Kothamangalam Church, Kerala
The St. Thomas Church in Kothamangalam is also known as Kothamangalam Cheriyapally, Kothamangalam Pally and Kothamangalam Marthoman Pally. The Church is located in the Kothamangalam town of Ernakulam district and is one of the major Christian pilgrim centers. The Church is considered to be established in the year 1455 and is under the administration of the Malankara Jacobite Syrian Church.
The Marthoman Cheriyapally in Kothamangalam was built by a group of 18 families who got separated from the Martha Mariam Valiyapall, which was the first Church of Kothamangalam.
The Kothamangalam Cheriyapally became famous after the arrival of a Persian Bishop named Yeldo Mar Baselious, who was later buried in the altar room of the Church. Ever since, the Kothamangalam has become one of the most prominent Christian pilgrimage centers in Kerala, which is being visited by a huge number of devotees on a regular basis.
It is believed that the Bishop Saint Baselios Yeldo reached the Kothamangalam Church in the year 1685 and upon his arrival, the bell of the Church started sounding loud and the people around the Church came and gathered to know what was happening. They were really surprised to know that a Bishop from Persia has arrived at Kothamangalam Church. Saint Baselios Yeldo stayed in the Church for some time and he left the world at the age of 92.
He was entombed inside the Church and it was after that the Kothamangalam Church become a center of attraction for the devotees. People started experiencing several miracles and blessings after praying at the tomb of the Bishop.
The main festival or feast of the Kothamangalam Church is the Kanni 20 Perunnal and this is also known as the Dhukrono feast of the Saint Yeldo Mar Baselious who is entombed within the Church. The Kanni 20 Perunnal is celebrated on the 2nd and 3rd of October every year and the feast attracts a lot of believers from across the world. People take part in the feast irrespective of religion and caste. There will be a huge crowd in the Church premises during the even the Kothamangalam Cheriyapally Perunnal.
Kothamangalam is also blessed with various other religious institutions such as Thrikariyoor Temple, mosques, St. George Cathedral and St. Mary’s Church (Marthamariyam Valiyapally).
The Kothamangalam Church owns and runs several educational institutions, which have really helped the people living in and nearby places. Some of the major educational institutions of Kothamangalam Cheriyapally includes:
- Mar Baselios Medical Mission Hospital, Kothamangalam
- Mar Athanasius College of Engineering, Kothamangalam
- Mar Athanasius College, Kothamangalam
- Mar Athanasius College High School, Kothamangalam
- Mar Basil Higher Secondary School, Kothamangalam
- Mar Baselios Dental College, Kothamangalam
There are also a lot of tourist destinations in and around Kothamangalam and some of them are also the major ones in the country. When you come from Kochi, Kothamangalam town is on the way towards Munnar, which is a popular tourist destination in Kerala. There are also various other travel places of interest that you can enjoy near Kothamangalam.
Most of the tourists who come to the travel places near Kothamangalam, do pay a visit to this Church and hence the Kothamangalam Church has a significant place in the tourism map of Kerala.
Address:
Mar Thoma Cheriapally
Kothamangalam P.O
Kothamangalam, Eranakulam
Kerala, India
Pin: 686691
Telephone: 0485 2862462, 2862362
E-mail: marthomacheriapally@gmail.com
Website: http://www.cheriapally.org/