St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Church, Palayur

Last updated • 18 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

Palayoor Mar Thoma Major Archiepiscopal Church
St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Church, Palayoor.jpg
St. Thomas Major archiepiscopal church at Palayur
Religion
Affiliation Syro-Malabar Church
District Thrissur
Ecclesiastical or organizational status Major archiepiscopal church
Location
Location Flag of India.svg Kerala India
State Kerala
Geographic coordinates ( 10°34′57″N76°01′55″E / 10.5825°N 76.0319°E / 10.5825; 76.0319 )
Architecture
Architect(s) Thomas the Apostle by tradition.
Rebuilt under Giacomo Fenicio (AD 1600-1607)
Style Blend of Kerala, Persian, and Portuguese architecture
Specifications
Direction of façadeWest
Dome(s)1
Materials Lime and Mortar

Palayur Mar Thoma Major Archiepiscopal Church, is located at Palayur (historically known as Palur), in Thrissur district in Kerala on the west coast of India. [1] According to Saint Thomas Christian tradition, the Syrian church was established in 52 AD by St Thomas, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ. [2] Saint Thomas performed the first baptism in India here, therefore this church is called an Apostolic Church credited to the apostolate of St. Thomas, who preached and also introduced Christianity to the people here. [3] [4] It is part of the Ēḻarappaḷḷikaḷ (seven major churches) that he established in India, the others being at Cranganore, Kokkamangalam, Kottakkavu, Kollam, Niranam, and Chayal (Nilackal). [5] [6] [7] The original small church structure has been retained at the original site. But substantial improvements around it were carried out during the 17th century by Giacomo Fenicio as necessary, without sacrificing the main sanctity of the place. [8] [9] [10]

Contents

History

Legend

Interior of the Palayur Church, one of the oldest Christian church in India and one of the seven founded by St. Thomas the Apostle in 52 AD. St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Church Altar.jpg
Interior of the Palayur Church, one of the oldest Christian church in India and one of the seven founded by St. Thomas the Apostle in 52 AD.

According to Saint Thomas Christian tradition, Thomas traveled from Muziris (Kodungallur) and landed at Palayur by boat through the backwaters. At that time, Palayur was a stronghold of the Brahmins and also of Jews. He came to visit the Jewish merchants at Palayur at Judankunnu (meaning the hill of Jews) and to preach the Christian gospel. The place has since become a dry land but its historicity as a boat jetty called locally 'Bottukulam' has been preserved as a monument to St. Thomas (see picture). [11] [12] [13]

Of the seven churches traditionally said to have been established by Thomas, only three–Palayur in the Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Thrissur, Kottakkavu in the Syro-Malabar Catholic Major Archeparchy of Ernakulam-Angamaly, and Niranam in the Malankara Orthodox Diocese of Niranam–claim continuity, while the remaining four churches have undergone several changes in their locations. [14]

Palayur St.Thomas Monument Palayoor boat jetty.jpg
Palayur St.Thomas Monument

Historical legend records that when Thomas landed at Palayur, he witnessed the sight of Hindu Brahmins, after their ablutions in a local tank. They were offering prayers by chanting mantras (the Vedic tradition of India for spiritual transformation), hymns to god in the form of Argyam or Tharpanam (water held in the palms) to the Sun god, a practice also said to be followed in Harappan and Persian cultures. Amused by the sight of water being thrown up by the Brahmins, from the palms of their hands, which was falling back, he challenged the Brahmins stating that the water they were offering was not being accepted by the Sun god as it was falling back into the tank. He made a deal with them stating that his God would accept the offer of water if he threw it up in the same way as they did: the water would not fall back. If he proved this then his God was superior and the Brahmins would have to embrace Christianity. He performed this miracle (summoned the Holy Trinity, completed the sign of the Cross and threw water held in his palms up into the air, which remained still in the air at a height) and with this miracle he converted a number of Brahmins and Jews in Palayur to Christianity. [15] Thereafter he baptised the converts in a nearby water tank, now known as "Thaliyakulam" which is referred to as The First Baptism Pond, "The Birthplace of Christianity in India". [16] [14] [17]

Historical accounts on Palayur Church

St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Church, Palayoor Palayoor St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Church.jpg
St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Church, Palayoor

In 1504, Mar Yaballaha, Mar Denha, Mar Yaqob Abuna and Mar Thoma, the four East Syriac bishops consecrated for India by the Catholicos-Patriarch Mar Eliyah V, mentions the Christian community of Palur in a letter addressed to the Catholicos-Patriarch. [18] [19]

The countries of India are very numerous and powerful and their distance is about six months journey. Each country has a special name by which it is known, and our country in which the Christians are found is called Malabar. It has about twenty towns, out of which three are renowned and powerful Karangol [Kodungallūr], Pallur, and Kullam [Kollam], with others that are near them.

MacKenzie 1901, p. 11

Archdeacon Giwargis of Christ was selected as the suffragan and coadjutor of Mar Abraham in the diocesan synod of Angamaly. Following this, the Chaldean Catholic Patriarch Mar Abdisho IV Maron, by a patriarchal decree dated 25 August 1566, appointed Giwargis of Christ as the Bishop of Palur and suffragan to Archbishop Mar Abraham of the Indian ecclesiastical province. [20] [21]

In 1578 Mar Abraham wrote a letter to Pope Gregory XIII, requesting papal confirmation for the appointment of his archdeacon as the bishop of Palur and as his successor. The letter is dated 2 January 1578. [21] By the letter dated 3 January 1579, Pope Gregory XIII confirmed Giwargis of Christ as the administrator of the Archdiocese of Angamaly, in case of vacancy through the death of the Metropolitan Mar Abraham. On 4 March 1580, the pope confirmed his appointment as the Bishop of Palur and coadjutor of the Archbishop of Angamaly, Mar Abraham. [21]

On 5 March 1580, the pope wrote a letter to the entire clergy and people of the Archdiocese of Angamaly, urging them to obey Metropolitan Mar Abraham and Giwargis of Christ, the bishop of Palur. [21] [22]

We, then being solicitous for your salvation and the tranquillity of your Church, exhort and advise you and by virtue of the power committed to us by Christ, also order you not to suffer yourselves to be infected by that pest [the reference is to the activities of Metropolitan Shemon], but evade it by all means: flee from his words and sermons; fear him as the enemy and eradicator of the Catholic faith, your salvation and the glory of Christ: eject him out of your community and gathering, permit him not to dwell among you nor to remain in your places. The same you should do with the rest of the heretics and schismatics lest corrupted by their pestiferous doctrine and contagion you should perish. Be you therefore obedient to your lord Archbishop Abraham and also to George, bishop of Palur, and live steadfast in the sincerity of Faith, in the simplicity of morals and in the unity of the holy mother the Church. Thus you attain to that eternal felicity and glory, which God has prepared and reserved for those who would live piously and holy...

Giamil 1902, p. 608

Rerum Indicarum (volume III) by Pierre du Jarric gives part of a letter by James Fenicio, a Jesuit missionary in the Zamorin's territory. This letter is the earliest European account of the Palur Church; as quoted above it has no date, but evidently belongs to the period between 1600 and 1607. [23] [24] The missionary had obtained permission to erect four churches in the Zamorin's territory: [25]

I devoted all the remaining available time to the erection of these churches, and to the Christian inhabitants of this village [Palur]. I used to give them instructions as I chanced to meet them. As the church of Palur dedicated to Saint Cyriac [Quriaqus], which was the oldest (primus) among all the churches in Malabar, and renowned for favours and graces obtained, and for this reason much frequented, I devoted myself more especially to it. The stone church which I began two years ago [enclosing, apparently, within it the primitive building] had risen to the height of the windows. At this stage no one would dare to pull down the old wooden building, fearing to be struck down by sudden death: it stood surrounded by the walls of the new erection, but after I had prayed and removed their timidity, the old structure was pulled down, and the new building stood out in such fine proportions that the Hindus, the Mahomedans, and the Jews flocked to see it.

Jarric 1615, pp. 50–51

From the Jesuit annual letter of 1607, Domenico Ferroli quotes a note from Fenicio: [26]

"I cannot"-so he writes "easily describe the difficulties I encountered in going to Palur... When I arrived at Palur, the Zamorin invited me to dinner. I put on, on purpose. a sad and serious countenance, and said I had taken food already... I determined to preach in four parishes, as the Bishop of Angamale had begged of me, but I stopped longer at this Church of St. Quiricus, which is very old and famous for miracles... Two Kinglets, having in vain appealed to their idols, made vows in this Church with the object of getting an heir. God heard them. One determined to feed 500 or 1,000 of the faithful. The second called about 4,000. The first then, not wanting to be beaten in generosity, is preparing a larger invitation. Knowing that great crowds would be coming. I adorned the Church and arranged a grand procession, which was much admired and praised"...

Ferroli 1939, pp. 409–410

This is one of the Seven churches traditionally assigned to the time when Saint Thomas preached in Malabar. The wooden structure must undoubtedly have been very old, and constructed no doubt of teak which grew all over the country even in comparatively recent times: at that early age the supply must have been very plentiful. [24]

Antonio de Gouvea, a Portuguese missionary and chronicler of Dom Alexis de Menezes, records in his book "Jornada Dom Alexis de Menezes" about the church of Palur and other churches present nearby in the Kingdom of Zamorin:

On his way he was given letters from the Cassanars and Vicars whom from the Synod he had sent to the church of Pallur (Palayur), dedicated to the glorious Saint Cyriac Martyr, the last of this Christian community on the Northern side, in the lands of the king Samorin five leagues from Panane (Ponnani), a place well-known to the Portuguese and to our fleets, which meant to them a big disturbance with which the devil had deceived all those people, and the people of Anamaque (Enammavu) and Mutem (Mattam) and Chatacolangaree (Chattukulangara or Arthat Kunnamkulam), all in the lands of the king Samorin, and close to each other...

Malekandathil 2003, pp. 442–443

He explains how Menezes corresponded with them through letters to gain their support for his Synod of Diamper and latinisation programme. Gouvea also specifies that Palur church had a vicar and it was dedicated to St. Cyriac. He also states that Palur is the last of the Saint Thomas Christian communities in the North, in the kingdom of Zamorin. He further reports an incident in the Palur church when three of their leading men enacted a drama by playing the roles of Saint Thomas and Saint Peter, the Apostles, and Saint Cyriac, the patron saint of the church. Throughout the play, Saint Thomas and Saint Peter argue with each other as to whose law is superior and applies to all of them. The drama concluded with a message from Saint Cyriac, ruling that both the laws of Saint Peter and Saint Thomas are equal and thus the Saint Thomas Christians had no obligation whatsoever to Saint Peter, nor to his apostolic see in Rome, but to the apostolic see of Babylon, which was of Saint Thomas. Gouvea interprets this event as one induced by Devil and comments that their actions are 'iron-bound under the 'law of Saint Thomas'. [27]

In 1602, Francis Roz, the Bishop of Cranganore and the first Latin prelate of Saint Thomas Christians, made a pastoral visit to the church of Palur. [28]

In 1632, Saint Thomas Christians under the leadership of Archdeacon Givargis of the Cross met at Edapally Church on 25 December 1632 and drew a resolution against the Latin Jesuit Archbishop Stephen Britto. This document introduces them as Malankara Mar Thoma Nasranikal (Saint Thomas Christians of Malabar), and their geographical distribution is set between Kollam in south and Palur in north.

Joseph Maria Sebastiani, the Vicar Apostolic of Malabar appointed by the Pope, on his first journey to Malabar in 1657, visits Palur church and meets the Vicar. He calls Palur, "primo luogo della Christianita della Serra" the primary place of Christianity in Malabar. [29]

Palur Copper plates

Palur Copper Plates also known as Palayur Chempu Pattayam or Palayur Cheppēd is a set of four copper plates that were discovered from the Palayur Church. These have inscriptions in old Malayalam and Tamil Vattezhuthu script, and gives accounts of several the monetary and land deals of the church. The four plates are dated from 1606 ( Kumbham 781 Malayalam Era), 1677 ( Chingam 852 M. E.), 1681 ( Mithunam 856 M. E.) and 1743 ( Meenam , 918 M. E.) respectively. These plates were discovered in the 1920s by Henri Hosten, a Belgian Jesuit priest. The 4th plate, dated 1743, was the first to be deciphered and was published in the Travancore Archaeological Series in 1921. [30] [31] Following this, the second plate (dated 1677) and the third plate (dated 1681) were also published in the Travancore Archaeological Series in 1927 by A. S. Ramanatha Ayyar. [32]

The plates provide details such as the names of the vicars of Palayur, namely Itty in 1606 and Chakko in 1677 and 1681. According to the first plate, the place name is Palur (in 1606) and in the second and third plates the place name evolves to Palaiyur (in 1677 and 1681) and finally in the fourth to Palayur (in 1743). The name of the patron saint of the church is mentioned as Maquriaka (in 1677) and Maquri (in 1681), both being Malayalam renderings of the Syriac name Mar Quriakose. [32] These four plates are preserved at the Palayur Church Museum.

Structure

Old photograph Palayur Church old picture.jpg
Old photograph

Following the migration of the Hindu Brahmins from Palayur, the Church was built incorporating the old Hindu temple, which was deserted. The church, as built, was thus a fusion of Hindu architectural style in respect of ornamentation with a Persian church plan. The roof of the church rises like a tower above the nave. The approach or entrance is like a Hindu style mandapa–in Indian architecture a pillared outdoor hall or pavilion for public rituals. [33]

Giacomo Fenicio, an Italian missionary, built the new church around the small old teak wood church, after getting due permission from the locals who were not only superstitious but also sentimental about retaining the old Church. However, after the church was fully completed and after the priest had delivered a proper sermon, the local people agreed to demolish the old wooden structure, which resulted in the Church looking elegant. The original altar thought consecrated by Thomas is still retained. But during Tipu Sultan's invasion of Kerala in the 18th century, the church was destroyed by fire. [34] Thereafter it was re-built. [14]

Festival

An annual two-day festival held at the church bears a striking similarity to the Hindu festival held at Trichhur, a district town 28 kilometres (17 mi) away from the church on the same days, with lot of fanfare of pageants, orchestrations, and pyrotechnics. [35] During the Lenten season, the popular festival celebrated is called the 'Palayur Mahatheerthadanam' or Great Pilgrimage, conducted under the auspices of the archdiocese, when thousands of devotees, without caste distinction, participate in the festival. [14] [36]

Visitor information

The Palayoor church is well connected by a road, rail and air services network. Palayoor is at a distance of 28 kilometres (17 mi) from Thrissur on the State Highway. It is on the Thrissur- Chavakad route, via Pavaratty. By train, it is on the Thrissur-Guruvayur broad gauge line, at a distance of 24 kilometres (15 mi). From Guruvayur, the Hindu temple town, the church is 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) by road. Nedumbasserry International Airport is only 80 kilometres (50 mi) from Palayoor. [37]

Important places to visit near the church precincts are: the Boat Jetty (Bottukulam) where St Thomas landed at Palayoor; the Thaliyakulam, the pond where St Thomas baptized the local people; the replica of Chinna Malai (small hill of Mylapore-Chennai) where St. Thomas attained martyrdom in 72 AD; 14 scenes from the life of St Thomas sculpted in granite; the Jubilee Door in front of the entrance of the main hall of the church (depicts various important Biblical events, carved in Burmese teak); and the historical museum where many objects of archaeological, historical and artistic value are displayed (includes the vessels and articles used by St. Thomas during his stay here). [8] [14]

Bibliography

Notes
  1. Logan, William (1887). "Ponnani Taluk". Malabar Manual . II: ccccxi.
  2. Menon (1962), p. 72, 100, 611.
  3. Sheshadri, Veena (2013). India: A to Z. Penguin UK. ISBN   9789351184263.
  4. Limca Book of Records: India at Her Best. Hachette UK. 2018. ISBN   9789351952404.
  5. William, Logan (1887). "The People: Religion: Christianity". Malabar Manual . I: 199.
  6. Whitehouse (1873).
  7. Velu Pillai, T. K. (1940). Travancore State Manual. Govt. of Travancore, Travancore. p. 664.
  8. 1 2 Menon 1962 , pp. 100, 72
  9. "About Syro-Malabar Church". Archived from the original on 12 May 2008. Retrieved 29 September 2009.
  10. "The Syro-Malabar Church". Syro Malabar website. Retrieved 29 September 2009.
  11. Cheriyan pp. 38, 40
  12. Varghese 2006 , pp. 254, 470–471
  13. Traveller in India, Volumes 8-9. Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. 1964. p. 44.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 George Menachery. "Palayoor Church of St. Thomas Thrissur Kerala India" . Retrieved 29 September 2009.
  15. Ninan, M. M. (11 September 2018). The Acts of the Apostle Thomas. Lulu.com. pp. 76–80. ISBN   9780359081882.
  16. Evans, F.B. (1933). Madras District Gazetteers Malabar. Vol. 1. p. 478.
  17. Menon 1962 , pp. 72, 100, 101
  18. Mingana, Alphonse (1926). The Early Spread of Christianity in India. University Press. p. 471. ISBN   9781617195907.
  19. MacKenzie, Gordon Thomson (1901). Christianity in Travancore. Travancore Government Press. p. 11. ISBN   9781230341651.
  20. Pallath, Paul (2018). The Provincial Councils Of Goa. Vadavathoor: Oriental Institute of Religious India. pp. 76–77. ISBN   9788188456222.
  21. 1 2 3 4 Pallath, Paul (2017). Rome and Chaldean Patriarchate in Conflict: Schism of Bishop Rokos in India. Vadavathoor: HIRS Publications. pp. 55–57. ISBN   9788187576907.
  22. Giamil, Samuel (1902). "Genuinae Relationes inter Sedem Apostolicam et Assyriorum Orientalium et Chaldaeorum Ecclesiam". Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society (in Latin). 35 (1). Rome: Ermanno Loescher: 608. doi:10.1017/S0035869X00030112. ISBN   9780837078656. OCLC   689175631.
  23. Jarric, Pierre du (1615). Thesaurus rerum Indicarum. Sumptibus Petri Henningii. pp. 50–51. ISBN   9781166491291.
  24. 1 2 Medlycott, Adolphus E. (1905). India and the Apostle Thomas: An Inquiry, with a Critical Analysis of the Acta Thomae. p. 30 note. ISBN   9781463208530.
  25. Menachery, George. "Indianchristianity".
  26. Ferroli, D. (1939). Jesuits in Malabar. Vol. I. pp. 409–410.
  27. Malekandathil, Pius, ed. (2003). Jornada of Dom Alexis de Menezes: A Portuguese Account of the Sixteenth Century Malabar. Kochi: L. R. C. Publications. pp. 442–446. ISBN   9788188979004.
  28. Thekkedath, Joseph (2001). From the Middle of the Sixteenth to the End of the Seventeenth Century (1542-1700). Church History Association of India. p. 76.
  29. Sebastiani, Joseph M. (1666). Prima Speditione All'Indie Orientali (in Italian). Rome: nella stamperia di Filippo Maria Mancini. p. 88. Alt URL
  30. Aiyar, K. V. Subrahmanya (1921). "Palaiyur Plate of Kollam 918". Travancore Archaeological Series. III: Part 1: 211–214.
  31. Hosten, Henri (1936). Antiquities from San Thomé and Mylapore.
  32. 1 2 Ayyar, A. S. Ramanatha (1927). "Two Copper Plate Records from Palaiyur". Travancore Archaeological Series. IV Part I: 84–91.
  33. Church History Association of India (1969), p. 93.
  34. Wenger, Estefania (2017). Tipu Sultan: A Biography. Vij Books India. ISBN   9789386367440.
  35. "Palayur Church festival at St. Thomas Church, Palayur, Thrissur, Kerala". Kerala Tourism. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  36. "Palayur St. Thomas Church, Monsoon festival". www.keralatourism.org. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  37. Church History Association of India (1969).
References

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saint Thomas Christians</span> Indian ethnoreligious group

The Saint Thomas Christians, also called Syrian Christians of India, Marthoma Suriyani Nasrani, Malankara Nasrani, or Nasrani Mappila, are an ethno-religious, Indo-Aryan community of Indian Christians in the state of Kerala, who, for the most part, employ the Eastern and Western liturgical rites of Syriac Christianity. They trace their origins to the evangelistic activity of Thomas the Apostle in the 1st century. The Saint Thomas Christians had been historically a part of the hierarchy of the Church of the East but are now divided into several different Eastern Catholic, Oriental Orthodox, Protestant, and independent bodies, each with their own liturgies and traditions. They are Keralites and their mother tongue is Malayalam. Nasrani or Nazarene is a Syriac term for Christians, who were among the first converts to Christianity in the Near East.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Syro-Malabar Church</span> Eastern Catholic church

The Syro-Malabar Church, also known as the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, is an Eastern Catholic church based in Kerala, India. It is a sui iuris (autonomous) particular church in full communion with the Holy See and the worldwide Catholic Church, with self-governance under the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches (CCEO). The major archbishop presides over the entire church. The incumbent Major Archbishop is Raphael Thattil, serving since January 2024. It is the largest Syriac Christian church and the largest Eastern Catholic church. Syro-Malabar is a prefix reflecting the church's use of the East Syriac liturgy and origins in Malabar. The name has been in usage in official Vatican documents since the nineteenth century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coonan Cross Oath</span> 1653 oath by members of the Saint Thomas Christians

The Coonan Cross Oath, also known as the Great Oath of Bent Cross or Leaning Cross Oath, was taken on 3 January 1653, in Mattancherry, by a significant portion of the Saint Thomas Christian community in the Malabar region of India. This public declaration marked their refusal to submit to the authority of the Jesuits and the Latin Catholic hierarchy, as well as their rejection of Portuguese dominance in both ecclesiastical and secular matters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Syro-Malabar Catholic Major Archeparchy of Ernakulam–Angamaly</span> Eastern Catholic archeparchy in Kerala, India

The Archeparchy of Ernakulam–Angamaly is the major archeparchy and the see of the Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church. It has been the major archeparchy since 1992 when the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church was elevated to the status of a major archiepiscopal church with Ernakulam-Angamaly as the primatal see. The major archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly is the main bishop of the jurisdiction, at the same time the head of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church. The eparchies of Kothamangalam and Idukki are the two suffragan eparchies of the major archeparchy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palayur</span> Town in Kerala, India

Palayūr, also called Palayoor and historically as Palur, is a town near Chavakkad, Thrissur district, India. It is famous for its ancient church, Palayur Mar Thoma Church, which is believed to be one of the seven major churches founded by Saint Thomas the Apostle in Malabar in 52 AD. It is the assumed to be first Christian Church in India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thrissur district</span> District in Kerala, India

Thrissur, anglicised as Trichur, is one of the 14 districts in the Indian state of Kerala. It is situated in the central region of the state. Spanning an area of about 3,032 km2 (1,171 sq mi), the district is home to over 9% of Kerala's population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Syrian churches of Kerala</span> Church buildings in India

This article lists the various old and ancient churches that exist among the Saint Thomas Christians in Kerala.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timeline of the Syro-Malabar Church</span>

This is a timeline of the history of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church in India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mar Sabor and Mar Proth</span> 9th Century Bishops of Church of the East

Mar Sabor and Mar Proth, according to Syrian Christians of Kerala, were two Church of the East Bishops believed to have arrived in 825 AD alongside a group of Christian settlers led by a merchant from Persia. Together, they established ecclesiastical institutions in several regions. Revered for their devoutness, they were posthumously recognized as saints by the local ecclesiastical body. The mission is said to have received permission from the then king of Kerala to build a church in Kollam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palliveettil Chandy</span> 17th century Saint Thomas Christian bishop

Parambil Chandy was an Indian Catholic prelate who served as Archbishop of Cranganore from 1663 to 1687. He was the first known native Indian bishop.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Thomas Cathedral, Irinjalakuda</span> Cathedral in Kerala, India

St. Thomas Cathedral is the Syro Malabar Catholic cathedral of the eparchy of Irinjalakuda in India. It presently exists under the nomenclature and the Canonical Status as Cathedral in the Wake of the Origin of the New Eparchy, effected by the amalgamation of the two independent and important parishes of the locality, namely, St. George’s Forane Church and St. Mary’s church, which were amicably situated side by side for about a century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saint Thomas Christian denominations</span> Christians from Kerala, India

The Saint Thomas Christian denominations are Christian denominations from Kerala, India, which traditionally trace their ultimate origins to the evangelistic activity of Thomas the Apostle in the 1st century. They are also known as "Nasranis" as well. The Syriac term "Nasrani" is still used by St. Thomas Christians in Kerala. It is part of the Eastern Christianity institution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Giwargis of Christ</span> 16th century Saint Thomas Christian Archdeacon

Giwargis of Christ, also spelled Geevarghese of Christ and George of Christ, was an Archdeacon (Arkkadyakon) and hence the leader of the Saint Thomas Christian community of India. He was a biblical expert and a master of Syriac language and literature. He was considered a holy person but extremely efficient in administration. He was contemporary to Archbishop Mar Abraham of Angamaly. He is credited with the new construction of Marth Maryam Church Angamaly

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mar Hormizd Syro-Malabar Cathedral, Angamaly</span> Church in Kerala, India

Mar Hormizd Cathedral, locally known as the Eastern Church of Angamaly or the Cathedral Church, is a Syro-Malabar church in Angamaly, India. It was created cathedral in 1577 by Mar Abraham, the last East Syriac Metropolitan to reach Malabar Coast. It is one of the oldest and is historically the most important of the three ancient Syrian churches in Angamaly. It is dedicated to Mar Hormizd, a seventh-century East Syriac saint.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kottakkavu Mar Thoma Syro-Malabar Church, North Paravur</span> Church in North Paravur, India

Kottakkavu Mar Thoma Syro-Malabar Pilgrim Church is a Syro-Malabar church located in North Paravur. According to Saint Thomas Christian tradition, the church was established in 52 AD by St. Thomas, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ. It is one of the first churches in India and is called an Apostolic Church credited to the Apostolate of St. Thomas who preached and also started conversion of people to Syriac Christianity here. It is one of the Ezharappallikal that he established in India; the other six churches were established at Kodungalloor, Kokkamangalam, Palayoor, Kollam, Niranam, and Nilackal.

Ēḻarappaḷḷikaḷ or Ezharappallikal, are the seven major churches or Christian communities of Saint Thomas Christians across Malabar Coast of India that are believed to have been founded by Thomas the Apostle in the first century. According to Indian Christian traditions, the apostle Thomas arrived in Muziris (Kodungallur) in AD 52, established the Ezharappallikal and evangelised in present-day Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Many of these churches built near Jewish and Brahmin settlements. These were at Maliankara (Kodungallur), Kollam, Palayoor, Kottakkayal, Kokkamangalam, Niranam and Nilackal (Chayal). Thiruvithamcode church in Kanyakumari was built on the land given by arachan (king) and hence it is often referred in the name Arappally. Similarly, the Churches at Malayattoor and Aruvithura are also referred to as Arappallikal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Mary's Jacobite Soonoro Cathedral, Angamaly</span> Church in Kerala, India

St. Mary's Jacobite Syrian Soonoro Cathedral, or Angamaly Cheriyapally, is an ancient Jacobite Syrian church located in Angamaly. Founded in 1564 by Archdeacon Giwargis of Christ, it is one of the most prominent and ancient Syriac Orthodox churches in Kerala. In the seventeenth century it was the residence of Archdeacon Thomas Parambil, who eventually got consecrated as bishop Mar Thoma I following the Coonan Cross Oath in 1653. It was initially the seat of the Archdeacon and later the Marthoma methrans, the local heads of the Malankara Church and hence held an important position in the church for several centuries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Mary's Orthodox Cathedral, Arthat</span> Building in India

Arthat St Mary's Orthodox Cathedral also called Kunnamkulam-Chattukulangara Church is an ancient church located in Arthat village of Thalapilly Taluk, one mile south of Kunnamkulam town, Thrissur, Kerala, India.This is the first Christian church of India established by St Thomas in AD 52.This church did not participate in the Synod of Diamper. During the invasion of Tippu Sultan the church was arsoned and later reconstructed.

Palayur Mahadeva Temple was a legendary temple located in Palayoor near Chavakkad in the Thrissur district in ancient Kerala. This Shiva temple was later converted into a Christian church with the arrival of St. Thomas in Malabar, Kerala. Palayoor Mahadeva (Siva) Temple does not exist today. The temple is believed to be constructed by the first Chera king of Kodungallur. This temple is one among the 108 Shiva temples established by Parasurama. The legends suggest that the installation of the idol of god Mahadeva (Shiva) was performed by Parasurama himself.