Our History

St. Thomas Heritage

Mar Thoma Cheriapally stands at the eastern gateway of Ernakulam district in Kothamangalam. The faith of this church is rooted in the apostolic mission of St. Thomas the Apostle, who brought the Gospel to India at Kodungallur in AD 52, and in the Syrian Christian community that followed the arrival of Knai Thoma and seventy-two families from Mesopotamia in AD 345.

Cheriapally was established in the name of St. Thomas the Apostle. His feast (Dukrono) is celebrated each year on July 2 and 3, commemorating the transfer of his relics to Edessa in AD 396. The martyrdom of Mar Thoma Sleeha at Mylapore is remembered on December 20 and 21.

Foundation of Cheriapally

For centuries, the faithful of Kothamangalam worshipped at the ancient Valiyapally (Martha Mariyam Cathedral Valiya Pally). In 1448 (Kollavarsham 624), eighteen families separated from Valiyapally and received permission to build a church of their own. A cross was installed in the name of St. Thomas the Apostle in 1451.

The historic stone cross on the western side was erected in 1455 (Kanni 13). An ancient Malayalam inscription in Kolezhuthu script remains visible on the cross to this day. The Kalkurishu Perunnal is celebrated each year on September 26, with procession, incense prayer, and the distribution of avil, banana fruit, and jaggery — traditions observed since the cross was first raised.

The name Cheriapally — the “small church” — reflects its origin beside the older Valiyapally. Yet over the centuries it has grown into one of the most beloved pilgrimage churches in Kerala.

A Living Parish

Today Cheriapally is the spiritual heart of Kothamangalam — a town often called the educational capital of Kerala, shaped in large part by the schools, colleges, hospitals, and charitable works of the parish. The church serves a vibrant community through affiliated chapels, Sunday Schools, parish organizations, and the Mar Basil Group of institutions.

The madbaha (sanctuary) holds the tomb of St. Yeldo Mar Baselios, drawing pilgrims who seek prayer, healing, and blessing. Holy Qurbana, festival celebrations, weekly retreat, and centuries-old offerings and vows continue to define the rhythm of worship here.

All are welcome — pilgrims of every background come to Cheriapally to pray at the tomb, venerate the stone cross, and take part in the life of a church where ancient Syrian Christian tradition remains alive in daily worship.

St. Yeldo Mar Baselios (1685)

In AD 1685, St. Yeldo Mar Baselios — Kothamangalam Muthappan — arrived at Cheriapally after a long journey from Mesopotamia to comfort the suffering faithful of Malankara. When his feet touched the church courtyard on Kanni 7, the bells rang on their own. He passed away on Kanni 19 at 3:00 PM; as he had foretold, the western stone cross shone with light and the bells rang again.

He was buried in the south-western part of the madbaha. His tomb has drawn devotees beyond caste and religion for more than three centuries. He was declared a Saint of the Universal Syrian Orthodox Church on 20 October 1987 by Patriarch Ignatius Zakka I Iwas.

The great Kanni 20 Perunnal (October 2 and 3) honours his memory each year — one of the largest Christian gatherings in Kerala. Devotees also remember the tender coconut offering, the Saturday Qurbana vow, and the Chakkalakkal Nair procession with the swinging lamp.

Read the full history of our patron saint

Worship & Sacred Tradition

Cheriapally is the only church in the Malankara Jacobite Syrian Church where Munninmel Qurbana (Holy Qurbana before the tomb of the saint) is celebrated daily, except on prohibited days. This daily offering at the tomb of St. Yeldo Mar Baselios is central to the spiritual identity of the parish.

Since the saint passed away on a Saturday, Holy Qurbana has been celebrated every Saturday — a vow observed by lakhs of faithful across generations. The parish also hosts a weekly One Day Retreat every Friday from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

Sacred offerings and vows — including nercha, the 12 Priests’ Nercha, and traditions unique to Cheriapally — are described on our Offerings page. Major feast days include the Kalkurishu Perunnal, St. Thomas Day, and the Kanni 20 Perunnal.