St. Mary's Orthodox Syrian Cathedral, Piravom, also known as Piravom

Valiyapally Valiyapally (Malayalam: വലിയ പള്ളി, "Principal church") is a title given to a main church in a diocese of the Christian denominations Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church and Jacobite Syrian Christian Church. For a church to be de ...

, is a prominent church that belongs to the

Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (MOSC) also known as the Indian Orthodox Church (IOC) or simply as the Malankara Church, is an autocephalous Oriental Orthodox church headquartered in Devalokam, near Kottayam, India. The church serve ...

. The church stands on a hilltop on the eastern bank of the Muvattupuzha river at Piravom, 35 km. east of Kochi. The church was built by the ancient Syrian Christians in the name of Holy Mary. It is a pilgrimage center for Syrian Christians in Kerala. The church stands on a hilltop on the eastern bank of the Muvattupuzha river at Piravom, 35 km. east of Kochi.

Important festivals

Denaha (Annual celebration of the holy Baptism of Christ) on

January 6 Events Pre-1600 *1066 – Following the death of Edward the Confessor on the previous day, the Witan meets to confirm Harold Godwinson as the new King of England; Harold is crowned the same day, sparking a succession crisis that will eve ...

is the main celebration in the church. The best attraction of the festival is the procession. The 'Paithel Nercha' (the feast for 12 male children) on the Easter Day at the Piravom church is one of the major offerings dedicated to the church. The main part of the offering is 12 infants who will sit with the priest who sanctifies the offering, and they will be offered food. The Festival of St. George on May 7 and St. Mary on August 15 are other main festivals.

2019 conflict between Jacobite and Orthodox

A disagreement between the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church and the

over who has custody over the Piravom Valiyapally since the two denominations split apart in 1912. On 3 July 2017, the Supreme Court of India ruled that the church was the property of the latter. On 24 September 2019, a standoff over who controls the church developed between members of the two churches. Over 700 police personnel were deployed to keep the calm. The situation came to a head on 25 September when the MOSC members with help of police blocked the Jacobite faithful from entering the church on a court order. Majority church members are Jacobite faithfuls. The main reason for this church to come under feud is because this church consists of properties built by the Jacobite community, but the church was taken from the Jacobite faithful under immense police presence and dozens of Jacobite faithfuls were arrested. The two day standoff came to an end on 26 September when Kerala police forcibly evicted the Jacobite faithful occupying the church. On 28 September the Indian Orthodox members took over the church, although Jacobites continued to protest outside, and plan to build a church close by.

References

External links

{{Churches of Kerala Churches in Ernakulam district Cathedrals in Kerala 6th-century churches