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Niranam Church - Kerala
Niranam,
almost midway between Quilon and Kokkamangalam is now in the hands
of Jacobites. The church underwent many reconstructions and
modifications. At present, the fourth building is in the place of
the original Church that was believed to be founded by Apostle St.
Thomas. It was consecrated by His grace Vattasseril Geevarghese
Deanious, The Malankara Metrapolitan on 14 Fabruary, 1912 AD.
What
the Ramban Song Says?
The Apostle and Prince Kepha proceeded from Quilon in a
northeasterly direction and arrived at Thrikapaleswaram, near
Niranom. Thrikapaleswaram had Hindu temples at that time, and to
provide a place of public worship to the Christian community, the
Apostle planted a cross a few furlongs away to the west of one of
the temples. The non-Christian people in the locality did not like
this and they pulled it out and cast it into the nearby river.
This
desecration took place sometime after the Apostle had left the place
for Chayal or Nileckal. Two Christians from Thrikapaleswaram went
there and requested the Apostle to re-visit their place and set
matters right. The cross that had been thrown out into the river
moved downwards floating on the waters for some distance, and
eventually rested on a strip of land on the opposite bank of the
river. Here at Niranom a new site for a church was secured. During
this second visit, the Apostle stayed at Niranom for two months and
during this period two hundred persons were baptized by him giving
new vigor and strength to the Christian community. Local tradition
is that most of the Nambutiris having been made Christians by St.
Thomas, left the place after giving the boxes containing the
documents relating to their landed properties to a Kymal or Nair
chieftain, who has since been known as Niranam Petti Kaymal. Of the
various miracles performed by St. Thomas at Niranam, the most
remarkable was the restoration of life to a child of a barber put to
death by anti-Christian families, who wanted to throw the
responsibility for the crime on the Apostle.
Niranam
Festival
Of all the places hallowed in the annals of Christianity in India,
Niranam holds pride of place. In social, cultural, literary and
political matters, this small village has kept up its own
distinctive, pristine traditions. It must have once been busy,
thriving port where there was brisk maritime trade. The fame of
Niranam mush have reached Syria and weighed most with St. Thomas. He
is believed to have visited Niranam in 53 AD, erected a crucifix and
founded and built a church on the site. In spite of the initial
protest against propagation of Christianity, many local people
gradually embraced it and they formed a congregation which in due
course grew into the Malabar Christian Church. It is to St. Mary the
Niranam church is dedicated.
The present edifice is a renovation of the old. The tall, granite
cross in front of the church is a relic of the past. The paintings
and sculpture bear eloquent testimony to a high architectural
standard. A statue of St. Mary carved in marble and another in pure
gold are the proud possessions of the church. Moreover, a holy cross
of the church, made of pure gold and set with precious stones, is
unrivalled in craftsmanship and cost.
The main religious festival is in honour of the Holy Mother on
August 15. Special mass is held on that day. The birthday of St.
Mary is celebrated on a grand scale on 8th September. The feast of
St. Thomas is celebrated on 3rd July.
Churches
St.
Mary's Church || St. Francis
Church || Kodangallore
Church
Niranam
Church || Holy Virgin
Mary Church
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