St. Mary's Church, Kottayam

St. Mary’s Orthodox Syrian Church, Kottayam, commonly known as Kottayam Cheriapally, is a Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church located in Kottayam, Kerala, India.[1][2][3] Cheriapally meaning ‘small church’, whose appearance contradicts its name, is one of the oldest and well-preserved churches in the state. Cheriapally is located on the way to Kumarakom from Kottayam. The church is dedicated to mother Mary. It is that architecture, which is as old as 440 years and has retained its old world charm today as well even after so much of environmental changes. The length and breadth of the church is constructed with innovative paintings, mural, and architecture.

St. Mary's Church, Kottayam
St. Mary’s Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, Kottayam
Kottayam Cheriapally Mahaedavaka
CountryIndia
DenominationMalankara Orthodox Syrian Church
History
Founded1579
Architecture
Architectural typePersian and Architecture of Kerala


Kottayam Cheriapally Mahaedavaka

History

Many stories and legends regarding the establishment and evolution of Christianity in Central Travancore surrounds this church. The legend is that the Thekkumkore (old Kottayam) kings were glad that Christians were living in their kingdom, as they were committed towards working hard to earn a living, and thus had taken the entire responsibility of their security. King Kothavarma, who was ruling the kingdom during that period, provided them land for constructing the church, without levying tax. A church was first built in 1550 and named Valiyapally. However, the congregation later split on ethnic lines and the dissidents built Cheriapally in 1579. It is said that two worship places were not permitted in a single village and thus the king had to divide the village into two so that both the churches could exist.

The church was built by Portuguese architect Antony and his team along with the craftsmen of the Thekkumkore Kingdom (old Kottayam) in 1579. However, the Portuguese had no influence on the mode of worship in the church. It is typically dedicated to Syrian Christians. While visiting Cheriapally, one may feel that the architecture greatly resembles that of some temples in Kerala. However, the fact is that during those days, the mode of building every place of worship was the same, irrespective of it being a temple or a church. Kottayam's iconic Cheriapally Mahaedavaka is an architectural marvel and a repository of legends.

Holy Girdle of St. Mary

Kottayam Cheriapally has the unique distinction of being the first church in India to get the Relics of St. Mary (a small part of the Holy girdle of St. Mary) installed at the church. This relic is also known as the Soonoro or Holy belt of St. Mary. The Holy girdle was presented by Ignatius Yacub III, the Patriarch of Antioch to Baselios Augen I, the then Catholicos & Malankara Metropolitan who ceremoniously installed it at Kottayam Cheriapally on 16 January 1966. The holy girdle is kept in the church and is taken out for public viewing from 10th August to 15th August every year during the 15 days fast to commemorate the translation of St. Mary.

Kottayam Cheriapally - A treasure trove of mural art

Built in the Portuguese-Baroque-Keralite style, the church is a treasure trove of mural art. The extravagant collection of mural paintings at the altar of Cheriapally has been termed as a major breakthrough in the history of mural paintings throughout the world. The striking mural art on the church interiors depicts the major incidents in Jesus Christ's life. The eastern side of the church wall portrays the major happenings in the life of the Lord's mother. Some of the paintings depict the trial of Christ, Crucifixion, and Christ being taken down from the cross. The ceiling with 99 tiles is adorned with various paintings. Historians said that these were painted by foreign artists. Interestingly, the clothes worn by the people in the paintings are also European in style. Thought the paintings are in European style, some experts claim the technique used is that of artists from Kerala. All the paintings have been created by only using organic dyes from vegetables and flowers. The red colour seen in the paintings are drawn using Red brick. People from different countries visit the church to study these paintings. Several of the wall paintings had faded with the passage of time. The centuries-old mural paintings have been restored to their former glory by mural painting artist V.M. Jiju Lal and team after a hard work for three months. The rare paintings, which are believed to be more than 300 years old, at the holy sanctuary (madhaba) of the church were brought back without losing on their aesthetic quality. The consecration of the holy sanctuary (madhaba) after mural painting restoration was done on January 11, 2020.

Architecture

The church exhibits a blend of Kerala and Portuguese styles of architecture. Its European architectural style galleries, large granite pillars, cornices and pediments make it an attractive building. The roof of the portico is supported by ten granite pillars and has a large lotus carved out of single piece of granite. Even the baptism basin inside the church has been chiseled from a single stone. The walls around the church are over one meter thick and are strongly influenced by Hindu temple architecture. The niches in the walls accommodate hundreds of oil lamps. With its unique features and the exciting tales surrounding it, Kottayam Cheriapally is a must-visit for those inclined towards traditional buildings and architecture.

Punnathra Mar Dionysius

The Malankara Metropolitan of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Punnathra Dionysius III died on 17 May 1825 and was interred at Kottayam Cheriapally (St. Mary's Orthodox Church). The memorial feast of Mar Dionysius III is observed on 19 May.

Church feast

The Dormition of Mother Mary or holy Theotokos occupies the most important place in the Orthodox Church next to that of Jesus Christ. It is indeed a great feast which depicts ‘falling asleep’ of the Mother of God and taking her body up into heaven by angels. The Feast of the Dormition of St. Mary (Vaangippu Perunnal or Shoonoyo Perunnal) is observed in this church on August 15. The feast of Dormition is celebrated by two weeks of fasting, known as the Dormition fast, beginning from 1st of August to the 15th of August which draws many people from far and wide. The annual feast of the church (Feast of St. Mary) falls on January 15 and is known as Vithukalude Perunnal which means ‘the festival of seeds’. It is observed to invoke the blessings of Virgin Mary upon the agricultural seeds.

Modes of access

One can access Kottayam Cheriapally by many means:

  • By road: via Kottayam approximately 3 kilometres. via Kumarakom approximately 12 kilometres. Buses and taxis are easily available at all times of the day
  • By rail: via Kottayam approximately 3 kilometres.
  • By air: via Cochin International Airport approximately 91 kilometres.

Kottayam Cheriapally Location Map

A pencil drawing of the church by Bateman in 1835

Address

Kottayam Cheriapally Mahaedavaka

(St. Mary's Orthodox Syrian Church),

Cheriapally Junction,

Kottayam - Kumarakom Road,

Kottayam, Kerala, India.

Pincode- 686001

Email: office@kottayamcheriapally.com

Phone: +91-481-2566744

Website: http://www.kottayamcheriapally.com/

Kottayam Cheriapally in Social Media

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kottayamcheriapally/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ktmcheriapally

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KottayamCheriapallyMahaedavaka/

References
  1. The Chaldean Syrian Church of the East. ISPCK. 1983.
  2. Thomas, M. A.; L.), M. A. Thomas (B (1977). An Outline History of Christian Churches and Denominations in Kerala. Thomas.
  3. Thomas, Anthony Korah (1993). The Christians of Kerala: A Brief Profile of All Major Churches. A.K. Thomas.

See also


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