Kerala: Defying Church Reservations, Christian Priest Undertakes Pilgrimage To Sabarimala Temple, Says 'I Have Found Truth'

Father K G Manoj, a 50-year-old Christian priest who left his software development career to follow his religious calling, has defied the reservations of the Church by undertaking a pilgrimage to the renowned Hindu temple at Sabarimala.

Hailing from Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, Father Manoj expressed his joy upon completing the pilgrimage, stating, "I witnessed the profound heritage of Hinduism and discovered the truth."

When Father Manoj made the decision to embark on this spiritual journey and fulfill the required penance, the Anglican Church of South India, to which he belonged, sought an explanation.

Father Manoj explained, "No institutionalised Church can accept this. They have their own rules. I chose to return the licenses granted to me by the Church, which allowed me to perform priestly duties such as officiating marriages, even though I had never performed such duties."

Having worked as a software professional for many years and holding an engineering degree, Father Manoj decided in 2010 to explore a spiritual path.

In 2015, he became a priest under the Chennai diocese of the Anglican Church.

Despite his priestly status, Father Manoj had never carried out the traditional duties of a priest, as he did not subscribe to the conventional concept of priesthood.

While aware that priests from different Christian denominations had visited the Sabarimala temple in secret, Father Manoj cherished a long-standing dream to openly visit the temple.

Describing himself as a spiritual scientist, Father Manoj now conducts online "life rejuvenation programs" and intends to continue his work, offering classes and addressing seminars.