St. Mary's Cathedral, Kothamangalam

St.Mary's Cathedral Kothamangalam
St.Mary's Syrian Cathedral. Kothamangalam
St.Mary's Cathedral Kothamangalam Show map of Kerala St.Mary's Cathedral Kothamangalam Show map of India
10°03′45″N 76°37′44″E / 10.0625°N 76.629°E / 10.0625; 76.629Coordinates: 10°03′45″N 76°37′44″E / 10.0625°N 76.629°E / 10.0625; 76.629
Location	Kothamangalam, Ernakulam, India
Denomination	Jacobite Syrian Church
Website	http://www.cheriapally.org
Architecture
Status	Valiyapally
Style	Kerala Architecture
Completed	1455
Administration
Province	Kerala
District	Ernakulam

St.Mary's Church or Marth Maryam Cathedral is a Valiyapally (Principal church) situated in Kothamangalam town of India. It is located in Ernakulam district of Kerala state, India.

It's one of the most ancient Christian churches in India. It is believed that the church was founded on or before 4th century by a few Syrian Christian families who migrated from Paravur and Angamali. The new church established in AD 1340 by four Syrian Christian merchants who bought the entire land of Kothamangalam from a local chief for commodity trading with the nearby state of Tamil Nadu.

History

Historically kothamangalam is the major commercial city in Portuguese Period.The Marth Maryam church at Kothamangalam, commonly known as Valiyapally is the oldest of all the churches in the region. It is also believed that one of the seven and a half churches founded by St Thomas is @ Gokkamangalam=> Kokkamangalam=> Kotamanagalam=>Kothamangalam. It should be mentioned that no other ancient churches in Kerala bring forward any claim for the ancient Gokkamangalam church established by St. Thomas. According to tradition, Mar Yuhannon who represented the Malankara Church at the Holy Synod of Ephesus in AD 431 stayed at Kothamangalam church and had visited Angamaly Church.^[1]

Altars

The altars in the Martha Maryam church are dedicated to the Mother of God, Saint George, Saint John the Baptist, Apostles Saint Peter & Saint Paul and Saint Thomas

Feasts

The most important festivals of the church are celebrated on 10 February and 15 August.

Holy Soonoro

A small portion of the Holy Girdle of Saint Mary, rediscovered at the Syrian Orthodox Church at Homs in 1953 by Patriarch of Antioch Ignatius Aphrem I Barsoum, was established in this church In 1980 by the diocesan Metropolitan Thomas Mor Dionysius (The present Catholicos of Malankara) ^[2]

Historical Events

All the five Patriarchs of Antioch who had visited Malankara in the last two centuries came to this church as well. Last of these Patriarchal visits was that of His Holiness Ignatius Zakka I Iwas in 1982. It was during this historical visit the Holy Patriarch had ordained an assistant metropolitan for the diocese by name Mor Severios Abraham, at the Kothamangalam Cheriapally.
As per the biography of Saint Gregorios of Malankara written by Mookencheril Paily Varkey in 1903, Palakunnath Mathews Mar Athanasius ordained the saintly Gregorios Thirumeni as Korooyo in this church in 1858.^[3]
From 1974 to 1997, the building adjacent to the Valiyapally was the bishop's residence of the diocesan Metropolitan.

Gallery

Kothamanagalam Valiyapally altar
Baptismal font @ Valiyapally Kothamangalam

External links

Christianity in Kerala
Denominations	Assemblies of God in India Chaldean Syrian Church Church of God (Full Gospel) in India Church of South India Indian Pentecostal Church Malankara Jacobite Syrian Church Kerala Brethren Latin Catholic Church Malabar Independent Syrian Church Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Salvation Army St. Thomas Evangelical Church of India Syro-Malabar Catholic Church Syro-Malankara Catholic Church The Pentecostal Mission
Religious organisations	Christian Association for Social Action Divine Retreat Centre, Muringoor Jerusalem Retreat Center Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council Parumala Seminary Potta Ashram Thrikkunnathu Seminary
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Churches of Kerala
Kasargod	Bela Church
Kannur	Pallikunnu Church St. Mary's Syro-Malabar Forane Church Edoor
Wayanad	St. George Syro-Malabar Forane Church Kallody, Wayanad St. Mary's Church Meenangadi
Kozhikode	St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Maikavu St George's Syro-Malabar Forane Church, Kulathuvayal Vattal Kurishu Palli
Malappuram	Little Flower Syro-Malabar Catholic Forane Church, Nilambur St. George Orthodox Church, Chungathara St. Gregorios Orthodox Church, Velamcode
Palakkad	St. Raphael's Syro-Malabar Catholic Cathedral
Thrissur	Fathima Matha Syro-Malabar Chapel, Kandeswaram Holy Cross Shrine Mapranam Mart Mariam Cathedral Marth Mariyam Church Mary Matha Syro-Malabar Church, Ollur Our Lady of Dolours Syro-Malabar Catholic Basilica Our Lady of Lourdes Syro-Malabar Catholic Metropolitan Cathedral Our Lady of Perpetual Help Syro-Malabar Church, West Chalakudy Pazhanji Church Pazhuvil Church St Mary's Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Cheloor St. Antony's Forane Church St. Joseph Chapel, Americankettu North West St. Mary's Syro-Malabar Forane Church, Chalakudy St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Cathedral, Irinjalakuda St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Palayoor
Ernakulam	Marthoma Cheriapally Kothamangalam St.Mary's Cathedral Kothamangalam Church of Our Lady of Hope CSI Immanuel Church, Ernakulam Don Bosco Church : North Paravur, Kerala, India Holy Magi Syro-Malabar Catholic Forane Church, Muvattupuzha Kadamattom Church Karingachira Church Kolenchery Pally Kottakkavu Mar Thoma Syro-Malabar Pilgrim Church, North Paravur Little Flower Syro-Malabar Church, Kaprassery Mar Hormiz Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Angamaly Marth Mariam Syro-Malabar Catholic Forane Church, Arakuzha Marthoma Cheria Pally Kothamangalam Nadamel St Mary's Church Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church, Manjummel Santa Cruz Basilica St George church St Louis Church, Mundamveli St Thoma's Church, Thuruthur (Diocese of Kottapuram) St. Andrew's Basilica, Arthunkal St. Antony's Syro-Malabar Church, Kodanad St. Francis Church, Kochi St. George Syro-Malabar Catholic Basilica, Angamaly St. George Syro-Malabar Catholic Forane Church, Edappally St. George Syro-Malabar Church Thalayolaparambu St. John The Baptist Jacobite Syrian Church, South Parur St. Jude Church, Kidangoor St. Mary's Simhasana Church, Veliyanad St. Sebastian's Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Udayamperoor St. Thomas More Syro-Malabar Church, Alakode (Meenmutty) St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Kokkamangalam St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Malayattoor St.Philomena's Forane Church, Koonammavu St.Thomas Dayara, Vettikkal Vallarpadam Church
Idukki	Pattumala Matha Church St. Mary's Syro-Malabar Forane Church, Karimannoor St Sebastian's Syro-Malabar Church, Neyyassery
Kottayam	Aruvithura St. George's Syro-Malabar Catholic Forane Church Holy Family Syro-Malabar Church, Mannila Immaculate Heart of Mary Cathedral Kottayam Cheriapally Manarcad Church Mar Aphrem Church St Antony's Syro-Malabar Forane Church, Kurumpanadam St Mary's Syro-Malabar Catholic Metropolitan Cathedral St. George Orthodox Church Puthuppally Pally St. George's Orthodox Church, Puduppadi St Thomas Church Arunoottimangalam St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Cathedral, Pala Vettikkunnel church
Alappuzha	Kattachira Church Marthoma Church, Cheppad Pazhaya Suriyani Pally St. Bursouma's Orthodox Church St. George Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church, Cheppaud St. George Orthodox Church, Cheppad St. Mary's Orthodox Cathedral, Puthencavu St. Mary's Syro-Malabar Catholic Forane Church, Champakulam St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church, Pallipad
Pathanamthitta	Manjanikkara Dayara Arohana Marthoma Church, Anicadu Bethel Marthoma Church Holy Innocents' Orthodox Church Kadammanittapally Kadampanad Church Kadampanad Church Kallooppara St. Mary's Orthodox Church Kannamcode Cathedral Mar Thoma Sleeha Syro-Malabar Church, Thulappally Nilackal St.Thomas Church Niranam Church Sacred Heart Malankara Catholic Church, Mylapra Saint Paul's Orthodox Church St Mary's Orthodox Church, Kallooppara St. George Orthodox Church, Chandanapally St. George Orthodox Church, Mylapra St. John's Cathedral, Tiruvalla St. Thomas Marthoma Church
Kollam	Dutch Church, Munroe Island Infant Jesus Cathedral Mount Tabor Dayara St Andrew's Church, Kovilthottam St Antony's Church, Kanjiracode St Elijah Orthodox Syrian Church St George Orthodox Church, Chathannoor St. Mary's Cathedral, Punalur St.Mary's Cathedral Kundara
Thiruvananthapuram	All Saints Syro Malabar Church Mateer Memorial Church Pentecostal Maranatha Gospel Church St. Joseph's Cathedral, Trivandrum St. Mary, Queen of Peace Basilica St. Mary's Cathedral, Pattom, Trivandrum St. Theresa of Lisieux Catholic Church, Vellayambalam St. Xavier's Church, Peyad
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References

↑ John Mason Neale, A history of the Holy Eastern Church : the Patriarchate of Antioch, (First published 1873. Republisher: Facsimile Publisher, 2015), p.6, ff.3..
↑ http://www.socmnet.org/Holy_Girdle.htm
↑ http://www.syriacchristianity.info/StGG/BreifhistoryMorGregorious.htm

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