Syrian churches of Kerala


This article lists the various old and ancient churches that exist among the Saint Thomas Christians in Kerala.

Thrissur district

Ernakulam district


Idukki district (Thodupuzha region)

Kottayam district

Alappuzha district

Pathanamthitta district

Kollam district

  • Thevalakkara Martha Mariam Orthodox Syrian ChurchThomas the Apostle established a church in Kollam in 54 AD. The church was lost to sea erosion in the 4th century. It was rebuilt in the 4th century in Thevelakkara, near Kollam. Later Mar Abo and Mar Aphroth from Nineveh in Iraq travelled to Kollam and rebuilt the church again at Thevelakkara for the Syrian Christian community in 825. Thevalakkara had also received the Tharissaykal, Syrian Christians of Thiruvithamcode who had migrated to Kerala. According to tradition many Tamil Brahmins, Vellalars and Chettiars were converted by St Thomas the apostle in the Coromandel coast near Mylapore, these converts from the Coromandel coast later flocked towards the Syrian Christian strongholds in Kerala like Nilakkal and Kollam.
  • Kollam Kadeesha Orthodox Syrian Church – The Kollam Kadeesha Syrian Church also known as Tharisappally/Tharisappalli Church was established in 823 AD by the Persian Saints Mar Sapor and Mar Aphroth. The Tharisappally Quilon Syrian Copper Plates were issued for this church. Many Syrian Christians from Thiruvithamcode, known as Tharissaykal had migrated to Kollam. The St Thomas converts from mylapore in the coromandel coast also migrated to Syrian Christian strongholds in Kerala like Kollam and Nilakkal.
  • St. Mary's Orthodox Syrian Church, Kallada – The Kallada Church was established in the 9th century by Persian traders Mar Sabor and Mar Proth for the Syrian Christians of Kallada who attended the Thevalakkara Syrian Church. Later in the 12th century many Syrian Christians migrated to Kallada from Kollam and Kadampanad. The tomb of Mar Anthrayos Bava who arrived in 1678 is in the Kallada Syrian Church. The first Church in Kallada was destroyed by internecine feud between the Karthas of east Kallada and west Kallada and a matriarch of Thulassery Manapurathu Syrian family recovered the cross of the destroyed Church from the river and prevailed on Avani Rajni to allot some land for building a new Church. She was won over by handsome gifts of precious stones by the members of Thulassery Manapurathu Tharavad. The Kallada St Mary's ValiyaPalli also known as Thulassery Manapurathu Marthamariyam Church was established by the descendants of the West Asian migration to Kollam in 9th century AD.
  • Kundara St Thomas Orthodox Syrian Valiyapally – The St. Thomas Valiyapally in Kundara was established in 835 AD by Mar Sabor and Mar Aphroth and the Eliyedath Rajah of Kottarakkara for the Syrian Christians of Kundara who formerly attended the Kollam Kadeesha Syrian Church and the Thevalakkara church.
  • Kottarakkara Marthoma Syrian Church – The Kottarakara Old Syrian Church was built in the 13th century by the ruler of the Elayedath Swaroopam, for the Nasranis of Kottarakara who had to rely on the Kundara Syrian Church and for the Nasrani merchants who were invited to Kottarakara from Thekkumkur by the Elayedath Rajah.