A pictorial blog about the historic monuments and religious artefacts of St. Thomas Syrian Christians (Mar Thoma Suriyani Nasranis) of Kerala-the oldest Christian community of India. All the known pre-Portuguese churches in Kerala, particularly the ones existed in the time of the Synod of Diamper (1599), and the churches established in the 17th and 18th centuries will be explored, with a special focus on their indigenous and foreign architectural elements. Since traditionally, St. Thomas was martyred at the suburbs of Chennai in Tamil Nadu, the concerned sites would also be included. Altogether, a total of 234 churches will be covered in this blog. For a complete list of the churches and their locations in map, scroll down to the end of the blog. Most of the photographs were taken between the periods of 2015 to 2018, and any changes in the structure or the appearance of the monuments after this period are generally not accounted for.

Sunday, October 17, 2021

4) OPEN-AIR GRANITE CROSS OF NORTH PARAVUR, ST. THOMAS JACOBITE SYRIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH.

The open-air granite cross of North Paravur Jacobite church is traditionally dated from the pre- Diamper period (i.e. before 1599). Scholars like Jose Pereira (2000, p. 369) even considers Paravur cross as the oldest monumental cross in Kerala. This is mainly based on a stone inscription displayed near the western main entrance of the church. However, it is highly unlikely that the current structure is from the 16th century, at the most it may have retained some elements from the original structure.

The Vattezhuthu Inscription of the Cross (1566)
The 17-lined Malayalam Vattezhuthu inscription is about the installation of a cross in 1566 under the guidance of a Bishop named Joseph. Translations in modern Malayalam and English are also provided along with the original inscription in the western wall of the church. A Tamil transliterated version of the full inscription is given by A. S. Ramanatha Ayyar in Travancore Archaeological Series (1931, Vol. VII, Part-2, pp. 144-145). I am giving an English transliteration of Ayyar's Tamil text here:
1) Maran Echo Michi-
2) ha Pirannittu 1-
3) 566 Kalam Vr-
4) ricchika Njayar 16-
5) nu Pattamane Para-
6) vuru Marth Thomma Pa-
7) lli Veppan Mar You-
8) vseppu Methran-
9) um Mattum Pala Thesathu-
10) lla Pattakkarerum
11) Inangarum Koo-
12) ti Kurichu Natti-
13) Sammathichu Kuruva-
14) nayum Cheythu Annu
15) Thanne Kollam 7- 
16) 42-amathu Vricchika Nja-
17) yar 16- nu + வ

Ayyar's English translation of the text is as follows (p. 145): "On the 16th day of the month of Vrischika in the year 1566 of the birth of the Messiah, Mar Joseph Metran (Youvseppu Metran), the priests (Pattakarar) of many other places and the members of the congregation (Inannar/Inangar), having assembled for the purpose of building the Mar Thommapalli (St. Thomas Church) at Pattamanai-Paravur (North Paravur), erected the (stone) cross and conducted mass on the 16th day of the month of Vrischika in the Kollam year 742." The inscription ends with a “+” sign followed by a character which Ayyar reads as a symbol like the Tamil letter “வ”. See also the image of the inscription published in Travancore Archaeological Series in 1931 for a better resolved last line, which is otherwise poorly legible now. Similarly, for a complete Malayalam translation of the inscription, refer Yohannan (1919, p. 53). 

Mar Youvseppu Methran (Mar Joseph Metropolitan) mentioned here is Mar Joseph Sulaqa, the brother of John Sulaqa (1552-1555), the first Chaldean Catholic Patriarch of the Church of East. Mar Joseph was sent by Abdisho IV (1555-1567), the successor of John Sulaqa to Malabar as a Chaldaean bishop. He was active in Malabar from 1558 to 1562, and 1564 to 1567, before being deported by the Portuguese for a second time and he died in Rome in 1569 (for more about Mar Joseph, see Varghese, 2013, pp. 226-231 and Perczel, 2018, p. 79)

The inscription could be dated at the earliest to 1566, if we take the year mentioned in the tablet as the date of its engraving. However, there could be a possibility that the inscription was engraved later, and it is certain that it has been retouched for a better reading. On comparison with the 1624 tombstone of Bishop Francis Roz, displayed in the neighbouring St. Thomas Catholic Church, which is also written in Malayalam Vattezhuthu, the Jacobite inscription has a better craftsmanship and legibility, although the latter was supposedly engraved six decades earlier.

Western Wall of the Church and Main Entrance1-Vattezhuthu Inscription; 2-Malayalam Translation; 3-English Translation

The Malayalam Vattezhuthu Inscription 

English and Malayalam Translations of the Inscription

Structure of the Cross:
Fr. Henry Hosten visited North Paravur in 11 February 1924 and has given us a brief description of the cross (Tanima, 2010, p. 53). He finds an open-air double super-imposed T-shaped cross with an octagonal pedestal and observes three knots in the cross to indicate the place of the nails, therefore a single nail for the feet. Unlike the crosses we discussed so far, the Paravur cross has a plain structure, but with two cross-beams giving a double-T shape appearance. We will see more such crosses in future uploads.

The current massive concrete pedestal with railings and steps are relatively modern constructions. The modern pedestal has two semi-arched niches enshrining two crosses, each accessed through three side steps from the east and west directions. The western niche has a long narrow Latin cross with a pedestal, whereas the eastern cross is short and thick without a pedestal. The west niche is part of the concrete pedestal, but the opposite  niche (east) has granite elements, and it is tempting to speculate that they are perhaps part of  an older structure. If you observe the cross carefully from the east, the three knots reported by Hosten can still be seen. A fourth knot is present at the intersection point where the vertical shaft and the long horizontal beam of the cross meet. Similarly, on the east side of the upper short horizontal beam of the cross four characters are engraved, and if they represent the Latin letters of I.N.R.I., a post-Diamper influence is certain. I believe this is a Syriac acronym for I.N.R.I., but written from bottom to top of the cross bar and placed horizontally on the apex. The four letters thus engraved from left to right must be Yod, Nun, Mem and Yod, which would be a Syriac acronym for "Jesus of Nazareth King of Jews". For more details see the photographs below. On the contrary, the west side of the cross is plain without any knots or inscriptions.

West Side View of the Cross

East Side of the Cross with Knots and Inscription1-Inscription (Syriac?) on the Upper Small Cross-Beam; 2-Knots on the Long Cross-Beam; 3-Knot on the Vertical Pole

Enlarged View of the Syriac Inscription-Translation and Transliteration of the ScriptThe cross bar is shown vertically for a better understanding of the inscription and it should be read from bottom to top.

The Blank West Side of the Cross

The Eastern Niche on the Pedestal

The Western Niche on the Pedestal


References
Ayyar, A. S. Ramanatha (1931)-Travancore Archaeological Series, Volume VII, Part-II

Hosten, Henry (1924)-In Documentation: Kerala Churches-Kothamangalam, Kadamattam, Udayamperur (Diamper), Kandanad, Parur (Kottakavu) (Hosten Ms: 58-73), Tanima: A Review of St. Thomas Academy for Research  (2010), Volume XVIII, No. 1 

Perczel, Istvan (2018)-Some Early Documents about the Interactions of the Saint Thomas Christians and the European Missionaries; In Malabar in the Indian Ocean: Cosmopolitanism in a Maritime Historical Region, ed. Mahmood Kooria and Michael Naylor Pearson.

Pereira, Jose (2000)-Baroque India-The Neo-Roman Religious Architecture of South Asia: a Global Stylistic Survey

Varghese, Baby (2013)-Syrian Missions to the Malabar Coast in the Sixteenth Century; In From the Oxus River to the Chinese Shores-Studies on East, ed. Li Tang and Dietmar W. Winkler.

Yohannan, P. J. (1919)-Marthomman Palli Charithram

at

5 comments:

  1. George LinoOctober 17, 2021 at 10:51 AM

    The Paravur church inscription mentions about erecting a cross but doesn’t specifically mentions it to be a granite cross. Most probably, the cross erected was just a temporary wooden cross to bless the ground for starting the construction of the new church. The granite cross might have been erected much later.

    The concrete pedestal is of typical Portugese style as seen in almost all old Latin churches in Kerala. There is no chance that a full granite pedestal structure is inside the concrete pedestal, probably the granite crosses inside the niches are two separate constructions.

    The inscription in the upper beam is the short form of INRI in Syriac. Same letters can be seen in the upper beam of the granite cross at Kottayam Valiyapally church. Writing INRI on the cross is just another custom introduced by the Portugese. The cross is almost certainly not pre-Diamper and of much later vintage.

    ReplyDelete
  2. George LinoOctober 17, 2021 at 11:27 AM

    The four knots in the cross might be representing the position of wounds suffered by Jesus in the cross ( arms, feet and chest) or it might be denoting the four nails used in crucifixion (Use of four nails is as per Roman catholic belief). In any case, St. Thomas Christians always used an empty cross signifying a resurrected Christ. If the knots indeed represents the nails, they in turn represents a crucified Jesus. Images of the crucified Jesus are again introduced by the Portugese. Use of knots for representing nails (if that is the case) is thus clear Portugese influence.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dr. Laju Paul K.October 17, 2021 at 8:26 PM

      The traditionally held belief is that the cross is from 1566, however, it is almost certain that the cross is from a later period. There is no dispute that the concrete pedestal is a typical post-Diamper construction, but inside the niches are granite foundations over which the small crosses are erected (see especially the eastern niche), and if there is anything retained from the old cross it must be from the pedestal (not necessarily the full pedestal). Usually, the pedestals remain stable and lasts longer when compared to the crosses. The stress here is on the granite foundation and not the small crosses. Is it common to have both granite and concrete elements on the same structure from the same period? Why would someone retain granite foundations in an impressive concrete structure? Anyway, these are all speculations which need further studies.

      It is certain that the knotted cross Hosten saw in 1924 has remained the same, but the octagonal pedestal has definitely undergone later alterations. There is definitely Portuguese influence in the structure of the cross as evident from the knots and the inscription on the top. Even if the cross or pedestal has some elements from pre-Diamper era, the Portuguese could still have their influence as they were certainly active in Malabar from the mid-16th century.

      The inscription on the horizontal beam of Paravur cross could be the abbreviation INRI, but it doesn't appear in Syriac. The Syriac letters (arranged in two lines) signifying INRI in the Kottayam Valiapally cross show no resemblance of any kind with this inscription. Another possibility is that the letters denote a year.

      The knots representing the Holy Wounds is promising, but traditionally there should be five and not four wounds. The four nails also make sense, but why three nails on cross-beam instead of two? In any case, as you also pointed out, images on crosses is a strong indication for the Portuguese influence.

      Delete
    2. Dr. Laju Paul K.October 17, 2021 at 11:20 PM

      The only way I can think of the inscriptions on the top of the cross as Syriac is if we assume that the letters were inscribed from bottom to top and the beam and was placed horizontally! The letters then should read from bottom to top as yodh, nun, meem and yodh, an abbreviation for "Isho Nasraya Malca Ihoodaya" (Jesus of Nazareth King of Jews).

      Delete
  3. George LinoOctober 18, 2021 at 4:43 AM

    I am more in agreement with your view that only the granite foundation may exist from the 1566 cross. However, even the granite foundation looks like they were specifically constructed to place inside the niches for placing lamps. Stylistically too, the granite foundation looks very different from that of other granite pedestals for being too plain and lacking ornamentation.

    Yes, the positioning and placement of the letters in the Paravur cross is different from the Kottayam Valiya pally cross, but the letters can be read as INRI in Syriac by looking at a different angle. I tend to dismiss the positioning of the letters as the engraver’s / calligrapher’s ignorance or liberty.

    As regards the knots, I think they are placed to stress at the position of the five holy wounds. Hence one knot each was placed at the end of the middle beam to represent the wounds suffered in both hands. The central knot was for the wound suffered in the chest and the single bottom knot represents the two wounds suffered in the legs. The knots represents the position of the five holy wounds and reminds about the four nails used in crucifixion at the same time.

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

DETAILS OF THE CHURCHES EXPLORED IN THIS BLOG


I) LIST OF CHURCHES

The blog will go through 234 churches established at various periods, out of which 23 are sites associated with the legends of St. Thomas, the Apostle (1st century A. D.); 148 churches are dated between 2nd and 16th centuries; and 63 churches are from 17th and 18th centuries. It must be noted that the chronologies of the churches listed below, especially the ones before the arrival of Portuguese in 1498 are mostly based on information gathered from local traditions as well as the data given in respective church souvenirs, diocesan directories, ecclesiastical records etc. It is quite intriguing how St. Thomas Christians assign such specific early dates purely based on traditional accounts, when archaeological or epigraphical data supporting these claims are sadly negligible to nil. Today, neither a pre-16th century church building survive in their original built-form nor a complete sample exists in Kerala. This should not strike you as particularly odd since most early churches were small, built of perishable materials like thatched palm leaves, straw, bamboo poles, wood etc., and they would not have lasted more than a few decades in the harsh monsoon weather conditions of Kerala. A significant proportion of the current church buildings are from mid- 20th century or later periods and they have been renovated or rebuilt several times since inception and are beyond recognition of their original form. Nevertheless, indigenous architectural elements and characteristics of the pre-Portuguese buildings are still retained in certain forms or patterns in a few surviving old churches. Unfortunately, given the popular trend among the parishioners to demolish old and unfashionable church buildings with massive and luxurious concrete structures with bold expressions, these old churches of traditional forms are also prone to significant alteration or total destruction.

Documented evidence and reports from early Portuguese period suggest around 100 churches existed at the time of the Synod of Udayamperoor/Diamper (1599) that can be classified as pre-Portuguese. However, when multiple foundation dates are reported for a church, it is generally safe to accept the later dates as the more reliable ones. Regarding the supposed first-century settlements, most of the sites shown today are relatively modern and meant to commemorate and symbolically represent events associated with the St. Thomas legends of the location. For instance, Azhikode (No: 1) and Kokkamangalam (No: 4) claim St. Thomas connection, but foundation of the earliest shrines on the site was laid only in the 20th century. On the other hand, churches in Palayur (No:2), North Paravur (No:3), Niranom (No:5), Thiruvithancode (No: 7) and Mylapore (No: 8 to 10) are older and definitely pre-Portuguese in origin. In certain cases, rival factions argue over who holds the ancient site and have churches close to each other, eg. South Paravur (No: 56 & 57), Chembu (No: 111 & 112), Punnathra (No: 174 & 175) etc. Similarly, when multiple churches at a location share identical establishment dates, the later dates are more acceptable, eg. Angamaly (No: 36, 41 & 41), Akaparambu (No: 38 & 39) etc. Take the case of Karakunnam twin churches (No: 92 & 120), the Catholic Church was established only in early 19th century and a 14th century date can be easily discarded.

The abbreviations used here mainly refer to the various denominations of St. Thomas Christians: SM, Syro Malabar; SO, Syrian Orthodox; LC, Latin Catholic; MT, Mar Thoma Church; MIC, Malabar Independent Church; KN-J, Knanaya Jacobite; KN-C, Knanaya Catholic; CSI, Church of South India; ASI, Archaeological Survey of India. The churches in Chennai are abbreviated RC (for Roman Catholic) and are shown separately since they do not belong the Syro-Malabar Catholic community of Kerala. The majority of indigenous churches (about 70%) discussed in this blog are currently owned by three main denominations of the Syrian Christians of Kerala, viz. the Syro-Malabar Catholic (107 Churches), the Jacobite Syrian Orthodox and the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Churches, the latter two are Oriental Orthodox sister churches and are classified under Syrian Orthodox (together they own 54 Churches). The LC churches (a total of 56 here, but the list is incomplete) in general are not pre-Portuguese (with rare exceptions) in origin and have hardly preserved any indigenous or Syrian Christian elements, but are still included since their foundation dates are pre-1800. The Knanaya communities (Catholic and Jacobite) do not consider themselves St. Thomas Christians but believe their ancestry to be from the Jewish Christians migrated from Middle East in the 4th Century A. D., and they own 7 historic pre-Portuguese churches. The church buildings belonging to Syro-Malankara (Catholic) and Church of East (Chaldean) denominations are not considered as they are 19th century or even later in origin. The post-synod of Diamper churches explored here are limited to the 17th and 18th centuries only. Interestingly, Tipu Sultan’s invasion coincides with late 18th century and has resulted in the destruction of many churches and the beginning of 19th century was a new phase with the emergence of novel Christian settlements and churches. Leaving aside a few architecturally important churches, I have not included structures whose foundation dates are from 1800 and afterwards. Most of the photographs were taken during my visit to the sites from 2015 to 2018.

THE COMPLETE LIST OF 234 CHURCHES-arranged chronologically based on the earliest traditional dates of establishment

No.

Place

District

Name

Date

1

Azhikode, Kodungalloor

Thrissur

St. Thomas/Mar Thoma Pontifical Shrine (SM)

1st C., 1953

2

Palayur

Thrissur

St. Thomas Forane Church (SM)

1st C.

3

North Paravur

Ernakulam

St. Thomas Forane Church, Kottakkavu (SM)

1st C.

4

Kokkamangalam/Kokkothamangalam

Alappuzha

St. Thomas Church (SM)

1st C., 1900

5

Niranam

Pathanamthitta

St. Mary's  Valiyapally (SO)

1st C.

6

Nilackal/Chayal

Pathanamthitta

St. Thomas Church (Ecumenical)

1st C., 1983

7

Thiruvithamcode, Nagercoil

Tamil Nadu

St. Mary's Church or Thomayar Kovil Arapally (SO)

1st C.

8

Mylapore, Chennai

Tamil Nadu

St. Thomas/San Thome Basilica (RC)

1st C., 1523

9

St Thomas Mount, Chennai

Tamil Nadu

St. Thomas Mount National Shrine & Our Lady of Expectation Church (RC)

1st C., 1523

10

Little Mount, Chennai

Tamil Nadu

Shrine of Apostle St. Thomas & Our Lady of Good Health Church (RC)

1st C., 1551

11

Raja Annamalaipuram, Chennai

Tamil Nadu

Descanso or Our  Lady of Visitation Church

1st C., 1650-1683

12

Piravom

Ernakulam

St. Mary's Piravom Valiyapally/Rajadhirajah (3 Kings) Church (SO)

4th BC, 2nd C., 390, 9th Cent

13

Arthat

Thrissur

St. Mary’s Orthodox Cathedral (SO)

1st C., 999

14

Aruvithura (Erattupetta)

Kottayam

St. George Forane Church (SM)

1st C., 151, 301

15

Cherpunkal

Kottayam

Mar Sleeva (Holy Cross) Forane Church (SM)

1st C., 1096, 1111-12

16

Kothamangalam

Ernakulam

St. Mary/Martha Mariyam Cathedral Valiyapally (SO)

1st C., 4th C., 498, 1240, 1340, 1343

17

Malayattoor

Ernakulam

St. Thomas/Mar Thomma Kurishumudy Church (SM)

1st C., 1595

18

Maliyankara

Ernakulam

St. Thomas Chapel (LC)

1st C., 1953

19

Mathilakam

Thrissur

St. Joseph's Church (LC)

1st C., 1767

20

Mylacombu

Idukki

St. Thomas Forane Church (SM)

1st C., 600, 686

21

Mattel Thuruth

Alappuzha

St. Thomas Mattel Church (SM)

1st C.

22

Port Kollam, Pallithottam

Kollam

St. Mary/Our Lady of Purification Church (LC)

1st C., 1329

23

Thuruthoor

Ernakulam

St. Thomas Church, Sinai Mount (LC)

1st C., 1914

101-1499

24

Kuravilangadu

Kottayam

St. Mary’s Forane (SM)

105, 335, 345

25

Mattam/Mattom

Thrissur

St. Thomas Forane (SM)

140, 480, 550, 900

26

Pallippuram-Cherthala

Alappuzha

St. Mary’s Forane (SM)

290, 3rd C.

27

Ambazhakad

Thrissur

St. Thomas Forane (SM)

300

28

Chengannoor

Alappuzha

St. Mary's. Old Syrian Church (SO & MT)

300, 1175

29

Kadambanad

Pathanamthitta

St. Thomas Orthodox Cathedral/Valiyapally (SO)

325

30

Thevalakkara

Kollam

Mar Abo/Martha Mariam Church (SO)

4th C., 9th C.

31

Pazhanji

Thrissur

St. Mary's Church (SO)

4th C., 1249, 1852

32

North Pudukad

Thrissur

Our Lady of Mount Carmel (SM)

400

33

Parappukkara

Thrissur

St. John's Forane (SM)

400

34

Puthenchira

Thrissur

St. Mary’s Thazhathapally (SM)

400

35

Kaduthuruthy

Kottayam

St. Mary’s Forane Valiyapally (KN-C)

400, 510, 1456, 1500

36

Angamali

Ernakulam

St. Mary’s Jacobite Syrian Soonoro Cathedral (SO)

409, 9th C.

37

Kalloorkadu/Champakulam

Alappuzha

St. Mary’s Forane Church (SM)

427, 550

38

Akaparambu

Ernakulam

Mar Saabor Aphroth Church (SO)

450, 825

39

Akaparambu

Ernakulam

Ss. Gervasis and Prothasis Church (SM)

450, 1541

40

Angamali

Ernakulam

St. George Basilica (SM)

450

41

Angamali

Ernakulam

St. Hormis Kizhekkepally (SM)

480, 1540, 1585

42

Kuruppampady

Ernakulam

St. Mary’s Jacobite Syrian Cathedral (SO)

498, 1067, 1150, 1240, 1300, 1355

43

Kottoor, Kolencherry

Ernakulam

St. George Orthodox Syrian Church (SO)

5th C., 9th C., 15th C.

44

Paliakkara, Thiruvalla

Pathanamthitta

St. George Orthodox Church (O)

5th C., 1814-1815

45

Enammavu

Thrissur

Our Lady of Mount Carmel (SM)

500, 510

46

Edapally

Ernakulam

St. George Forane Church (SM)

503, 593

47

Muttuchira

Kottayam

Holy Ghost Forane Church (SM)

510, 550, 1400

48

Udayamperoor

Ernakulam

Ss. Gervasis & Prothasis/St Mary's/Synod of Diamper Old Church (SM)

510

49

Chalakudy

Thrissur

St Mary’s Forane Church (SM)

600

50

Moozhikulam

Ernakulam

St. Mary’s Forane Church (SM)

601, 650, 691

51

Kolenchery

Ernakulam

Ss.Peter and Paul Church (SO)

650, 1474-75

52

Thumpamon

Pathanamthitta

St. Mary's Orthodox Cathedral (SO)

717

53

Karingachira

Ernakulam

St. George Jacobite Syrian Cathedral (SO)

722

54

Kandanad

Ernakulam

St. Mary's Orthodox Church (SO)

775

55

Thazhekkad-Avittathoor

Thrissur

St. Sebastian Church  (SM)

800

56

South Paravur

Ernakulam

St. John the Baptist Church (SO)

802

57

South Paravur

Ernakulam

St. John the Baptist Church (SM)

802

58

Manakodam, Thekke Thuravoor

Alappuzha

St. George Forane Church (LC)

805, 1640

59

Kayamkulam

Alappuzha

Kadeesha Orthodox Cathedral (SO)

824

60

Kothanalloor

Kottayam

Ss.Gervasis & Prothasis Forane Church (SM)

826, 1220, 1320

61

Karthikapally

Alappuzha

St. Thomas Orthodox Cathedral (SO)

829, 1240, 1581

62

Athirampuzha

Kottayam

St. Mary’s Forane Church (SM)

835

63

Kundara

Kollam

St. Thomas Orthodox Valiyapally (SO)

835

64

Kanjoor

Ernakulam

St. Mary’s Forane Church (SM)

863, 1001

65

Kadamattom

Ernakulam

St. George Syrian Orthodox Church (SO)

865, 950

66

Pazhuvil

Thrissur

St. Antony's Forane Church (SM)

883, 960

67

Kottayam

Kottayam

St. Mary's Valiyapally (KN-J)

890, 1550

68

Kallada West

Kollam

St. Mary's Orthodox Valiyapally/Mar Anthrayos (SO)

9th C.

69

Mundenveli/Mundamveli

Ernakulam

St. Loius/Santiyago Church (LC)

9th C.

70

Arimpur

Thrissur

St. Antony's Church (SM)

900

71

Malayattoor

Ernakulam

St. Thomas Church/Thazhathapally (SM)

900

72

Nakapuzha

Ernakulam

St. Mary’s/Mother of Mercy Church (SM)

900

73

Velayanad /Veliyanad

Thrissur

St. Mary's Old Church (SM)

900

74

Pallikkara-Morakkala

Ernakulam

St. Mary's Jacobite Syrian Cathedral (SO)

905

75

Manarcadu

Kottayam

St. Mary's Jacobite Syrian Cathedral (SO)

910, 920

76

Mapranam

Thrissur

Holy Cross/Mar Sleeva Church (SM)

928

77

Manjapra

Ernakulam

Holy Cross Forane Church (SM)

943, 1401

78

Mavelikara

Alappuzha

St. Mary’s Orthodox Church/Puthiyakkavu Pally (SO)

943, 964

79

Chennamkary West

Alappuzha

St. Joseph's Church (SM)

977, 1801

80

Vadayar

Kottayam

Infant Jesus Church (SM)

977, 997, 1001

81

Arakuzha

Ernakulam

St. Mary’s Forane Church (SM)

999

82

Kottekad

Thrissur

St. Mary’s Assumption Forane Church (SM)

999

83

Nediyassala

Idukki

St. Mary’s Church (SM)

999, 1400

84

Kadaplamattom

Kottayam

St. Mary’s Church (SM)

10th C.

85

Mattancherry

Ernakulam

Church of our Lady of Life (LC)

10th C., 16th C.

86

Kaduthuruthy

Kottayam

St. Mary's Thazhathapally (SM)

1001, 1009

87

Vadakara

Ernakulam

St. John's Jacobite Syrian Church (SO)

10th C., 1096

88

Pala

Kottayam

St. Thomas Cathedral (SM)

1002

89

Bharananganam

Kottayam

St. Mary’s Forane Church (SM)

1004, 1100

90

Muttam, Cherthala

Alappuzha

St. Mary’s Forane Church (SM)

1023

91

Chowara

Ernakulam

St. Mary's Church (SM)

1025, 1100

92

Karakunnam

Ernakulam

St. Mary's Jacobite Syrian Cathedral (SO)

1065, 14th C., 1792

93

Chendamangalam

Ernakulam

Holy Cross Church (SM)

1075, 1201, 1577

94

Lourdupuram, Kanjiramkulam

Thiruvananthapuram

Our Lady of Lourdes (LC)

1087, 1905, 1914

95

Kannamcode, Adoor

Pathanamthitta

St. Thomas Orthodox Cathedral (SO)

1100

96

Mulanthuruthy

Ernakulam

Marthoman/St. Thomas Church (SO)

1100, 1125, 1225, 1575

97

Ernakulam

Ernakulam

St. Mary’s Cathedral/Our Lady of Ports/Thekkepally (SM)

1112, 1175

98

Mammalassery

Ernakulam

Mar Michael Orthodox Church (SO)

1113, 1159

99

Changanacherry

Kottayam

St. Mary’s Metropolitan Cathedral/Valiyapally (SM)

1117, 1177

100

Edakochi

Ernakulam

St. Lawrence Church (SM)

1119

101

Kudamaloor

Kottayam

St. Mary’s Forane Church (SM)

1125, 1175, 1425, 1505

102

Vettikkal

Ernakulam

St. Thomas Dayara Chapel (SO)

1125, 1200, 1815

103

Mulakulam

Kottayam

Mar Yuhanon Ihidoyo Orthodox Church (SO)

1134, 16th C.

104

Cheppadu

Alappuzha

St. George Orthodox Valiyapally (SO)

1175

105

Thripunithara

Ernakulam

Nadamel St. Mary's Jacobite Syrian Church (SO)

1175

106

Palluruthy

Ernakulam

St. Mary's Syrian Church (SM)

1191

107

Chittatukkara

Thrissur

St. Sebastian's Church  (SM)

1200, 1770

108

Vaipur

Pathanamthitta

St. Mary's Pazhayapally (SM)

1212

109

Alangad

Ernakulam

St. Mary’s Church (SM)

1300

110

North Kuthiathode

Ernakulam

St. Thomas Old Church (SM)

1301

111

Chembu/Chempu

Kottayam

St. Thomas Jacobite Syrian Church  (SO)

1306-07, 1370

112

Chembu/Chempu

Kottayam

St. Thomas Church (SM)

1306-07, 1370

113

Vaikkom

Kottayam

St. Joseph's Forane Church (SM)

1309, 1391, 1809

114

Muthalakodam

Idukki

St. George Forane Church (SM)

1312

115

Kallooppara

Pathanamthitta

S.t Mary's Orthodox Church  (SO)

1339

116

Njarackal

Ernakulam

St. Mary’s Church  (SM)

1341, 1451

117

Koratty

Thrissur

St. Mary’s Forane Church (SM)

1381

118

Poonjar

Kottayam

St. Mary’s Forane Church (SM)

1381, 1542, 1600

119

Kovilthottam, Chavara

Kollam

St. Andrew's Church (LC)

1398

120

Karakunnam

Ernakulam

BVM Rosary (St. Mary) Catholic Church (SM)

14th C., 1817

121

Puthupally

Kottayam

St. George Orthodox Church  (SO)

14th C., 1557

122

Alappuzha

Alappuzha

Mar Sleeva Forane Church (SM)

1400

123

Kottapady

Thrissur

St. Lazar's Church (SM)

1400

124

Vallam, Chelamattom-Rayonpuram

Ernakulam

St. Theresa of Avila Forane Church (SM)

1401

125

Thathampally

Alappuzha

St. Michael's Church (SM)

1404, 1600

126

Purakkad

Alappuzha

Holy Cross Church (SM)

1410, 1570

127

Maramon

Pathanamthitta

Mar Thoma/St Thomas Church (MT)

1440

128

Kanjirappilly

Kottayam

St. Mary’s Pazhayapally or Akkarapally (SM)

1450

129

Ramapuram

Kottayam

St. Augustine's Church (SM)

1450, 1599

130

Kothamangalam

Ernakulam

Mar Thoma/St. Thomas Jacobite Syrian Cheriapally (SO)

1451, 1455

131

Nechoor

Ernakulam

St. Thomas  Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church (SO)

1455

132

Kudavechur

Kottayam

St. Mary’s Church/ Vechoor Church (SM)

1463

133

North Paravur

Ernakulam

St. Thomas  Jacobite Syrian Church (SO)

1490, 1566

1500-1599

134

Thumpoly

Alappuzha

St. Thomas Church (LC)

1500, 1600

135

Valappad

Thrissur

St. Sebastian's Church (SM)

1500

136

Burnassery, Kannur

Kannur

Holy Trinity Cathedral (LC)

1501, 1792

137

Kothamangalam

Ernakulam

St. George's Cathedral (SM)

1501, 1770

138

Saude, Mundamveli

Ernakulam

Church of Our Lady of Health (LC)

1501

139

Kanjirakode, Kundara

Kollam

St. Antony's Forane Church (LC)

1502

140

Fort Kochi

Ernakulam

St. Francis Assissi Church (CSI)

1503

141

Pallipuram/Palliport

Ernakulam

Basilica of Our Lady of Snow/Manjumatha Church (SM)

1503, 1507, 1602

142

Vypin-Ochanthuruth

Ernakulam

Cruz di Milagres Church/Kurishingal (LC)

1503 , 1560, 1573

143

St Angelo Fort, Kannur

Kannur

St. James Chapel (ASI)

1505

144

Fort Kochi

Ernakulam

Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica (LC)

1505

145

Tuet/Tuyyam

Kollam

St. Sebastian's Church (LC)

1510, 1745

146

Kozhikode

Kozhikode

Mother of God Cathedral (LC)

1513, 1599

147

Thirumullavaram

Kollam

St. John the Baptist Church (LC)

1518

148

Kollam

Kollam

Kadeesa Syrian Orthodox /St. Thomas Church (SO)

1519

148a

Elanji

Ernakulam

Ss. Peter & Paul Forane Church (SM)

1522

149

Vallarppadam

Ernakulam

Basilica of Our Lady of Ransom (LC)

1524

150

Mayyanad, Kottiyam

Kollam

St. Jacob's Church (LC)

1527

151

Thangasseri

Kollam

Infant Jesus Cathedral (LC)

1529

152

Valiathura

Thiruvananthapuram

St. Antony’s Forane Church (LC)

1530

153

Thuruthipuram

Ernakulam

St. Francis Assissi Church (LC)

1531, 1533

154

Thankey, Kadakkarappally

Alappuzha

St. Mary's Forane Church (LC)

1538, 1583

155

Maruthoorkulangara, Karunagapally

Kollam

Three Kings Church (LC)

1548

156

Mattancherry

Ernakulam

Holy Cross/Bent Cross Church (SM)

1550

157

Pulinkunnu

Alappuzha

St. Mary's Forane Church (SM)

1557

158

Mampally, Anjengo

Thiruvananthapuram

Holy Spirit Church (LC)

1568

159

Omallur, Manjanikkara

Pathanamthitta

St. Thomas Syrian Orthodox Valiyapally  (SO)

1573

160

Kottayam

Kottayam

St. Mary's Orthodox Syrian Church/Cheriyapally (SO)

1575, 1579

161

Chungam

Idukki

St. Mary's Forane Church (KN-C)

1579

162

Kallissery

Alappuzha

St. Mary's Knanaya Catholic Valiyapally (KN-C)

1580

163

Kayamkulam

Alappuzha

St. Antony's Church (LC)

1580

164

Neendakara

Kollam

St. Sebastian's Church (LC)

1580

165

Arthunkal

Alappuzha

St. Andrew's Forane Basilica (LC)

1581, 1584, 1590

166

Kattoor

Alappuzha

St. Michael's Forane Church (LC)

1590

167

Koduvila

Kollam

St. Francis Xavier Church (LC)

1598

168

Kozhencherry

Pathanamthitta

St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church (MT)

1599

169

Venduruthy

Ernakulam

Ss. Peter & Paul Forane Church (SM)

1599

170

Venmony

Alappuzha

St. Mary's Orthodox Valiyapally (SO)

pre-1599

1600-1799

171

Parassala

Thiruvananthapuram

St. Peter's Church (LC)

1604

172

Vypin

Ernakulam

Church of Our Lady of Hope (LC)

1605

173

Moothakara

Kollam

St. Peter's Church/Infant Jesus Shrine(LC)

1610

174

Punnathura

Kottayam

St. Thomas Valiyapally/Pazhayapally (KN-C)

1610, 1625, 1632, 1635

175

Punnathura

Kottayam

St. Thomas Vellappally (SM)

1625, 1898

176

Arthat

Thrissur

Holy Cross Church (SM)

1627

177

Painkulam/Paingalam

Kottayam

St. Mary's Church (SM)

1627

178

Pullichira

Kollam

Church of Our Lady of Imaculate Conception (LC)

1627, 1700

179

Uzhavoor

Kottayam

St. Stephen's Forane Church (KN-C)

1631

180

Kadanad

Kottayam

St. Augustine's Forane Church (SM)

1660

181

Pravithanam

Kottayam

St. Augustine Forane Church (SM)

1660, 1714

182

Lalam

Kottayam

St. Mary's Church (SM)

1661, 1663

183

Sampaloor, Palayamparambu

Thrissur

St. Francis Xavier Church (LC)

1662

184

Kovilakathum Kadavu, Palliport

Ernakulam

St. Rockey's Church (LC)

1664

185

Arinalloor

Kollam

St. George's Church (LC)

1668

186

Chathiathu, Pachalam

Ernakulam

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church (LC)

1673

187

Varapuzha-Edampaadam

Ernakulam

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church & St Joseph's Church (LC)

1673

188

Kuttivattom Jn, Vadakkumthala, Karunagapally

Kollam

Three Kings Church (LC)

1679

189

Kattoor-Edathiruthy

Thrissur

Our Lady of  Carmel Forane Church (SM)

1680, 1760

190

Eravipuram

Kollam

St. John the Baptist's Church (LC)

1684

191

Rakkad

Ernakulam

St. Mary's Jacobite Syrian Cathedral (SO)

1687

192

Chemmakkad

Kollam

St. Sebastian's Church (LC)

1698

193

Mangad

Kollam

Holy Cross Church (LC)

1700

194

Kandanad

Ernakulam

Infant Jesus Church (SM)

1708, 1788

195

Pazhayangadi

Thrissur

St. Sebastian's Church (SM)

1712

196

Velur

Thrissur

St. Francis Xavier's Forane Church (SM)

1712

197

Kunnukurudy, Airapuram

Ernakulam

St. George Jacobite Syrian Church (SO)

1715

198

Ollur

Thrissur

St. Antony's Forane Church (SM)

1718

199

Kizhakkambalam

Ernakulam

St. Antony's Forane Church (SM)

1725

200

Thalassery

Kannur

Holy Rosary Church (LC)

1726

201

Parappur

Thrissur

St. John Nepumcian Forane Church (SM)

1731

202

Puthenangady, Kottayam

Kottayam

St. Thomas Kurishupally (O)

1731

203

Kalparambu

Thrissur

St. Mary's Forane Church (SM)

1733

204

Mahe

Mahe

St. Theresa's Shrine (LC)

1736

205

Perumanoor

Ernakulam

St. George's Church (LC)

1742

206

Ranni

Pathanamthitta

St. Thomas Knanaya Jacobite Valiyapally (KN-J)

1742

207

Kannamaly

Ernakulam

St. Antony's Church (LC)

1745, 1873

208

Kunnamkulam (Chiralayam)

Thrissur

St. Sebastian's Church (SM)

1747

209

Kunnamkulam (Chiralayam)

Thrissur

St. Lazarus Orthodox Syrian Church (SO)

1751

210

Mattancherry

Ernakulam

St. George Orthodox Koonan Kurishupally/Erimegapally (SO)

1751

211

Amaravila

Thiruvananthapuram

St. Antony's Church (LC)

1755, 1775

212

Chathannoor

Kollam

St. George's Valiyapally/Martha Mariyam Suriyanipally (SO)

1755

213

Vattayal

Alappuzha

St. Peter's Church (LC)

1760

214

Kumarakom

Kottayam

St. John Nepumsyon's Church/Kariyil Palli/Vadakkumkara Palli (SM)

1760, 1769

215

Kuruppampady

Ernakulam

Ss. Peter & Paul Church (SM)

1763, 1767

216

Pudukkad

Thrissur

St. Antony's Forane Church (SM)

1764

217

Thozhiyoor

Thrissur

St. George Malabar Independent Syrian Cathedral (MIC)

1772

218

Alangad

Ernakulam

Infant Jesus Church/Kunnelpally (SM)

1781

219

Mukkatukkara

Thrissur

St. George's Church (SM)

1784

220

Kandachira (Kollam)

Kollam

St. Thomas Church (LC)

1787

221

Meloor

Thrissur

St. Joseph's Church (SM)

1788, 1865

222

Varapuzha

Ernakulam

St. George's Church/Puthenpally (SM)

1788

223

Kunnamkulam (West Bazar)

Thrissur

St. Lazarus Orthodox Syrian Church /Pazhayapally (SO)

1789

224

Vlathankara, Chenkal

Thiruvananthapuram

Church of Our Lady of Assumption (LC)

1790

225

Thaikattussery/Thycattussery

Alappuzha

St. Antony's Church (SM)

1791

226

Thirunalloor

Alappuzha

St. Joseph's Church (SM)

1791, 1952

227

Pavukkara, Mannar

Alappuzha

St. Peter's Church (LC)

1792

228

Thayyil

Kannur

St. Antony's Church (LC)

1792

229

Vempuzha, Chingoli

Alappuzha

St. Thomas Church (LC)

1792

230

Puthencavu

Alappuzha

St. Mary's Orthodox Cathedral (SO)

1793

231

Thattarambalam, Valiyaperumpuzha

Alappuzha

St. Sebastian's Church (LC)

1795

232

Aranattukara

Thrissur

St. Thomas Church (SM)

1796

233

Kottamam

Ernakulam

St. Joseph's Church (SM)

1779, 1799

The church at Elanji was added to the list later when the photographs were already uploaded. Thus, it had to be numbered 148a where it fits chronologically. This is done so that the serial order of photographs remain unaffected. The total number of churches therefore needs to be counted as 234. The photograph of Elanji church (148a) is clubbed with that of Venmony (170).

The above list is based on different documents including published books, parish directories, church souvenirs, journal articles, family records and various online resources. The data need not always be accurate especially in the case of online sources and family claims. However, as I have mentioned before, they are still included for giving an overall picture, but it is safer to accept the later dates. For instance, the churches at Lourdupuam (No. 94) and Thirunalloor (No. 226) are listed based on the earlier dates of their establishment, viz. 1087 and 1791, repectively. Although these dates are retrieved from the Catholic site, https://www.ucanews.com/, according to the corresponding church official versions, Lourdupuram was established in 1905 and Thirunalloor in 1952 only! Another example would be the Paliakkara church at Thiruvalla (No, 44) , the current church has a documented history from the early 19th century only, but according to a certain tradition (with no supporting evidence) Thiruvalla had a a Christian settlement in the 5th century!

 

II) GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATIONS OF THE CHURCHES

Click the icon ‘View larger map’ on the right end corner of the map for the locations of all the 234 churches with their corresponding geographical coordinates. Note that the churches in the map are arranged alphabetically and not chronologically as in the table given above.