St Mary's Orthodox Church, Kallooppara

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

Location	Kallooppara, Kerala, India
Denomination	Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church
Tradition	Syriac, Malayalam
Website	www.kalloopparapally.com
History
Founded	AD 1339
Dedication	St.Mary
Administration
Diocese	Niranam Diocese

St. Mary's Orthodox Syrian Church (കല്ലൂപ്പാറ പള്ളി) is a parish of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church situated in the small Keralan village of Kallooppara, India.

Yuhanon Chrysostamos became the bishop of the church in 2007.^[1]

Church history

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Establishment

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Long ago Christians living in Kallooppara depended on the church at Niranam, 13 miles away. The journey by vallam boat was tedious, tiresome and risky.^[2]

The Edappally Kings were ruling at this time. One day the ruling king of Edappally was resting in the Elangalloor Maddom and he saw some people travelling on a small boat, singing melodious hymns and chanting prayers. The king stepped down to the river bank and found it to be a funeral procession that going from Manimala to Niranam Church for the burial, since Niranam Church was the only Christian church in central Travancore at that time.

According to local history, this sight moved the king's heart and allowed him to realize the hardship of his Christian subjects. He pointed to a plot of land on the other side of the river and gave the Christians permission to bury the body and build a church there. Although there is no clear evidence of the origin and age of the church, folklore says that the foundation stone was consecrated on 3rd Karkkidakam (Malayalam calendar). The founding stone of the present church was laid on Malayalam month Karkkidakam 3rd of the year 515 (AD 1339).

Early challenges

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Around AD 1750, the Kalloopara St. Mary's Orthodox church was ordered to be demolished by a judge from Travancore High Court of Quilon, as the church had incurred huge debts. After the court hearings, the judge ordered the church building to be demolished and its land to be taken over by the creditor (Pocku Moosa Haji - Quilon).

Church members travelled across the river and informed Valiya Avirah Tharakan (grandson of Avirah Tharakan of Sankara Puri and Maria/Shri Devi - niece of the Edappally King). Valiya Avirah Tharakan immediately paid off all of its debts by a form of gold "bananas" from the ara ('safe'), and took control of the church and its property.

While holding complete control of Perumpranad district on behalf of the Edappally King, Valiya Avirah Tharakan rebuilt St. Mary's Orthodox Church at his own cost, completing the work circa AD 1755. Some parts of that construction and artwork of the church are still visible inside, particularly the altar and the roof areas.

Later, many parts of the church were renovated and more buildings were built for other activities. Today the church, one of the oldest churches in Travancore, is a center of pilgrimage in the Malankara Orthodox Church.

Missions

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The church runs several groups including MGOCSM, OVBS, Martha Mariam Samajan, prayer groups, youth groups and Sunday schools.

References

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^ Kalloopparapally Church website, Retrieved 2023-05-31
^ "St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Kallooppara Web Site". kalloopparapally.com. Archived from the original on 28 April 2015.

External links

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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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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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Authority control databases
International	VIAF
National	United States