Basilica of St. Mary, Champakulam

Kalloorkadu St. Mary's Syro-Malabar Catholic Forane Church (Valia Palli),
Champakulam, Kerala
Kalloorkadu St. Mary's Syro-Malabar Catholic Forane Church (Valia Palli), ; Champakulam, Kerala
	Champakulam St. Mary's Syro-Malabar Catholic Church (Kalloorkkadu Palli) / Valia Palli. This is the view from the North East side.
Religion
Affiliation	Syro-Malabar Catholic Church
District	Alappuzha District
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	Forane Church
Year consecrated	AD 427
Location
Location	Champakulam, Alappuzha, Kerala, India
Geographic coordinates	9°24′33″N 76°24′40″E / 9.40917°N 76.41111°E
Website
	http://www.smcim.smonline.org/kalloorkadu/

Champakulam Kalloorkadu St. Marys Syro-Malabar Catholic Forane Church (Malayalam: ചമ്പക്കുളം വലിയ പള്ളി) is an ancient Christian Church in Kerala. It belongs to the Syro-Malabar Church under the archeparchy of Changanacherry. It is a Forane church, with several Parishes under it.

History

Champakulam Kalloorkadu St. Mary's Forane Church (also called Champakulam Valia Palli) is one of the oldest Christian churches in India^[1]^[2]^[3] and the mother church of almost all Catholic Syrian churches in Alleppey District. Believed to be established in AD 427.^[4] Rebuilt many times and the many rock inscriptions found around the church tell us about the history of the church. The open air Rock Cross at Champakulam church is one of the most ancient ones with clear documentation of its antiquity up to AD 1151. There are many archaeological artifacts found around the church about its history. Champakulam church was once under Niranam Church, which was founded by the Apostle Saint Thomas himself.. Champakulam Church had very friendly relations with the Jacobite Syrian group and had a pivotal role in many ecumenical efforts in the Eighteenth century.

Church At Glance^[5]

Parish : Champakulam
Forane : Champakulam
Diocese : Changanacherry
Patron : St. Mary
First Church : AD 427
Priests : 4
Vicar :Very Rev. Fr. Joseph Vaniyapurackal
Asst.Vicars

(1): Fr. Thomas Chekonthayil (2) : Fr. Mathew Kottathil (3) : Fr.Martin Moopaseril

Catholic Population : 6500
Catholic Families : 1378
Phone : 0477-2736252

Holy Qurbana Timings

Sundays : 6.00AM, 7.30AM, 9.30AM, 4.00PM
Other Days : 6.00AM, 7.00AM
Wednesdays : 6.30AM, 4.00PM

Annual Feasts

Apart from general Christian Holy celebrations like Christmas, Good Friday & Easter (Holy week) etc., there are two main yearly feasts (മലയാളം: പെരുന്നാള്‍).

Feast of Mother Mary / Marian apparition(ദര്‍ശനതിരുന്നാള്‍)

The Feast of the Apparition lasts for 11 days of pious celebrations and concludes on the Sunday following 15 October.

Commemoration of the Death of St. Joseph (യൌസേപ്പ് പിതാവിന്റെ മരണ തിരുന്നാള്‍)

This is a 'shradham- Chatham' conducted in commemoration of the death of St. Joseph is held on 19 March every year. It attracts thousands of devotees to Kalloorkadu Church from far of places.^[6]

Parishes Under Champakulam Forane

Champakulam (Kalloorkad) St. Mary’s Syro-Malabar Catholic Church 0477-2736252
Kondackal St. Joseph’s Syro-Malabar Catholic Church 0477-2736216
Pullangady Holy Family Syro-Malabar Catholic Church 0477-2736346
Thekkekara St. John's Syro-Malabar Catholic Church 0477-2707031
Vadakkeamichakari St. George’s Syro-Malabar Catholic Church 0477-2707075
Vaisyambhagam St. Antony’s Syro-Malabar Catholic Church 0477-2736501
Chennamkary W., St. Joseph’s Syro-Malabar Catholic Church 0477-2724237
Kandankary St. Joseph’s Syro-Malabar Catholic Church 0477-2736278
Narbonapuram St. Sebastian’s Syro-Malabar Catholic Church 0477-2762205
Nazareth St. Jerome's Syro-Malabar Catholic Church 0477-2762205
Sleevapuram Syro-Malabar Catholic Church(Ponga) 0477-2762188
Chennamkary Lourdes Matha Syro-Malabar Catholic Church 0477-
Padaharam St.Joseph's Syro-Malabar Catholic Church

Religious Houses In the Parish

Gagultha Ashram CMI
SABS (The Congregation of the sisters of the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament) Convent.
- SABS was founded on 8 December 1908 at Champakulam in Kerala.^[7] It had its origin in the personal experience of the Eucharistic presence of the servant of God Thomas Kurialacherry (1873-1925) the first bishop of Changanacherry.
Kurialasserry Bhavan (SABS)
Clara madhom & Orphanage for young girls, Kondakkal.

Other institutions under the Parish

St. Mary's LP School
St. Mary's High School^[8]
St. Mary's Higher Secondary School Champakulam
St. Joseph's Mission Hospital

Parish Hall

Initially, there was a small Parish Hall with about hundred seats. A few years back, a bigger Parish Hall was constructed. The latest, inaugurated on 1.3.2011 has 800+ seats

St. Mary's Theological Center

Inaugurated in 2011.

Getting there

Road - 15 km away from Alleppey, 18 km from Changanassery by road. From Champakulam West bus stand, the Church is immediate next on the east side. From Champakulam East bus stand, the Church is on the west side, you need to cross the River Pampa (Ferries are available).
Water - Linked by boat service through the back waters to Alappuzha (1 hr), Kollam(8 Hrs), Changanacherry(3 hrs), Kumarakom(3 hr), Cochin(4 hrs) etc. From Champakulam main (Karuka) boat jetty (on the west side of River Pampa, the Church is only a few steps away - towards North.
Rail - Nearest Rail heads: Alleppey, Changanassery.
Air - Nearest International Airports : Kochi (Nedumbassery) - 85 km. Thiruvananthapuram - 150 km.

Location (Wikimapia)

http://wikimapia.org/101750/Champakulam-Kaloorkadu-St-Mary-s-Forane-Church-AD-427

Catholic Organizations

C.M.L
Altar Boys
Thirubala sakhyam
Yuva Deepti-K.C.Y.M
Mathru Jyothis
Pithru Vedi
St.Vincent De Paul Society
Darsana Smooham
Choir Group

References

External links

www.champakulamvaliapalli.com

[1] "Champakulam Kalloorkkadu St Mary's Church- The Hidden Pearl in Nasrani History".

[2] "Archdiocese Of Changancherry".

[3] "Ancient Churches".

[4] "Ancient Churches with traditional dates of foundation & Stone Crosses of Kerala- Saint Thomas Cross, Nazraney Sthambams and other Persian Crosses".

[5] "St. Mary's Church, Kalloorkadu".

[6] "Church feast and festivals in Central Kerala-Kottayam".

[7] "Sisters of the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament".

[8] "St.Mary's High School Champakulam".

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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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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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