The St. Mary's Church of Kerala

Niharika Lakhmani

The St. Mary's Church of Kerala

An age-old epitome of Christianity in Kerala, St. Mary’s Orthodox Syrian Church, popularly referred to as Niranam Valiya Pally, is one of the oldest churches in India. Counted among the seven churches founded by St. Thomas in AD 54, what makes this seraphic marvel so special?

St. Mary’s Syrian Church is one of the oldest churches in India; Image Source: Kerala Pictures

St. Mary’s Orthodox Syrian Church came into being under the Niranam Diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. It was in AD 52 when Thomas, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ, arrived in the land of backwaters that is Kerala.

Two years later, when St. Thomas arrived at Niranam again, he got to know about the incident and started looking out for the lost cross. His search was brought to success when he found the cross downstream and established it again. The place where the church is currently located is believed to be the site where St. Thomas reestablished the cross.

Famous for its minimalistic architecture, the church entails five altars, with the main and central one named after St. Mary. Every day, the regular services of the church are observed here.

Throughout the year, the church hosts a number of feasts dedicated to a myriad saints, St. Thomas and St. Mary being the two of them. It also continues to stand as an important historical structure in the city, owing to its intriguing history, architectural significance, and appealing antiques.

There he took on the holy responsibility of disseminating the pious words of the gospel and established eight churches that bear witness to his expedition. These eight churches came to be known as Ezhara Pallikal, which translates to “seven-and-a-half churches.”

Owing to his great reverence for the Holy Virgin, St. Thomas named these churches after St. Mary, Niranam. Ever since Niranam Valiya Pally’s inception, a multitude of people have been baptized here, and a myriad of ordained people were appointed as priests by St. Thomas to look into the administration of the church.

Initially, the church founded by St. Thomas at Niranam was nestled adjacent to Sri Thrikpaleswara Hindu Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva. However, adversaries who resonated with the new faith removed the cross established by the Apostle and threw it into a nearby river.

At the entrance, a tall granite cross—a remnant of the past—adorns the structure. It probably dates back to 1259, when the church was renovated for the third time.