Other Feasts
Sacred days commemorating St. Thomas the Apostle and the historic stone cross of Cheriapally.
Feasts of Cheriapally
Throughout the liturgical year, Mar Thoma Cheriapally celebrates the great mysteries of faith handed down from the apostles. The church was founded in the name of St. Thomas the Apostle, and the ancient stone cross of 1455 remains at the heart of its worship and pilgrimage.
The greatest feast of the parish is the Kanni 20 Perunnal (October 2 and 3), honouring St. Yeldo Mar Baselios. This page describes the other major feasts linked to St. Thomas and the stone cross — days that have shaped the spiritual calendar of Cheriapally for centuries.
Kalkurishu Perunnal
September 26 (Kanni 13) · Erected in AD 1455
The Kalkurishu Perunnal marks the establishment of the historic stone cross on the western side of Cheriapally. When eighteen families separated from Valiyapally and built this church, they raised a cross in honour of St. Thomas the Apostle in 1451; the enduring stone cross was set in place in 1455.
An ancient Malayalam inscription in Kolezhuthu script remains visible on the cross — a rare witness to the early history of the parish. The cross is not only a monument of the past; it is a living centre of devotion. When St. Yeldo Mar Baselios entered eternal rest on Kanni 19, 1685, the saint had foretold that light would shine upon this western cross — a prophecy fulfilled before the eyes of the faithful.
On the feast day, three priests in vestments lead procession and incense prayer at the cross. Avil, banana fruit, and jaggery are distributed to the faithful — a tradition maintained since the cross was first erected. The feast draws devotees who venerate the cross as a sign of the apostolic faith planted in Malankara.
The Kalkurishu Perunnal falls within the broader festival season that culminates in the Kanni 20 Perunnal, as prayers and processions at the cross prepare the parish for the feast of St. Yeldo Mar Baselios.
St. Thomas Day (Dukrono)
July 2 & 3
Cheriapally was established in the name of St. Thomas the Apostle — Mar Thoma Sleeha — who brought the Gospel to India at Kodungallur in AD 52. The Dukrono commemorates the transfer of his sacred relics to Edessa in AD 396, a feast observed across the Syriac Orthodox and Malankara traditions.
On these days the parish remembers the apostle who laid the foundation of Christianity in India. Holy Qurbana, hymns in honour of the saint, and special prayers recall his missionary journey, his preaching, and his ultimate witness to Christ. For the faithful of Cheriapally, St. Thomas is not only the patron of the church in name — he is the apostolic root from which the parish and the Syrian Christian community of Malankara have grown.
Devotees gather to offer thanks for the gift of faith received through the apostle and to seek his intercession for the Church and for their families.
Martyrdom of St. Thomas
December 20 & 21
These days commemorate the martyrdom of Mar Thoma Sleeha at Mylapore in AD 72. According to tradition, the apostle was pierced on December 17 and, after four days, attained martyrdom on December 21.
The feast is observed with solemn liturgy and remembrance of the apostle who gave his life for the Gospel he preached in India. The Church recalls his suffering, his steadfast faith, and his crown of martyrdom — themes that resonate deeply at Cheriapally, where the tomb of another saint who gave his last strength to Malankara draws pilgrims from every walk of life.
Through prayer and Holy Qurbana on these days, the parish unites with Christians across the world in honouring the first apostle to India.
Worship on Feast Days
Feast days at Cheriapally are marked by Holy Qurbana, processions, incense prayer, and the participation of the whole parish family. Many devotees observe fasting, offer nercha, and attend services at the madbaha and at the stone cross.
For current Holy Mass timings and information about the Kanni 20 Perunnal and parish offerings, please visit the pages below.