Kottakkavu Mar Thoma Syro-Malabar Pilgrim Church is a

Syro-Malabar The Syro-Malabar Church, also known as the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, is an Eastern Catholic church based in Kerala, India. It is a '' sui iuris'' (autonomous) particular church in full communion with the Holy See and the worldwide Cathol ...

church located in

North Paravur North Paravur (; formerly known as Paravur or Parur), is a municipality in the Ernakulam district of Kerala, India. It is located north of the district collectorate in Thrikkakara and about north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. N ...

. According to

Saint Thomas Christian The Saint Thomas Christians, also called Syrian Christians of India, ''Marthoma Suriyani Nasrani'', ''Malankara Nasrani'', or ''Nasrani Mappila'', are an ethno-religious community of Indian Christians in the state of Kerala ( Malabar region) ...

tradition, the church was established in 52 AD by St. Thomas (Mar Thoma shleeha), one of the twelve apostles of

Jesus Christ Jesus (AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, and many Names and titles of Jesus in the New Testament, other names and titles, was a 1st-century Jewish preacher and religious leader. He is the Jesus in Chris ...

. It is one of the first churches 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 Syriac Christianity (, ''Mšiḥoyuṯo Suryoyto'' or ''Mšiḥāyūṯā Suryāytā'') is a branch of Eastern Christianity of which formative Christian theology, theological writings and traditional Christian liturgy, liturgies are expressed in ...

here. It is one of the '' Ezharappallikal'' (seven Royal churches) that he established in India; the other six churches were established at

Kodungalloor Kodungallur (; formerly also called as Cranganore (anglicised name), Portuguese: Cranganor; Mahodayapuram, Shingly, Vanchi, Muchiri, Muyirikkode, and Muziris) is a historically significant town situated on the banks of river Periyar on the M ...

, Kokkamangalam,

Palayoor Palayūr, also called Palayoor and historically as Palur, is a town near Chavakkad, Thrissur district, India. It is famous for its ancient church, St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Palayur, Palayur Mar Thoma Church, which is believed to be ...

Kollam Kollam (;), is an ancient seaport and the List of cities and towns in Kerala, fourth largest city in the Indian state of Kerala. Located on the southern tip of the Malabar Coast of the Arabian Sea, the city is on the banks of Ashtamudi Lake ...

Niranam Niranam is a village in Thiruvalla, Kerala, India. It was a port in ancient Kerala, on the confluence of the Manimala River, Manimala and Pamba River. It is almost 7 km from Tiruvalla in Pathanamthitta District of Kerala, lies to the wester ...

, and Nilackal.

History

Mar Sabor and Mar Proth

Mar Sabor and Mar Proth Mar Sabor and Mar Proth, according to Saint Thomas Christians, Syrian Christians of Kerala, were two Church of the East Bishops believed to have arrived in 825 AD alongside a group of Christian settlers led by a merchant from Persia. Together, ...

came from

Persia Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...

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 Saint Thomas Christians, also called Syrian Christians of India, ''Marthoma Suriyani Nasrani'', ''Malankara Nasrani'', or ''Nasrani Mappila'', are an Ethnoreligious group, ethno-religious community of Indian Christians in the state of Ker ...

. 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. MS Vatican Syriac N. iv., dated A.D. 1556, and has the following colophon in folio 278:

"By the help of our Lord we have finished this book of the Prophets; it was written on a Monday, the 18th of February, in the year 1556 of the birth of our Lord. I, priest Jacob, the disciple of Mar Jacob, and from the village of Puraur, have written this book in the holy Church of Mar Shapur and Mar Iapot iruz May the holy name of God be praised for ever. Amen!"

Old church

The existing old church, the third church, was built in 1308. The ruined old church was again reconstructed in the 21st century.

Gallery

File:Kottakkavu Sliva founded by Mar Sabor and Mar Proth.jpg, Kottakkavu Slīva, a Persian cross founded by

, is preserved at Kottakkavu Mar Thoma Syro-Malabar Pilgrim Center File:Kottakkavu Mar Thoma Syro-Malabar Pilgrim Church (Old) founded by St. Thomas.jpg, Kottakkavu Old Church File:Cemetry of Kottakkavu Mar Thoma Syro-Malabar Pilgrim Church founded by St. Thomas.jpg, Cemetery of Kottakkavu Syro-Malabar Church File:Tomb inside Kottakkavu Mar Thoma Syro-Malabar Pilgrim Church.jpg, Tomb of Francis Roz, Metropolitan of Kodungalloor Archeparchy, inside Kottakkavu Old Church File:Kottakkavu Pond where St. Thomas baptized Jews.jpg, Kottakkavu Pond where St. Thomas baptized Jews

References

Bibliography

* * {{Churches of Kerala Syro-Malabar Catholic church buildings Churches in Ernakulam district North Paravur Eastern Catholic churches in Kerala Ēḻarappaḷḷikaḷ