjirappally Diocese. Twin brothers Jeron James and Johon James from Pala assisted as altar boys, taking the count to four sets of twins present at the ceremony.
The brides had wanted a wedding surrounded by twins since childhood. When the time came, they went looking for twin priests to officiate it, and their search took them to a church in Kothanalloor known for gathering twins, where they found Fr Anto and Fr Ajo. The priests agreed at once.
“It had been our dream since childhood to have a wedding surrounded by twins,” the sisters said. “Our parents and family also wished for it. Jesus Christ made it happen. When we invited the priests, they immediately agreed to come.”
The priests, who entered the priesthood together themselves, called the occasion a memorable one. “Officiating at the wedding of twins is very special,” they said. “It is an experience that gives us memories for a lifetime. Such occasions remind us of goodness and togetherness.” They added, “They were born together and they are beginning a new life together. We, too, entered the priesthood together. These are beautiful memories.”
Hundreds of guests turned up for the wedding, many keen to photograph the four pairs of twins together. Pictures and videos from the event have circulated on social media in the weeks since.
Akhil and Nikhil work in the Merchant Navy, while Magi and Maria are employed in the IT sector. Family members said the wedding brought together not just two couples but two families who shared the same joy over the occasion.
Kerala has seen a wedding like this before. In 2015, St Francis Xavier Church in Thrissur district hosted twin brothers Dilraj and Dilkar marrying twin sisters Reema and Reena, with twin priests Reji and Roji conducting the ceremony. The page boys and flower girls at that wedding were twins as well.
For the families in Changanassery, the July 30 wedding fulfilled a wish the sisters had held onto since they were children, one their parents and relatives shared with them. Guests who attended said they were unlikely to forget a ceremony where four sets of twins stood together at the same altar.
