St. Mary's Church, Niranam

St. Mary's Orthodox Syrian Church
St. Mary's Orthodox Syrian Church

9°20′35″N 76°31′39″E / 9.343044°N 76.5275°E / 9.343044; 76.5275
Country	India
Denomination	Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church
Website	www.niranamchurch.com
History
Founded	AD 54
Founder(s)	Thomas the Apostle
Relics held	St. Thomas the Apostle
Administration
Diocese	Niranam Diocese
Clergy
Bishop(s)	His Grace Dr Yuhanon Mar Chrysostomos

St. Mary's Orthodox Syrian Church, Niranam, is a church under the Niranam Diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. It is historically believed that this is the one of the seven churches founded by Thomas the Apostle, one of the twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ, in AD 52.^[1]

History

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Niranam Pally is one of the oldest churches in India. It is believed that the church was founded by St. Thomas, one of the twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ, in AD 54. The church was reconstructed several times since then. The stones in the church shows the reconstruction in 1259. St. Thomas, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ landed at Maliankara near Kodungallur around A.D.52. He established seven and half churches. Those are Kodungallur, Palayur, Kottakkavu, Kokkamangalam, Niranam, Chayal, Kollam and the half church at Thiruvithamkode. On his way from Kollam in northeast direction he arrived at Niranam "Thrikpapaleswaram" by sea.

It is believed to be one of the oldest churches in Kerala and thus in India as well as among the oldest ones in the world. The architecture shows striking similarities to ancient temple architecture. It is believed to have been established by St. Thomas.

Before the headquarters of Malankara Metropolitans was permanently relocated to the Orthodox Theological Seminary, Kottayam in 1815, the Niranam Church also served as the thronal cathedral and headquarters of Malankara Metropolitans during multiple periods between 1653 and 1815.

Today

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The present building, supposedly the fourth, was constructed in 1912 and was renovated during the year 2000. There are five altars at Niranam church. The main altar, the central one, is in the name of Saint Mary. This is used for regular services of the church.

There are two altars on the north and south of the main one. The altar on the northern side is consecrated to Saint George and the altar on the southern side is consecrated in the name of Mar Behnam.

There are two smaller altars, to the front of the main altar. The north among these is in the name of Saint Thomas. It is also the shrine of Mar Thoma II.Malankara Metropolitan of Malankara Orthodox Church

The southern among the small altars is consecrated to Saint Stephen. This is also the shrine of Mar Thoma V.

Granite cross

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The tall granite cross at the right side of the entrance is a relic of the past, probably from 1259, the time at which the third renovation of the church building took place. The base of the cross has carvings resembling a Hindu Temple.^[2]

Feasts

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Niranam Church celebrate the feasts of Saint Mary in whose name the church is dedicated, the feast of Saint Thomas who is the founder of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church and the Apostle of India and the feasts of Mar Thoma II and Mar Thoma V whose mortal remains are buried in the church.

Feast of Assumption of Saint Mary (Vaangipu perunnaal in Malayalam or Shoonoyo in Syriac) - 15 August
Eight Day Lent of Saint Mary Mother of Jesus - 1–8 September
Feast of Martyrdom of Saint Thomas - 21 December
Feast of Martyrdom of Mar Behnam - 27 December
Feasts of Mar Thoma II and Mar Thoma V - 10 May

Image gallery

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Niranam Pally - Inside
Inside View
Niranam Pally - South Side
Niranam Pally - North Side
Inscriptions inside the Church
Palm leaves preserved in the Church
Water wheel at Niranam Pally

Notes

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External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to St. Mary's Orthodox Syrian Church, Niranam.

v t e Christianity in Kerala
Denominations	Assemblies of God in India Chaldean Syrian Church Church of God (Full Gospel) in India Church of South India Indian Pentecostal Church of God Jacobite Syrian Christian Church Kerala Brethren Latin Catholic Church Malabar Independent Syrian Church Mar Thoma Syrian Church Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church The Salvation Army St. Thomas Evangelical Church of India Syro-Malabar Church Syro-Malankara Catholic Church The Pentecostal Mission
Religious organisations	Divine Retreat Centre, Muringoor Jerusalem Retreat Center Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council Parumala Seminary Potta Ashram Thrikkunnathu Seminary
Related	All India Catholic Union Angamaly police firing Arnos Pathiri Benjamin Bailey (missionary) Bible translations into Malayalam Carmelites of Mary Immaculate Christianity in India Congregation of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux Hermann Gundert Malankara-Persian ecclesiastical relations Maramon Convention Pentecostalism in Kerala Saint Thomas Christians Sister Abhaya murder case Sisters of the Destitute Synod of Diamper Syrian churches of Kerala Syrian Malabar Nasrani Varthamanappusthakam Niranam Grandhavari
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v t e Church buildings in Kerala, India
Kasaragod	Bela Church
Kannur	St. Mary's Forane Church, Edoor
Wayanad	Pallikunnu Church St. Jude's Church, Chundale St. Mary's Church, Meenangadi St. George Forane Church Kallody, Wayanad
Kozhikode	St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Maikavu St George's Syro-Malabar Forane Church, Kulathuvayal Vattal Kurishu Palli
Malappuram	Little Flower Forane Church, Nilambur St. George Orthodox Church, Chungathara St. Gregorios Orthodox Church, Velamcode
Palakkad	St. Raphael's Syro-Malabar Catholic Cathedral
Thrissur	Basilica of Our Lady of Dolours, Thrissur Fathima Matha Chapel, Kandeswaram Mar Sleeva Syro-Malabar Church, Mapranam Marth Mariam Cathedral Marth Mariam Cathedral Mary Matha Syro-Malabar Church, Ollur Our Lady of Lourdes Metropolitan Cathedral Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, West Chalakudy Pazhanji Church Pazhuvil Church St. Antony's Forane Church St. Francis Xavier's Church, Sampaloor St. Francis Xavier Forane Church, Velur St. Joseph Chapel, Americankettu North West St Mary's Church, Cheloor St. Mary's Syro-Malabar Forane Church, Chalakudy St. Thomas Cathedral, Irinjalakuda St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Church, Palayoor
Ernakulam	Marthoma Cheriapally Kothamangalam St.Mary's Cathedral Kothamangalam Mar Sabor and Mar Proth Church, Akaparambu Church of Our Lady of Hope CSI Immanuel Church, Ernakulam Don Bosco Church, North Paravur Holy Magi Syro-Malabar Forane Church, Muvattupuzha Kadamattom Church Karingachira Church St. Peter and St. Paul's Church, Kolenchery Kottakkavu Mar Thoma Syro-Malabar Church, North Paravur Little Flower Church, Kaprassery Mar Hormizd Syro-Malabar Church, Angamaly St. Mary's Forane Church, Arakuzha Marthoma Cheria Pally Kothamangalam Mary Queen Church, Thoppil Nadamel Marth Mariam Church Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica, Kochi Vallarpadam Basilica Varapuzha Basilica St George church, Vypin St Louis Church, Mundamveli St Thomas' Church, Thuruthur Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church, Manjummel St. Antony's Church, Kodanad St. Francis Church, Kochi St. George Syro-Malabar Basilica, Angamaly St. George's Forane Church, Edappally St. George's Syro-Malabar Church, Thalayolaparambu St. John the Baptist Church, South Parur St. Jude Church, Kidangoor St. Mary's Simhasana Church, Veliyanad St. Sebastian's Church, Udayamperoor St. Thomas More Syro-Malabar Church, Alakode (Meenmutty) St. Thomas Church, Kokkamangalam St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Church, Malayattoor St. Philomena's Forane Church, Koonammavu St.Thomas Dayara, Vettikkal
Idukki	Pattumala Matha Church St. Mary's Forane Church, Karimannoor St Sebastian's Church, Neyyassery
Kottayam	Holy Family Syro-Malabar Church, Mannila Immaculate Heart of Mary Cathedral, Kottayam Mar Aphrem Church St Antony's Syro-Malabar Forane Church, Kurumpanadam St. George Orthodox Church, Puthuppally St. George's Syro-Malabar Catholic Forane Church, Aruvithura St. Mary's Church, Kottayam St. Mary's Jacobite Syrian Cathedral, Manarcad St Mary's Metropolitan Cathedral, Changanassery St. Mary's Syro-Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Church Kuravilangad St. Thomas Cathedral, Pala St. Thomas Church, Arunoottimangalam Vettikkunnel church
Alappuzha	Basilica of St. Mary, Champakulam St. Andrew's Basilica, Arthunkal Kattachira Church Marthoma Church, Cheppad Pazhaya Suriyani Pally St. Bursouma's Church, Attuva St. George's Church, Cheppad St. George Orthodox Church, Cheppad St. Mary's Orthodox Cathedral, Puthencavu St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church, Pallipad
Pathanamthitta	Arohana Marthoma Church, Anicadu Bethel Marthoma Church, Chengara Holy Innocents' Church, Mezhuveli Kadammanittapally Kadampanad Church Kannamcode Cathedral Mar Thoma Sleeha Syro-Malabar Church, Thulappally Nilackal St.Thomas Church Sacred Heart Church, Mylapra St. George Orthodox Church, Chandanapally St. George Orthodox Church, Mylapra St. Ignatius Monastery Manjinikkara St. John's Cathedral, Tiruvalla St. Mary's Church, Niranam St Mary's Orthodox Church, Kallooppara St. Thomas Marthoma Church, Kozhencherry
Kollam	Dutch Church, Munroe Island Infant Jesus Cathedral Mount Tabor Monastery, Pathanapuram St Andrew's Church, Kovilthottam St Antony's Church, Kanjiracode St Elijah Orthodox Syrian Church St. George's Church, Chathannoor St. Mary's Cathedral, Kundara St. Mary's Cathedral, Punalur St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Avaneeswaram St. Mary's Salem Orthodox Church, Manappally
Thiruvananthapuram	All Saints Syro Malabar Church Cathedral of Saint Mary, Pattom Mateer Memorial Church Pentecostal Maranatha Gospel Church St. Joseph's Cathedral, Trivandrum St. Mary, Queen of Peace Basilica St. Theresa of Lisieux Catholic Church, Vellayambalam St. Xavier's Church, Peyad
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History

Today

Granite cross

Feasts

Image gallery

See also

Notes

External links