Basilica of St. Mary, Champakulam

Champakulam Kalloorkadu Marth Maryam (St. Mary's) Basilica (Valia Palli), Kerala
Champakulam St. Mary's Syro-Malabar Catholic Church (Kalloorkkadu Palli) / Valia Palli. This is the view from the North East side.
Basic information
Location Champakulam, Alappuzha, Kerala, India
Geographic coordinates 9°24′33″N 76°24′40″E / 9.40917°N 76.41111°E / 9.40917; 76.41111Coordinates: 9°24′33″N 76°24′40″E / 9.40917°N 76.41111°E / 9.40917; 76.41111
Affiliation Syro-Malabar Catholic Church
District Alappuzha District
Year consecrated AD 427
Ecclesiastical or organizational status Minor Basilica
Website http://champakulampally.com/

Champakulam Kalloorkadu Marth Maryam (St. Mary's) Basilica (Malayalam: ചമ്പക്കുളം വലിയ പള്ളി) is an ancient Christian Church in Kerala. It belongs to the Syro-Malabar Church under the Archeparchy of Changanacherry. It is a Forane church, with several Parishes under it.

History

Champakulam Kalloorkadu Marth Maryam Basilica (also called Champakulam Valia Palli) is one of the oldest Christian churches in India[1][2][3] and the mother church of almost all Catholic Syrian churches in Alleppey District. It is the first one under the church at Niranam which is believed to have been founded by St.Thomas,the Apostle himself. Believed to be established in AD 427.[4] Rebuilt many times and the many rock inscriptions found around the church tell us about the history of the church. The open air Rock Cross at Champakulam church is one of the most ancient ones with clear documentation of its antiquity up to AD 1151. There are many archaeological artifacts found around the church about its history. Champakulam church was once under Niranam Church, which was founded by the Apostle Saint Thomas himself.. Champakulam Church had very friendly relations with the Jacobite Syrian group and had a pivotal role in many ecumenical efforts in the Eighteenth century. One of the martyrs of East Syriac Catholics (nasranis), Ikkako Kathanar was born to this parish.

Champakulam church has been recognised by the Universal Church as a Basilica. On 27 November 2016, the church was officially declared as a Basilica by Pope Francis and Mar Joseph perumthottam, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Changanacherry, announced the letter of Pope in Kerala. This is the first Basilica in the archdiocese of Changanasserry, 4th in the Syro Malabar Church, 9th in Kerala and the 23rd basilica in India.

Church At Glance[5]

  • Parish  : Champakulam
  • Forane  : Champakulam
  • Diocese : Changanacherry
  • Patron  : St. Mary
  • First Church : AD 427
  • Priests  : 4
  • Vicar :Very Rev. Fr. Joseph Vaniyapurackal
  • Asst.Vicars

(1): Fr. Thomas Chekonthayil

  • Catholic Population  : 6500
  • Catholic Families  : 1378
  • Phone : 0477-2736252

Holy Qurbana Timings

  • Sundays : 6.00AM, 7.30AM, 9.30AM, 4.00PM
  • Other Days : 6.00AM, 7.00AM
  • Wednesdays : 6.30AM, 4.00PM

Famous Parishioners

There are many famous parishioners in the history of Kalloorkadu church. One of them is the martyr of the church, Ikkako Kathanar.

Ikkako Kathanar- the forgotten martyr of Catholic Saint Thomas Christians

Ikkako Kathanar was a priest from this parish who became martyr in the hand of Portuguese for protecting the East Syriac tradition of the indigenous catholic church of India (Nasranis) mainly along the malabar coast. Till the arrival of Europeans Nasranis were belonging to the East Syriac rites in the Catholic Church. The Europeans under the Padroado and Propaganda tried to forcefully convert the nasranis into western or Latin rite. Ikkako Kathanar is one of the faithful of the church who tried to resist this illegal attempt which extended over more than five centuries. He attained martyrdom under the hands of propaganda carmelites during this.

Annual Feasts

Apart from general Christian Holy celebrations like Christmas, Good Friday & Easter (Holy week) etc., there are two main yearly feasts (മലയാളം: പെരുന്നാള്‍).

Feast of Mother Mary / Marian apparition(ദര്‍ശനതിരുന്നാള്‍)

The Feast of the Apparition lasts for 11 days of pious celebrations and concludes on the Sunday following 15 October.

Commemoration of the Death of St. Joseph (യൌസേപ്പ് പിതാവിന്റെ മരണ തിരുന്നാള്‍)

This is a 'shradham- Chatham' conducted in commemoration of the death of St. Joseph is held on 19 March every year. It attracts thousands of devotees to Kalloorkadu Church from far of places.[6]

Moonnu Noyambu Perunnaal of Champakulam

Champakulam Church is one of the ancient churches in which "Moonnu Noyambu Perunnaal-(Three day fast- Rogation of Ninevites) celebrated regularly which has been discontinued in the recent past. There are clear documentation about the Moonnu noyambu perunaal of champakulam in the records about the financial help and support from the Kings of Chempakasserry for the feast.

Parishes Under Champakulam Forane

  1. Champakulam (Kalloorkad) St. Mary’s Syro-Malabar Catholic Church 0477-2736252
  2. Kondackal St. Joseph’s Syro-Malabar Catholic Church 0477-2736216
  3. Pullangady Holy Family Syro-Malabar Catholic Church 0477-2736346
  4. Thekkekara St. John's Syro-Malabar Catholic Church 0477-2707031
  5. Vadakkeamichakari St. George’s Syro-Malabar Catholic Church 0477-2707075
  6. Vaisyambhagam St. Antony’s Syro-Malabar Catholic Church 0477-2736501
  7. St. Joseph's Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Chennamkary 0477-2724237
  8. Kandankary St. Joseph’s Syro-Malabar Catholic Church 0477-2736278
  9. Narbonapuram St. Sebastian’s Syro-Malabar Catholic Church 0477-2762205
  10. Nazareth St. Jerome's Syro-Malabar Catholic Church 0477-2762205
  11. Sleevapuram Syro-Malabar Catholic Church(Ponga) 0477-2762188
  12. Chennamkary Lourdes Matha Syro-Malabar Catholic Church 0477-
  13. Padaharam St.Joseph's Syro-Malabar Catholic Church

Religious Houses In the Parish

  • Gagultha Ashram CMI
  • SABS (The Congregation of the sisters of the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament) Convent.
    • SABS was founded on 8 December 1908 at Champakulam in Kerala.[7] It had its origin in the personal experience of the Eucharistic presence of the servant of God Thomas Kurialacherry (1873-1925) the first bishop of Changanacherry.
  • Kurialasserry Bhavan (SABS)
  • Clara madhom & Orphanage for young girls, Kondakkal.

Other institutions under the Parish

  • St. Mary's LP School
  • St. Mary's High School[8]
  • St. Mary's Higher Secondary School Champakulam
  • St. Joseph's Mission Hospital

Parish Hall

Initially, there was a small Parish Hall with about hundred seats. A few years back, a bigger Parish Hall was constructed. The latest, inaugurated on 1.3.2011 has 800+ seats

St. Mary's Theological Center

Inaugurated in 2011.

Location (Wikimapia)

Champakulam Valia Palli on the Pampa River west bank. You can also see the Champakulam bridge under construction which will connect the east and west banks
Champakulam Valia Palli from the South East side.
Champakulam Valia Palli from the South East side.
Closer look of Champakulam Valia Palli
Closer look of Champakulam Valia Palli

Catholic Organizations

References

  1. ↑ "Champakulam Kalloorkkadu St Mary's Church- The Hidden Pearl in Nasrani History".
  2. ↑ "Archdiocese Of Changancherry".
  3. ↑ "Ancient Churches".
  4. ↑ "Ancient Churches with traditional dates of foundation & Stone Crosses of Kerala- Saint Thomas Cross, Nazraney Sthambams and other Persian Crosses".
  5. ↑ "St. Mary's Church, Kalloorkadu".
  6. ↑ "Church feast and festivals in Central Kerala-Kottayam".
  7. ↑ "Sisters of the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament".
  8. ↑ "St.Mary's High School Champakulam".
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