Kottakkavu Mar Thoma Syro-Malabar Pilgrim Church, North Paravur

Kottakkavu Mar Thoma Pally
Kottakkavu Mar Thoma Syro-Malabar Pilgrim Church, North Paravur
Location	North Paravur
Country	India
Denomination	Syro-Malabar Catholic Church[1]
History
Founded	52
Founder(s)	St. Thomas the Apostle[2]
Dedication	St. Thomas
Past bishop(s)	Mar Varkey Vithayathil
Associated people	Saint Thomas Christians
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Administration
Diocese	Syro-Malabar Catholic Major Archeparchy of Ernakulam-Angamaly[3]
Clergy
Bishop(s)	Maran Mar George Alencherry

Kottakkavu Mar Thoma Syro-Malabar Pilgrim Church, North Paravur is a Syro-Malabar church established in 52 AD by St. Thomas, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ.^[4][5] It is the first church in India and is called an Apostolic Church credited to the Apostolate of St. Thomas who preached and also started conversion of people to Syriac Christianity here. It was part of the Ezharappallikal (seven churches) that he established in India; the other six churches were established at Kodungalloor, Kokkamangalam, Palayoor, Kollam, Niranam, and Nilackal.^[6][7]

History

Ramban Pattu

The Saint reached Kottakkayal

Where he taught the Holy Way

There within a span of a year

One thousand seven hundred

And another seventy of them

Were christened by baptism

Mar Sabor and Mar Proth

Mar Sabor and Mar Proth came from Persia to Malankara in the 9th century. They built and presided over a number of churches in Malankara operating in accordance with Saint Thomas Christians. The second church of Kottakkavu was rebuilt at this time. After their death they were remembered as saints and their name was given to this church. Kottakkavu Sliva, a Persian cross engraved on granite stone by Mar Sabor and Mar Proth, is preserved in the chapel in front of the church.^[8][9]

Old church

The existing old church, the third church, was built in 1308. Pope Gregory XIII raised the altar of this church to the status of privileged altar in 1575. The ruined old church is again reconstructed in the 21st century.

Gallery

• 
  Kottakkavu Sliba, a Persian cross founded by Mar Sabor and Mar Proth, is preserved at Kottakkavu Mar Thoma Syro-Malabar Pilgrim Center
• 
  Kottakkavu Old Church
• 
  Cemetery of Kottakkavu Syro-Malabar Church
• 
  Tomb of Francis Roz, Metropolitan of Kodungalloor Archeparchy, inside Kottakkavu Old Church
• 
  Kottakkavu Pond where St. Thomas baptized Jews

References

1. Shyama Rajagopal (2013-09-21). "In Paravur, a slideshow of history". Thehindu.com. Retrieved 2015-07-02.
2. "Kottakkavu church - place of religious importance, Ernakulam, Kerala, Muziris History". Keralatourism.org. 2002-08-15. Retrieved 2015-07-02.
3. "Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly". Ernakulamarchdiocese.org. Retrieved 2015-07-02.
4. "Syro Malabar Church Chronology". Syromalabarchurch.in. 1911-01-01. Retrieved 2015-07-02.
5. Gazetter 1986, pp. 38, 623
6. "History | Payyappilly Palakkappilly Nasrani". Payyappilly.org. Retrieved 2015-07-02.
7. A Sreedhara Menon (2007). A Survey Of Kerala History. D C Books. p. 39. ISBN 8126415789.
8. Dale A. Johnson (2013). Searching for Jesus on the Silk Road. Lulu.com. p. 58. ISBN 1300435313.
9. "Stone Crosses of Kerala". Nasrani.net. January 16, 2007.