St Mary's Orthodox Church, Kallooppara

St.Mary's Orthodox Syrian Church, Kallooppara
St.Mary's Orthodox Syrian Church, Kallooppara
	St.Mary's Orthodox Syrian Church, Kallooppara
Location	Kallooppara, Kerala, India
Denomination	Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church
Tradition	Syriac, Malayalam
Website	www.kalloopparapally.com
History
Founded	AD 1339
Dedication	St.Mary
Administration
Diocese	Niranam Diocese

St. Mary's Orthodox Syrian Church (കല്ലൂപ്പാറ പള്ളി), situated at the heart of a small village called Kallooppara (on the banks of the river Manimala River), Pathanamthitta District, Kerala, India is a prized possession of Malankara Sabha. The church has a legacy of around seven centuries, keeping its tradition and culture intact without compromising on its religious values. The church is an elegant representation of the beautiful shingled roof tops in the early Travancore style. The church is a perfect example of the ancient temple architecture and is a mystery the way it has overcome all the challenges of time. The sanctuary that is abstract in all aspects is a mystifying beauty of the ancient architecture, which has a keen and splendid blend of beauty and science in it.

The church which is the worshiping place of thousands has been a topic of research for many. Currently there are around 800 families worshiping in this church and the members of the church are present all around the globe.

The church has been renovated with a newly built balcony to accommodate more people during holy mass. Also a manimalika (place to suspend the church bell) has been built near the church.

Church history[]

In earlier days, Christians of Kallooppara depended on Niranam Church for the holy mass, religious rites and ceremonies. The journey by vallam (a Malayalam/proto-Malayalam term for a small boat) through rivers of Manimala River and Pampa was tedious, tiresome and risky.

Edappally Kings, renowned for the love and care for their subjects, were in rule at that time. The famous and explicably beautiful Elangalloor Maddom, rich in its architectural antiquity, located on northern banks of river Manimala served as an abode for the royal guests. This structure, well-equipped with a private pool called the Kullipura Mallika was beautified with granite rock paved steps leading to river Manimala. (This can still be seen now in Angadikadavu of Puramattam panchayat) Once, while the ruling king of Edappally was having his rest in the Elangalloor Maddom, he observed few people coming on a vallam singing melodious hymns and chanting prayers. The king immediately stepped down to the river bank for better observation and found it to be a funeral procession, with the corpse on the floating hearse covered with white cloths. He learned that procession started from Manimala and was heading to Niranam Church for the burial, since Niranam Church was the only Christian church in central Travancore those days. Subsequent to the burial of the first dead body on the ground, a handful of Nasranis.^{[clarification needed]}

This sight moved the Kings heart and having realized the hardship of his Christian subjects, he virtually pointed a plot on the other side of the river, gave sanction to bury the body and built a church there. Though there is no clear evidence of the origin and age of the church, folklore says that the foundation stone was consecrated on 3rd (Malayalam calendar). The stone day of the church is being celebrated on that day. The founding stone of the present church was laid on Malayalam month Karkadakam 3rd of 515.

Early challenges[]

It was during the time of Adangappurathu Valiya Avirah Tharakan, around AD 1750, that the Kalloopara St. Mary's Orthodox church was ordered to be demolished by a Judge from Travancore High Court, Quilon, as the church had incurred huge debts. Adangappurathu Valiya Avirah Tharakan was grandson of Avirah Tharakan of Sankara Puri and Maria/Shri Devi – niece of the Edappally King; the couple came and settled down in Puramattom at "vacated Theramel Illam" in AD 1669. After the court hearings, the judge ordered the entire church building to be demolished and its land to be taken over by the creditor (Pocku Moosa Haji – Quilon). Church members went across the river and informed Valiya Avirah Tharakan. Valiya Avirah Tharakan immediately paid off all of its debts by a form of gold "bananas" from the ara ('safe'), and took control of the church and its property. While holding complete control of Perumpranad district on behalf of the Edappally King, Valiya Avirah Tharakan at his own cost took the privilege of rebuilding St. Mary's Orthodox Church for a better outlook (around AD 1755). Some parts of that construction and artwork of the church are still remarkably visible inside, particularly the altar and the roof areas. In recent years, this historical church has grown remarkably as a result of the constant efforts of its enthusiastic members and the outstanding leadership of its vicars from time to time. Many parts of the church were renovated and more buildings were built for other activities to keep up with the pace. In AD 1669 when Avirah Tharakan of Shankara Puri and his wife Maria/Shri Devi (niece of Edappally King) arrived, they restored law and order in the Perumpanad district (Kallooppara was the headquarters of Perumpanad district). All religious groups have lived in harmony since then and no more blood was shed in the region in the name of religion. Today, this beautiful church remains not only as one of the oldest churches in Travancore, but it also has its own unique pride and credibility in the Malankara Orthodox Church as a pilgrim center. The Aaruveedan family stood courageously for the existence of this church despite of many obstacles as a result of religious riots and conflicts up until 1750.

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Kannur	St. Mary's Forane Church, Edoor
Wayanad	Pallikunnu Church St. Jude's Church, Chundale St. Mary's Church, Meenangadi St. George Forane Church Kallody, Wayanad
Kozhikode	St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Maikavu St George's Syro-Malabar Forane Church, Kulathuvayal Vattal Kurishu Palli
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Ernakulam	Marthoma Cheriapally Kothamangalam St.Mary's Cathedral Kothamangalam Mar Sabor and Mar Proth Church, Akaparambu Church of Our Lady of Hope CSI Immanuel Church, Ernakulam Don Bosco Church, North Paravur Holy Magi Syro-Malabar Forane Church, Muvattupuzha Kadamattom Church Karingachira Church St. Peter and St. Paul's Church, Kolenchery Kottakkavu Mar Thoma Syro-Malabar Church, North Paravur Little Flower Church, Kaprassery Mar Hormizd Syro-Malabar Church, Angamaly St. Mary's Forane Church, Arakuzha Marthoma Cheria Pally Kothamangalam Mary Queen Church, Thoppil Nadamel Marth Mariam Church Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica, Kochi Vallarpadam Basilica Varapuzha Basilica St George church, Vypin St Louis Church, Mundamveli St Thomas' Church, Thuruthur Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church, Manjummel St. Antony's Church, Kodanad St. Francis Church, Kochi St. George Syro-Malabar Basilica, Angamaly St. George's Forane Church, Edappally St. George's Syro-Malabar Church, Thalayolaparambu St. John the Baptist Church, South Parur St. Jude Church, Kidangoor St. Mary's Simhasana Church, Veliyanad St. Sebastian's Church, Udayamperoor St. Thomas More Syro-Malabar Church, Alakode (Meenmutty) St. Thomas Church, Kokkamangalam St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Church, Malayattoor St. Philomena's Forane Church, Koonammavu St.Thomas Dayara, Vettikkal
Idukki	Pattumala Matha Church St. Mary's Forane Church, Karimannoor St Sebastian's Church, Neyyassery
Kottayam	Holy Family Syro-Malabar Church, Mannila Immaculate Heart of Mary Cathedral, Kottayam Mar Aphrem Church St Antony's Syro-Malabar Forane Church, Kurumpanadam St. George Orthodox Church, Puthuppally St. George's Syro-Malabar Catholic Forane Church, Aruvithura St. Mary's Church, Kottayam St. Mary's Jacobite Syrian Cathedral, Manarcad St Mary's Metropolitan Cathedral, Changanassery St. Mary's Syro-Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Church Kuravilangad St. Thomas Cathedral, Pala St. Thomas Church, Arunoottimangalam Vettikkunnel church
Alappuzha	Basilica of St. Mary, Champakulam St. Andrew's Basilica, Arthunkal Kattachira Church Marthoma Church, Cheppad Pazhaya Suriyani Pally St. Bursouma's Church, Attuva St. George's Church, Cheppad St. George Orthodox Church, Cheppad St. Mary's Orthodox Cathedral, Puthencavu St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church, Pallipad
Pathanamthitta	Arohana Marthoma Church, Anicadu Bethel Marthoma Church, Chengara Holy Innocents' Church, Mezhuveli Kadammanittapally Kadampanad Church Kannamcode Cathedral Mar Thoma Sleeha Syro-Malabar Church, Thulappally Nilackal St.Thomas Church Sacred Heart Church, Mylapra St. George Orthodox Church, Chandanapally St. George Orthodox Church, Mylapra St. Ignatius Monastery Manjinikkara St. John's Cathedral, Tiruvalla St. Mary's Church, Niranam St Mary's Orthodox Church, Kallooppara Saint Paul's Orthodox Church St. Thomas Marthoma Church, Kozhencherry
Kollam	Dutch Church, Munroe Island Infant Jesus Cathedral Mount Tabor Monastery, Pathanapuram St Andrew's Church, Kovilthottam St Antony's Church, Kanjiracode St Elijah Orthodox Syrian Church St. George's Church, Chathannoor St. Mary's Cathedral, Kundara St. Mary's Cathedral, Punalur St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Avaneeswaram St. Mary's Salem Orthodox Church, Manappally
Thiruvananthapuram	All Saints Syro Malabar Church Cathedral of Saint Mary, Pattom Mateer Memorial Church Pentecostal Maranatha Gospel Church St. Joseph's Cathedral, Trivandrum St. Mary, Queen of Peace Basilica St. Theresa of Lisieux Catholic Church, Vellayambalam St. Xavier's Church, Peyad
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St Mary's Orthodox Church, Kallooppara

Contents

Church history[]

Early challenges[]

References[]

External links[]