History
The early Christians of Kuttanad used to do spiritual things in the Niranam Church, which was established by the disciple of Christ, Thomas the Apostle. [4] Later, with the establishment of the Kallurkkad Church, the center of worship of Christians in Kuttanad became the Kallurkkad church (Basilica of St. Mary, Champakulam). [4] When the number of Christians increased in Pulinkunnoo and surrounding areas, efforts were started under the leadership of Chakala Eepan Tarakan, who was the leader of the Christians at that time, to establish a church at Pulinkunnoo as well. [4] Chakala Eepan Tharakan met Vadakumkur Koical Thampuran who was the local ruler of these regions at that time to build a church there, and the request was allowed by the Thampuran. [4] The Araya (A community whose main livelihood has traditionally been fishing) people who used to live there were shifted to another place. [4] The 'Vallapura' (traditional canoe shed) was demolished to build the church structure. [4]
This first Christian church in Pulinkunnoo was established in AD 1450. [4] After 1500 AD, King of Chembakassery (present-day Ambalapuzha) conquered the Pulinkunnoo area and annexed it to his kingdom. [4] During the reign of the Chembakassery kings, many Christians migrated from other areas to Kuttanad including Pulinkunnoo. [4] In 1557, the Christians of Pulinkunnoo and its surrounding areas decided to demolish and rebuild the old church. [4] The last Chaldaean Bishop of Kerala, who was in disguise fearing the Portuguese, was invited to Pulinkunnoo by the Christian families and the foundation of the church was laid by him. [4] On 4 February 1557, Pope Paul IV established the Diocese of Cochin and placed the entire area under this diocese. [4] When the construction was completed, the new church was consecrated and the church was given the name of Virgin Mary, according to the special interest of the then Bishop of Cochin and the believers of Pulinkunnoo. [4]
In 1750, Maharaja Marthandavarma conquered the kingdom of Chembakassery and annexed it to Travancore. [4] With this many families from different parts of Travancore again migrated to Kuttanad. [4] Most of the present Christian families in Pulinkunnoo have migrated during this time. [4] As the number of believers increased, the church was renovated again in 1885. [4] Srampikal Geevargis Katanar, who was a parishioner of the church, led the construction of the present church. [4] The foundation stone of the church and the laying of the first stone was carried out by Fr. Geevargis Veliyanad, who was a parishioner of this church. [4] The new church was built on the foundation of the old church. [4]
Alappuzha district, is one of the 14 districts in the Indian state of Kerala. It was formed as Alleppey district on 17 August 1957, the name of the district being changed to Alappuzha in 1990. Alappuzha is the smallest district of Kerala. Alleppey town, the district headquarters, was renamed Alappuzha in 2012, even though the anglicised name is still commonly used to describe the town as well as the district.
Kottayam is one of 14 districts in the Indian state of Kerala. Kottayam district comprises six municipal towns: Kottayam, Changanassery, Pala, Erattupetta, Ettumanoor, and Vaikom. It is the only district in Kerala that does not border either the Arabian Sea or another Indian state.
Ernakulam is one of the 14 districts in the Indian state of Kerala, and takes its name from the eponymous city division in Kochi. It is situated in the central part of the state, spans an area of about 2,924 square kilometres (1,129 sq mi), and is home to over 9% of Kerala's population. Its headquarters are located at Kakkanad. The district includes Kochi, also known as the commercial capital of Kerala, which is famous for its ancient churches, Hindu temples, synagogues and mosques.
Pathanamthitta District, is one of the 14 districts in the Indian state of Kerala. The district headquarters is in the town of Pathanamthitta. There are four municipalities in Pathanamthitta: Adoor, Pandalam, Pathanamthitta and Thiruvalla.
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Idukki is one of the 14 districts in the Indian state of Kerala in the southwest of the country. It is the largest district in Kerala and lies amid the Cardamom Hills of Western Ghats in Kerala. Idukki district contains two municipal towns – Kattappana and Thodupuzha, and five taluks.
The Kingdom of Cochin, also known as the Kingdom of Kochi or later as Cochin State, named after its capital in the city of Kochi (Cochin), was an Indian Hindu kingdom in the central part of present-day Kerala state. It commenced at the early part of the 12th century and continued to rule until its accession to the Dominion of India in 1949.
Travancore–Cochin, officially the United State of Travancore and Cochin and later the State of Travancore–Cochin, was a short-lived state of India. It was formed through the merger of two former kingdoms, Travancore and Cochin on 1 July 1949. Its original capital was Thiruvananthapuram.
Kuttanad is a region covering the Alappuzha, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta Districts, in the state of Kerala, India, well known for its vast paddy fields and geographical peculiarities. The region has the lowest altitude in India, and is one of the few places in the world where farming is carried on around 1.2 to 3.0 metres below sea level. Kuttanad is historically important in the ancient history of South India and is the major rice producer in the state. Farmers of Kuttanad are famous for Biosaline Farming. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has declared the Kuttanad Farming System as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS) in 2013.
Adoor is a municipality in the Pathanamthitta district of Kerala, India. It is the headquarters of the Adoor Taluk and Adoor Revenue Division. Adoor is located 18 km (11.2 mi) southwest of the district headquarters Pathanamthitta and 85 km (52.8 mi) north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram.
Alappuzha, also known as Alleppey, is a municipality in the Alappuzha district of Kerala, India. It is the district headquarters of the district, and is located about 130 km (80.8 mi) north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. As per the 2011 Indian census, Alappuzha has a population of 240,991 people, and a population density of 3,675/km2 (9,520/sq mi).
Edathua is a small village in Kuttanad, Alappuzha district, Kerala, India. It is located 12 km from Thiruvalla city center, National Highway 183 and the Thiruvalla railway station.
This article lists the various old and ancient churches that exist among the Saint Thomas Christians in Kerala.
Neerattupuram is a place in Kuttanad, Alappuzha district, Kerala, India. It is a part of Thalavady Grama Panchayat, situated near the junction of Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta and Kottayam districts, at the confluence of Pamba and Manimala rivers.
Karoor is a village in Kodakara Panchayath in Thrissur district of Kerala, India. Karoor is located 30 km from the city of Thrissur and 12 km from Irinjalakuda Town and 8 km from Chalakudy Town and 8 km from Mala, Kerala Town.
Thalavady is an Upper Kuttanadu village and Panchayat located in Kuttanadu Taluk, Alappuzha district, Kerala, India. The village was ruled by King of Chembakassery Kingdom. Its geography is dominated by its vast lush green paddy field, unique to Kuttanad villages, bordered by a network of canals running between the fields and the Pampa River that flows through the village. Thalavady panchayat office is located in Trikkayil.
Karthikappally is a village in Alappuzha district in the Indian state of Kerala.Haripad is the headquarter of Karthikappally Taluk. Taluk office is located at revenue tower Haripad.
Pulincunnoo or Pulinkunnoo is a small village in the Kuttanadu region of Alappuzha district in the Indian state of Kerala. The Pampa river in Pulincunnoo is a route for houseboat tourism operators in Kuttanadu. The village is part of the islands dotting the Kerala Backwaters, a network of lakes, wetlands, and canals crisscrossing the state. The village is around 20 km from Alleppey and 15 km from Changanacherry.
Puthukkary is a small village in Kuttanadu Taluk. It is located in Ramankary Panchayat. It is 2 km far from Mampuzhakkary, at AC Road and, 5 km far from Edathua at Thiruvalla-Ambalappuzha Road. It is believed that this region was a very big forest in ancient years but later destroyed by a forest fire. Still we can see "kari" if we dig deep into the soil. So this place's name ended up with Kari. Mampuzhakkary-Edathua Road Passing through Puthukkary, 2 kilometers to Mampuzhakary and 5.5 kilometers to Edathua. Major Christian church is St Xaviers Church, now under the Archdiocese of Changanassery. Nearby villages are Kalangara Mithrakary, Oorukkary, Thekke Puthukkary, Kalangara, Koduppunna, Mampuzhakary, Edathua etc. Most of the villagers here are farmers and mainly depend on Alappuzha and Changanacherry for their day-to-day life.
