Marth Mariyam Metropolitan Cathedral, also known as Valiyapally, is the cathedral of the
Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Changanassery (''Archieparchia Changanacherrensis'') and also a
Marian pilgrimage centre in
Kerala
Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South ...
, India.
History
The local Christian community in and around Changanachery inherits its faith directly from
St. Thomas the Apostle, who formed a Christian community of faithful, centered on
Niranam
Niranam is a village in Tiruvalla, 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 SCS Junction in Pathanamthitta District of Kerala, lies t ...
in the 1st century. The first church in Changanachery was established in 1177. The plot of land for the church was donated by the local Hindu king of
Thekkumkoor
The Kingdom of Thekkumkur ( ml, തെക്കുംകൂർ രാജ്യം) (also transliterated as ''Thekkumkoor'' or ''Thekkumcore'') was an independent kingdom in the southern part of Kerala in India from 1103 CE until 1750 CE.P. Shung ...
. The current church is the fourth one in its place. The church was reconstructed and consecrated in 1887. The cathedral is ornamented with ancient Hindu temple carvings.
References
{{Authority control
Eastern Catholic cathedrals in Kerala
Churches in Kottayam district
Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Changanassery
Syro-Malabar Catholic cathedrals
Churches completed in 1887
Changanassery