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.

Monday, December 20, 2021

13) OPEN-AIR GRANITE CROSS OF KANJIRAPPALLY, ST. MARY'S PAZHAYAPALLY OR AKKARAPPALLY (SYRO-MALABAR)

This is supposedly yet another open-air cross with an inscription. According to Ramanatha Ayyar, A. S. (1931), the Kanjirappally cross devoid of any ornamentation, contains an inscription in Tamil Vatteluttu, dating the monument to Kollam 816, when Tekkumuri-Kattanar was the vicar of the church. He has given the Tamil transliteration of the five-lined inscription in Travancore Archaeological Series (1931, Vol. VII, Part II, p. 148) and when transliterated in English it becomes:

1-Kollam 860-ra Mandu

2-Kulakattu Thekkumuri Katta-

3-nar Vicari Aayirunna Kalam Tho-

4-m(ma) Thom(ma) Muthelayi (Kurichu?)

5-Mina Matha(m) 1-nu Muzhuvanayi

The Tamil transliteration is followed by an English translation by him which is as follows: “In Kollam 816 (i.e. 1641 A.D.), when Tekkumuri-Kattanar of Kulakkadu was officiating as the vikari (of the church), the cross was completed on the 1st day of the month of Minam as the gift of Tomma-Tomma” (Ayyar, 1931, p. 148).

Though Ayyar reads the year 816 in his English translation, in the Tamil text, the date provided by him is “௮௱൬௰”, which corresponds to 860 M. E. (i.e. 1685 A.D.). In addition, he comments that the word Kulakattu can also be read as Kallakattu. He is not specific with the exact location of the inscription on the cross, but it may be on the pedestal as Poduval (1990, p. 71) has inferred in "Travancore Inscriptions-A Topographical List". Apparently, there is also a version that dates the cross to 1614 A.D. (Abraham, 2020).

Henri Hosten was at Kanjirappally on February, 1924 and he finds the open-air cross on a square base with lotus petals in several places and a cross at the junction of the two bars of the cross. He however is silent about the inscription, but we learn that he has photographed the cross on February 6, 1924 and it would worth obtaining this rare photograph (Tanima, 2011, p. 67). Despite rigorously searching the pedestal, I could not locate the inscription, may be it is concealed beneath the multiple layers of modern coatings or located in a corner that I am yet to explore or even lost. I am remembering, how the faintly visible inscription on the Pedestal of Muttuchira cross was similarly very hard to trace. 

Size of the Cross

The open-air granite cross of Kanjirappally is 4.78 m tall from the ground. The height of the pedestal is 1.85 m, whereas the upright pole of the cross is 2.93 m tall and the cross beam 1.2 m wide. The pedestal of the cross is made with successive levels of square mouldings decorated with cherub images and cross symbols (Jose, 2017, pp. 164, 167). According to the classsification of Pereira (2000, p. 379), this cross with a single square type moulding must then belong to the first (i.e. earliest) category of crosses.

Brief History of Kanjirappally Church

Kanjirappally Church owes its origin to Nilackal or Chayal, one of the seven traditional churches established by St. Thomas. Tradition has it that Nilackal was abandoned in the early 14th century (A.D. 1319, 1325 etc.) either due to natural or man-made causes, and one group moved to Kanjirappally, some 45 km away, under the leadership of Valiaveettil Thomman Mappila, the Chief Trusty of Nilackal. The community depended Aruvithara for their spiritual needs for a century, until a fifth generation grandson of the Thommy Mappila, his namesake, obtained permission to build a church at Kanjirappally on the shore of Chittar Brook, from Veera Kerala Perumal, the then Raja of Thekkumkur Kingdom, after paying a hefty amount of 1200 Rasee (a currency). A royal edict with these details, dated 21 Medam 624 M.E. (i.e. 1 May, 1449 A.D., if old reckoning is adopted), written in Ola (palm leaf), is said to have been recovered from St. Mary's Valiapally at Kanjirappally. Madukkakuzhy (1995, p. 104) has given a Malayalam translation of the decree. Furthermore, the first church made of wood and grass-thatched roof was consecrated and dedicated in the name of Virgin Mary on 8 Kanni (September), 1450, when Mar Joseph was the Chaldean Bishop. A few decades later in 1522, another Royal intervention is reported, this time by Udayavarma, the Raja of Thekkumkur, who granted the church to have the privilege of receiving a daily measure of oil to light its lamp in a special vessel called "Chodhana", also gifted under his special order (for more details see Madukkakuzhi, 1995, pp. 99-109; Abraham, 2020, pp. 189-193; also here and here).

Kanjirappally was one of the churches visited by the Archbishop Menezes in 1599 after the Synod of Damper and it is called "Canharapily in the lands of Tecancutes" (Thekkumkur) in Jornada (Malekandathil, 2003, p. 441).The current St. Mary’s Pazhayapalli (old church) or Akkarapalli as it is locally known, is one of the few churches that have retained the old architectural style lacking a façade in its conventional sense, and with a gabled roof of the nave extending further over the front wall (Edward, 2005, pp. 199, 284; Jose, 2017, pp. 151). The new church (current St. Dominic Cathedral) was established in 1826, when a faction got separated from the old church in 1825.

East and West Sides of the Cross

Intersecting Region of the Cross-Bars (West)

Views of the Pedestal from the Four Sides

The West Side

The South Side


The East Side

The North Side


Views of the Pedestal from the Four Corners
South-East Corner

North-East Corner

North-West Corner

South-West Corner

Floral Designs, Angel Motifs and Cross Symbols on the Pedestal 

References

Abraham, George (2020)-Lanterns on the Lanes, Lit for Life

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

Edward, Sunil (2005)-A Study on the indigenous Church Architecture of Kerala State, Ph.D. Thesis

Hosten, Henry (1924)-In Documentation: Kerala churches; Churches of Nilakal Chungam, Kanjirappally Kottayam, Hosten Ms: 25-45, Tanima: A Review of St. Thomas Academy for Research (2011), Volume XIX, No. 1 & 2 

Jose, Cyriac (2017)-Cultural Landscape and Architecture of Medieval Churches in Kerala, Ph. D. Thesis

Madukkakuzhy, Mathew (1995)-Purathana Kraistava Kendrangaliluda (IInd Part)

Malekandathil, Pius (2003)-Jornada of Dom Alexis de Menezes: A Portuguese Account of the Sixteenth Century Malabar

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

Poduval, Vasudeva R. (1990)-Travancore Inscriptions-A Topographical List

An early image (undated) of the Kanjirappally cross
Photo source: Anonymous. Photo courtesy: Special thanks to Lino George for providing this rare image of the Kanjirappally Cross. See that the unique architecture of the church is very nicely captured in this photograph. Also compare with the previous image for an enlarged view of floral motifs and the cross symbol on the pedestal. The colour photograph attached here for a comparison was taken in 2016.

Another undated early photograph of the cross and churchPhoto source: stdominicscathedral.org

A pre-Independence Era (before 1947) Photograph of Kanjirappally Kurishukavala 
Photo source: Malayala Manorama, Published Date-unknown; Photo courtesy: Lino George. The photograph captures the warm reception given to K. J. Thomas Karippaparambil at Kanjirappally Kurishukavala (cross junction), after his release from prison during the independence movement. See that the image has a cross in the background. Now if this is the location of the current open-air cross, we have to assume that the original cross has been modified (note that the cross-arm of the cross is longer in the image), but we can't comment on the pedestal hidden in the midst of the crowd. An observation made by Hosten who visited the site in 1924 can go in favour of this speculation. Hosten finds a cross in the intersection region of the cross-bars, but the current cross has an eight-petalled floral motif instead. However, everything changes if the location is different, then we need to consider about the possibility of a second old cross at Kanjirappally.

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7 comments:

  1. George LinoDecember 20, 2021 at 7:12 PM

    “Raja of Thekkumkur, who granted the church to have the privilege of receiving a daily measure of oil to light its lamp in a special vessel called "Chodhana"

    -It is said that the ‘Chodhana’ was used to measure the oil brought into the market, and that the church used get 1 Thudam (around 84 ml) of oil for every Chodhana measured. There was no question of getting a free daily measure of Chodhana. Photos of this Chodhana are available and judging by the size of it, providing a full measure of oil in it during those times would have been really lavish.

    The links in the sixth paragraph is not working and is it ‘namesake’ rather than ‘name seek’.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dr. Laju Paul K.December 20, 2021 at 8:42 PM

      What I understand from the works cited, the king ordered to gift a Chodhana to the church in bronze and offered that every day a measure of oil to be given in the same vessel for the church. And that this was done because the church did not have the means to keep a light burning as it required considerable quantity of oil. The king issued an edict to establish a standard measure Chodhana for the church and not to the market. Agreed that Chodhana was a vessel for measuring oil in the market, but according to this version, it was gifted directly to the church for its oil requirement. Now it appears from your inference that the Chodhana was used in the market and the church got a small share. The photographs of the vessel is available, but I don't think by looking into its the size it can be taken enormous, if we accept considerable amount of oil was required in the church. I don't know if 84 ml can be taken as a considerable quantity required for the church. Anyway, if you have a reference that the Church received one Thudam as a daily quota from the market, I would he happy to include the detail too in the text.

      Are you refering to the link to St. Dominic Cathedral, and if so, yes it does not work and I don't know why. However, I retrieved the photograph some time ago when the site was functional, and therefore decided to include the link anyway. I have corrected "name seek", autocorrect error:)-

      Delete
  2. George LinoDecember 20, 2021 at 11:07 PM

    Yes, the church got only a paltry quantity each time when the Chodhana was used for measuring the oil brought into the market. However, the traders would be bringing the oil in large quantities. If the number of traders and the quantity of oil brought in were significant, obviously the church too would have got a decent quantity of oil at the end of the day. I have read about this in a book which unfortunately can’t recall now.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Dr. Laju Paul K.December 21, 2021 at 5:07 PM

    The only concern would be then, what was the purpose of gifting a Chodhana to the church, if it were to receive paltry amounts of oil from the market depending on the extent of trade. If it was just meant to store oil received from market, any vessel could have served the purpose in this situation.

    ReplyDelete
  4. George LinoDecember 21, 2021 at 9:37 PM

    No, the Chothana wasn’t meant to simply store the oil received from the market. Chothana was a measuring vessel used all over Kerala to measure liquids. However, regional variations exists in the quantity of liquids that can be contained in it. There were Chothana vessels that could contain even upto 12 Edanghazy’ies of oil, ie 16.08 litres (1 Edanghazhy =1.34 litres). Anyhow, judging by the available photos of the Chothana kept at the Kanjirappally church, it might not contain more than a few litres.

    It seems to me that all your confusion about the quantity of oil allowed to the church is because you don’t have the text of the order issued by the king granting the Chothana to the church. It is clearly mentioned in the order that the church is allowed to retain only ‘arackan edanghazy’ of oil when the Chothana was used for measurement. ‘Arackan’ means one half of a quarter. As I have mentioned earlier, 1 Edanghazy is 1.34 litres. One fourth of it will be 0.335 litres and half of the quarter will be 0.1675 litres, that is 2 Thudam’s (1 Thudam being 0.084 litres). Sorry that I mentioned that the church was allowed only one Thudam earlier since I was quoting from memory at the time. All the oil brought into the market will be measured by the Chothana and the church had the privilege to remove 2 Thudams for it’s use for every Chothana of oil measured.

    ReplyDelete
  5. George LinoDecember 21, 2021 at 10:05 PM

    The photo of the cross illustrated in Malayala Manorama can be only of a second open air cross at Kanjirappally. This photo was taken close to late 1940’s since the K J Thomas Karippaparambil mentioned in it represented Kanjirappally in the Travancore-Cochin assembly in 1952. However, the other photo of the cross with the church is said to be from the early decades of the twentieth century.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dr. Laju Paul K.December 21, 2021 at 10:36 PM

      I guess it's settled once for all now😊. Thanks for sending me the text of the king's order in this regard. I only had access to the royal decree for the church building.

      Delete

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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.