KALLADA VALIYAPALLY PERUNAL-2014

KALLADA VALIYAPALLY PERUNAL-2014

Kallada Valiyapally perunal-2014 was held on 2^nd March to 4^th march, 2014 .The history of the church is important and it related to the history of Kerala.The arrival of St.Thomas the Apostle in Kerala in A.D52 laid the foundation of Christanity in Kerala. He Established seven Churches.Kollam was also his Center of Missionary work. Christanity flourished in all respects politically, spiritually and financially. The state authorities could not ignore such a Luminous Community. The Kollam Cheppeds (copper plates) is an insignia of their state wide acceptance. In A.D 823, a group of Syrian immigrants came to Kollam. They included Mar Sapor and Mar Afrod. They erected a church there. Later the Kollam community declined, their church and their properties were lost in natural calamity. The community dispersed and they migrated to near by places. It is believed one group came to Kallada. The present Kallada Valiya Pally is in the name of St.Mary. It was originally at Elavukkavu on the eastern bank of the Kallada River. As years passed some sort of enmity arose among the local people and it developed in to a feud and the church was destroyed and the cross of the church thrown in to the river. One morning it was high tide time, the river was flowing towards the east unlike west in the normal time. a venerable old lady of the Thulassery Manappuraathu family came to the river side for taking bath. She saw the cross floating in the river. She took it home and with the help of prominent and reputable persons of the area installed it at the present site of the church, thus the demolished church was reestablished. So is the folk-lore.

Traditionally four families of the parish viz. the Thulassery Manappuram, Chanthravil, Pedikayil and Cheruthottam  contributed the clergy and the priests of the church. Membership of the church was more than 2000 houses. Later for convenience six new parishes were formed to reduce the cumber- some membership. Rev.Fr. Jose M Daniel is a member of this parish. The church emerged in to a famous pilgrim center with the entombment of Mar Andrews in the Madbaha of the church in 1692. The pilgrims include devotees from all religions in the state. It is also known as the Jerusalem of the southern zone.The large number of devotees seeking intercession and attaining Devine healing at the tomb of Mar Andrews, His Holiness the Chatholicos Mar Thoma Didimos I declared the Church to be the first pilgrim centre of the southern zone, at ceremonious function held in the Church  on 17-05-2008. Every day hundreds of devotees irrespective of caste creed or religion visit the church and find solace getting rid of the burden of their woes and depression.The tomb of Mar Andrews in the madbaha of the church, his meditation room, the parlor he used to rest in, the well with its seared water used by the saint,  Mar Andrew’s Ratreat centre, the river front beside the church (deeds ago the devotees who came by boats landed here) and a library draw special  attention.   A public school has commenced.

                                             Athul George Kurakar