Basilica of St. Mary, Champakulam

Champakulam Kalloorkadu St. Mary's Syro Malabar Catholic Basilica Church (Malayalam: ) is an ancient Christian Church in Kerala. It belongs to the Syro-Malabar Church under the Archeparchy of Changanacherry. Established in 4CE, It is the Mother Church (Ammappalli) of all the Syrian Churches of Central Travancore.

Champakulam Kalloorkadu St. Mary's Basilica (also called Champakulam Valia Palli) is one of the oldest Christian churches in India and the mother church of almost all Catholic Syrian churches in central Travancore. Believed to be established in AD 427, the church was rebuilt many times. Champakulam church was once under Niranam Church, which was founded by the Apostle Saint Thomas himself. 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 crosses with clear documentation of its antiquity, dating to AD 1151. There are many archaeological artifacts found around the church that tell more about its history. Champakulam Church had very friendly relations with the Puthenkoottukar and had a pivotal role in many ecumenical efforts in the eighteenth century. Ikkako Kathanar, one of the martyrs (nasranis) of East Syriac Catholics, was born in this parish. Champakulam church has been recognized by the Universal Church as a Basilica. On 27 November 2016, the church was officially declared as a basilica by Pope Francis and Mar Joseph Perumthottam, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Changanacherry. This is the first basilica in the archdiocese of Changanasserry, the fourth in the Syro Malabar Church, the ninth in Kerala and the twenty-third basilica in India. Over the years, the church has undergone significant updates. 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 3 January 2011, has 800+ seats. St. Mary's Theological Center was inaugurated in 2011 as well.

Parish : Champakulam Forane : Champakulam Diocese : Changanacherry Patron : St. Mary First Church : AD 427 Priests : 4 Vicar :Very Rev. Fr. Gregory onamkulam Asst.Vicars: Fr. shibin mulavarickal CSsR and Fr.Tony puthiveetikalam Catholic Population : 6500 Catholic Families : 1378 Phone : 0477-2736252

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

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

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

There are many famous parishioners in the history of Kalloorkadu church. One of them is the martyr of the church, Ikkako Kathanar.

Ikkako Kathanar was a priest from this parish who became martyr in the hand of Portuguese for protecting the East Syriac tradition of the indigenous catholic church of India (Nasranis) mainly along the malabar coast. Till the arrival of Europeans Nasranis were belonging to the East Syriac rites in the Catholic Church. The Europeans under the Padroado and Propaganda tried to forcefully convert the nasranis into western or Latin rite. Ikkako Kathanar is one of the faithful of the church who tried to resist this illegal attempt which extended over more than five centuries. He attained martyrdom under the hands of propaganda carmelites during this.

Church data from Wikidata (CC0). Summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).