St. Mary's Syro-Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Church Kuravilangad

Marth Mariam Syro-Malabar Church is a church belonging to the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church located at Kuravilangad in Kottayam district, India. Claiming to date to 105 AD, the church has an ancient bell with the engraving “Mother of God” in the Syriac language; three majestic bells were brought from Germany in 1911 and are among the largest in Asia.

The church is also known for its ''Kappalottam'' or "racing ship," a commemoration of the biblical story of Jonah and the Whale.

History

Early Christians

The Christians of Kuravilangad has a history of 1st century. As per the belief Saint Thomas, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ came to Kerala in AD 52. Later he installed a church at Palayur, Chavakkad, presently in Thrissur District of Kerala. He baptised some Hindu families at St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Church, Palayur. The families include Kalli, Kalikavu, Pakalomattom and Sankarapuri. Among the families later flew from Palayur were settled in different parts of Kerala. Kalli and Kalikavu families settled in Kunnamkulam of Thrissur and Pakalomattom and Sankarapuri families settled in Kuravilangad of Kottayam district.

The Church

The Church of Corlengate uravilangaduwas built much before the Portuguese reached India. It is in the name of the Mother of God. It was founded for the following reason.History Document about Kuravilangad church(Sarah Knight)
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Apparitions at Kuravilangad

Following the routine life style of the primordial folk at Kuravilangad, tending sheep, some children set out for tending sheep early morning to the molehills of Kuravilangad. Hunger and thirst caused by the sizzling heat compelled them to search for springs and edible roots and tubers. Their hunt for food and water carried them a long way away from their homes and had been trapped in the meandering paths in the jungle. As they had been conscious of the immense power of God, the succor of the suffering, the hungry, and the beacon of light to those lost in a jungle, the children pleaded to God to rain food and drink on them.

In response to their ardent supplications, in the desolate forest, an aristocratic granny (Muthiyamma) with a child carrying a cross in his hands appeared to the children. Having understood upon query the reason for their distress, the granny, picked up stones and gave to the children. The stones in their hands were transformed into bread. To quench their thirst, Muthiyamma with her fingers quarried the soil in front of them and water gushed out of it like a spring anon. Having quenched their thirst and hunger, the children looked for the granny but they could not find her. Since it was already dusk, the children returned home in amazement. Later, as ages passed, time trumpeted aloud this unusual incident as the first apparition of Bl. Virgin Mary ever in the history of world.

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CHURCH

The children narrated the whole incident, the apparition of Muthiyamma, and how she satiated their hunger and thirst to their parents the moment they reached home, with wonder and amazement. Unable to believe their ears and considering the whole episode unusual and unnatural, the elders accompanied by the children soon set out to the forest. When they arrived at the spot the children had indicated, they were petrified upon perceiving a spring over brimming with crystal clear water in an otherwise drought stricken area. Noticing the extraordinariness of what has transpired, they stared at each other in awe and surprise. Blessed Virgin Mary, carrying infant Jesus, appeared once again and directed them to build a Church in her name at that very spot. As the people genuflected to pay their homage to Muthiyamma, she just vanished.

THE MOTHER WHO RAISED THE CROSS

In the 16 C. the believers at Kuravilangad, fetched a gigantic granite Cross, the sign of salvation, to be erected in front of the Church. Attempts to lift the Cross and fix it met with incessant failures. Finding no way to raise the gigantic cross people became both frustrated and helpless, and then a dignified lady with a child carrying a cross appeared before them and consoled and comforted the disconcerted people. She offered her help. The moment she laid her right hand on the cross, it could be lifted very easily. Generations still believe that it had been Muthiyamma’s second apparition. People, especially on first Fridays, flock to the foot of the cross to seek her blessings by lighting oil lamps.

STRENGTHENING AND FORTIFYING BELIEF

Jornada the travelogue of Don Alexis De Menezis, the Archbishop of Goa, written by Rev. Fr. Antonio De Guvya, about his visit to Kuravilangad in connection with the synod at Udayamperoor (Diamper Synod), mentions about another apparition of Bl. Virgin Mary at Kuravilangad. He vouchsafes that he wrote it after having interviewed the non-Christian youth who had the apparition of Bl. Virgin Mary. Fr. Antonia writes: An affluent and respected non-Christian youth who lived near the Church, having a thorough knowledge about Christian faith, used to frequently visit the Church, chant Christian prayers and even teach them to others but was never prepared to receive baptism because of the existing law that had had the power to confiscate the property and wealth of any convert. Once, struck by a severe illness beyond the powers of medicine, he pleaded to Bl. Virgin Mary to cure him. In response to his fervent prayers, a person in the guise of a priest along with an extremely beautiful lady appeared before him and chastised him for his reluctance to receive baptism. They directed him to make the sign of the cross and the moment he completed the sign of the cross, he was perfectly cured. Yet still afraid of losing his wealth on becoming a catholic, he prolonged it sine die. However, he requested the parish priest to baptize him at the moment of his death. Fr. Antony ends the narration with a query: Can a person who endlessly refrain from the sacraments receive the benediction of God?

MUTHIYAMMA: THE MENTOR OF PRIESTS

Chevalier, V.C. George, in his work, Kuravilangad Marth Mariam Church and the St. Thomas Christians, quotes from manuscripts of Fr.Vichensa De Maria about another apparition of Muthiyamma. Pope Alexander VII delegated some priests from Rome to pacify the faction that had formed after the Diamper synod. Residing at the presbytery of Kuravilangad, they operated incessantly and laboriously to reunify the Church. A priest of this group once was trapped in a forest. Finding no way out of the labyrinth, he called upon Bl. Virgin Mary to rescue him. Immediately, a girl appeared and having him guided out of the forest to the presbytery, she disappeared. The priest, recognizing the incident, as an intervention of Muthiyamma, thanked her profusely.

THE APPARITION OF MUTHYIAMMA FOR THE PROSPERTY OF THE CHURCH

Mar Francis Rose’s report of 1604, on the Churches in Malabar, still kept in the British Library, narrates yet about another vision of Muthiyamma at Kuravilangad. She appeared to a believer thrice requesting to strive for the prosperity of the Church. She entrusted the believer the task of initiating the titivation of the Church, in her first and second apparitions. Having found no response, it is reported that the Mother appeared a third time carrying a stick in her hand, chastised the person and directed him harshly to carry out her orders without delay.
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Gallery

File:Tomb of Palliveettil Mar Chandy Metropolitan and Gate of All India.jpg, Tomb of Palliveettil Mar Chandy, inside the Madbaha of Church.
File:Bell at Kuravilangad.jpg, Bell at Kuravilangad with Syriac inscription
File:Bell House at Kuravilangad.jpg, Bell House at Kuravilangad Church
File:Music House at Kuravilangad.jpg, Music House at Kuravilangad Church
File:Nazraney Sthambams.jpg, Cross in front of the Church

References

Bibliography

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Shrines to the Virgin Mary
Churches in Kottayam district
Syro-Malabar Catholic church buildings
Ancient churches of the Saint Thomas Christians (pre-1606)