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Holy
Virgin Mary Church - Kerala
The history of Kottayam in the early centuries of
the Christian era is obscure. Geologists are of
the view that the western part of Kottayam emerged from the Arabian
Sea as a result of some violent convulsion of nature.
In the 13th Century A D. Thaliyilkotta, about 2
km. west of the present center of Kottayam town (Thirunakkara)
became the capital of a small princely state called Thekkumkur and
most probably the name Kottayam was derived from ''Kotta-akom"
(fortified town). There is still a temple at Thaliyilkotta built by
theThekkumkur Rajas. Not very far from this temple, on the top of a
small hill, nursed by the Meenachil River at the foot, stands the
ancient Syrian Knanaya church.This church is the mother church of
most Christians of this area.
The church was built in the year 1550 AD by the
descendants of the Syrian Knanaya Christians who migrated to India
in 345 A.D. from Jerusalem and near-by places under the leadership
of Kana Thoma. The migrants consisted of Bishop Joseph of Urhoy
(Edessa), two priests and two deacons, besides a group of four
hundred persons, representing seventy-two families from seven clans.
They landed at Kodungallor and were cordially welcomed by Cheraman
Perumal, the then ruler of Malabar, Northern region of modern Kerala.
This church is also famous for its two granite
crosses known as Persian crosses. These crosses were brought here
from a much older church near Crangannore built by the forefathers
of the builders of this church. On each of the stone slabs there is
a cross with an inscription in the Pahalavi language, which was the
official language of the Sassanian dynasty in Persia.
The small slab 75 cm. x 58 cm. is fixed on the
northern altar and is more ancient while the big slab 220 cm. x 103
cm. is set up on the southern altar of this church. The inscriptions
in Pahalavi are one and the same on both the slabs except for the
additional inscription in Syriac (in Estrangelo script) on the big
slab placed on the southern altar. Many scholars and researchers
have visited this church and tried to decipher these inscriptions in
Pahalavi. The interpretation of Dr. Burnnel (former Archaeological
Director of India) is regarded as most
acceptable. It reads as follows:
"In punishment by the cross (was) the
suffering on this one; He who is true God and God above, and Guide
ever Pure."
The Syriac inscription on the big slab is from
the Epistle to the Galatians 6:14 which reads: "May I never
boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ". The cross
on the Southern Altar resembles the one at St. Thomas Mount,
Mylapore, Madras.There are rare antique carvings and mural paintings
behind the main altar and on the ceiling.
Lord Irwin, Viceroy of India, Emperor Haile
Sellassie of Ethiopia and many other dignitaries have visited this
church.
H.G. Mor Severios Gheevarghese, the first
Metropolitan of Knanaya Diocese is laid to rest in this church.
Churches
St.
Mary's Church || St. Francis
Church || Kodangallore
Church
Niranam
Church || Holy Virgin
Mary Church
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