Church Policies

St. George Orthodox Church, Puthuppally, is committed to protecting the privacy of our parishioners and customers. This policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal information when you interact with our website and online services.

• Information We Collect: When you book a service or purchase from our shop, we collect your name, phone number, email address, and payment details necessary to process your transaction.
• How We Use Your Data: Your information is used solely to process your order, send confirmations, and communicate relevant parish updates. We do not sell or share your data with any third party.
• Payment Data: All payment transactions are processed via Razorpay, a PCI-DSS compliant gateway. St. George Church does not store your card details on our servers.
• Cookies: Our website uses minimal cookies to ensure smooth functionality. No tracking or advertising cookies are used.
• Data Retention: Transaction records are retained for 7 years as required by Indian financial regulations. You may request deletion of your personal data at any time by contacting us.

All payments made through our online portal for church services and sacred items are processed securely through Razorpay — one of India's most trusted payment gateways.

• Accepted Methods: UPI, Debit/Credit Cards (Visa, Mastercard, RuPay), Net Banking, and popular wallets including Google Pay, PhonePe, and Paytm.
• Currency: All transactions are in Indian Rupees (INR ₹).
• Security: All payments are SSL-encrypted. We comply with RBI guidelines for online payments.
• Confirmation: Upon successful payment you will receive a confirmation message and a digital receipt via email or SMS within a few minutes.
• Receipts: Official receipts for all online offerings are available on request for tax and donation purposes.

As St. George Orthodox Church is a religious non-profit institution, the following refund policy applies to all services and shop purchases.

• Church Services (Qurbana, Novena, etc.): Payments for church services are non-refundable once the service has been offered. If you made an error in booking or paid in duplicate, contact us within 7 days for a review.
• Sacred Shop Items: Physical items (Rosary, Bible, Prayer Books, etc.) may be returned within 7 days of receipt if they are unused and in original condition. Items that have been blessed and dispatched cannot be returned.
• Duplicate Payments: If you were charged twice for the same order, we will issue a full refund for the duplicate charge within 5–7 business days after verification.
• Failed Transactions: If your payment was debited but the order was not confirmed, the amount will be automatically reversed to your account within 5–7 business days by Razorpay.

Physical sacred items purchased through our online shop are dispatched from the church premises in Puthuppally, Kottayam.

• Delivery Area: We currently deliver within Kerala. For deliveries to other Indian states or abroad, please contact us directly.
• Dispatch Time: Orders are processed and dispatched within 2–3 working days after payment confirmation.
• Delivery Time: Standard delivery within Kerala takes 3–5 working days via India Post or reputed courier service.
• Packaging: All sacred items are carefully and respectfully packaged. Items are blessed before dispatch.
• Tracking: A tracking number will be shared via SMS/email once your order is shipped.
• Delivery Charges: Free delivery for orders above ₹200. Standard delivery charge of ₹40 applies for orders below ₹200.

By accessing and using the St. George Orthodox Church website and its online services, you agree to the following terms:

• This website and its contents are the property of St. George Orthodox Church, Puthuppally. Unauthorised reproduction of any content is prohibited.
• Online service bookings and shop purchases are intended for genuine devotional and religious purposes only.
• The church reserves the right to cancel or refuse any order that is found to be fraudulent, abusive, or contrary to the values of the parish.
• By submitting a service request or purchase, you confirm that the information provided is accurate and truthful.
• The church is not responsible for delays caused by courier services, natural events, or other circumstances outside our control.
• These terms may be updated periodically. Continued use of our services constitutes acceptance of the revised terms.

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests related to these policies, our parish administration team is happy to assist.