Arthat St. Mary's Orthodox Cathedral — Local services in Kerala

St Mary's Orthodox Syrian Cathedral, Arthat, Kunnamkulam, Kerala is the first and the oldest Church in India founded by St Thomas Apostle, one of the Disciples of Jesus Christ in AD 52.

The tradition states that St Thomas came to a region called Paloor-Chattukulangara, a nearby place of Kunnamkulamkara, presently known as Kunnamkulam situated in Kerala, southern tip of India where a group of Jews had started living who fled from persecutions in Israel and colonized on a hillock which was known as Judakkunnu (Jews on hillock). St. Thomas preached the gospel amongst the Jews at Judakunnu and many were converted to Christianity. There was a Jewish Synagogue in that area which was later converted to a Christian church upon embracing by the Jews settlers and the local community to Christianity.

In 1789 King Tippu Sultan who wanted to expand his kingdom beyond Mysore while invading some regions of Kerala, attacked and burnt down the church, the roof of which was thatched with coconut fronds. Tippu's army beheaded the priest or some oral sayings say an old woman devotee who hid in the Altar of the church and the blood spilled over there. Since Tippu’s army killed a person by severing the head, the place where this Church is situated came to be known as Arthat. ‘ARATHU’ in Malayalam means ‘CUT’ and ‘ATTU’ means Seperated. Thus this place is called ARUTHATTU or later known as Arthat.

As it was considered inappropriate worshiping at a place where blood spilled, the altar was shifted back from the earlier one, keeping the front portion intact where now devotees gather to watch the Mass. In the previous Altar, there is still a demarcated area in a red circle stone showing the place where the priest or the old woman was macheted to death.

India's largest Orthodox Church cemetery is situated in this Church. Land for cemetery was acquired by the initiative of St. Gregorios of Parumala, a declared Saint of Indian...

The present Arthat St. Mary’s Orthodox Syrian Church is believed to be the pioneer Christian Community founded by St.Thomas in the first century A.D. The prominence given to this church by the early historians, circumstantial evidences, and the later historical records bear witness to this tradition.

Arthat Cathedral Church, dedicated to St. Mary, The Mother of God, has a long and glorious tradition and history. It is the permanent monument of the St. Thomas mission in Kerala. The Christian Community associated with the Church is believed to be the most ancient Christian community in South India, even a little bit earlier than the Niranam Christian Congregation. Arthat - Kunnamkulam is the home of the people who bear in their hearts the natural piety of spiritualism, the fragrance of tradition and the steadfastness of true faith. The uniqueness of this region is that the Christian Church was established in this part of Malankara at the same time or little bit earlier, when Christian faith was established in Rome, Antioch and Alexandria. The ancient name of Arthat was Chattukulangarai. The Church is now under the Kunnamkulam Diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. It is the most prominent church and Thalappalli of  all the churches in...

Good and blessed church... This church has the biggest graveyard. Arthat St Mary's Orthodox Cathedral a.k.a. Arthat Valiyapally also called Paloor-Chattukulangara Church is an ancient church located in Arthat village of Thalapilly Taluk, one mile south of Kunnamkulam town, Thrissur, Kerala, India.This is the first and the oldest church in India founded in AD 52. This church is also known as Chattukulangara pally. It is believed that this church is the most ancient church in this region and is one of the Seven and Half church founded by St Thomas Apostle in AD 52. This church did not participate in the Synod of Diamper. During the invasion of Tippu Sultan the church was arsoned and later...