About Kundara Valiyapally in ST. THOMAS ORTHODOX SYRIAN CHURCH (VALIYAPALLY) KUNDARA, Kundara

The kundara valiyapally is one of the ancient church of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, consecrated in the name of ST.Thomas one of the twelve apostle of Jesus. One thousand one hundred and seventy year old church is abode of spiritual austerity, ancient and a centre of pluralism & harmony. Kurishupalli of kollam church [presently known as Kundara Valiyapalli] was consecrated in the 10th century M.E. This holy church was renovated in the 7th century AD by Elayidath King handed over to the Christians in the 643 medum 24th [This was the one of the important church of Malankara Orthodox Syrian church]. The saintly Man Anthraious Baba who arrived at Malankara from Persia in the 17th century spend his time mostly for the gospel work to the spiritual needs of the parish. His memorial day which holds on 18th & 19th of kumbham every year, is celebrated as the feast of the church. The people from all walks of life & religion seek intercession of the saint and visits the church.The Christian churches located at Maranad, Ambalathumkala, Kundara, Mulavana, Edavattam, Perinadu, Mukhathala, Nallila, Perumbuzha, Chowallur, Thripalazhikam, Odanavattam have acknowledged Kundara Valiyapally as their mother-church and many faithful people frequently visits the church and return with blessings.

The church presented very Rev. Fr. Ciril Ramban & many Rev. priests for the Malankara church and this includes two Metropolitans.

The late lamented H.G Zachariah Mar Dionysius thirumeni and present metropolitan of Chennai diocese H.G. Dr. Yuhanon Mar Dioscorous thirumeni belongs to this parish.

The beautiful church seen today, for which the work started in the July 3rd 1961, was consecrated on December 20th & 21st 1970 by H.H Baselious Augen 1st , catholicos of the east & the Malankara Metropolitan.

The consecration of the renovated portico [pumukham] was held on feb 16th 2014 Sunday by H.G Zachariah Mar Anthonios Metropolitan of kollam Diocese, being the chief celebrant and H.G Alexious Mar Eusebius Metropolitan of the south west American Diocese, the co-celebrant. The kundara valiyapally own its patronage H.H Baselious Marthoma Paulose 2nd . The parish has 800 family and more than 5000 faithful members.

Kundara Valiya Pally & Mar Andrews (Valiappooppan)


A Study of Kundara Valiyapally and Mar Andrews (Kundara Valiappooppan) requires a birds eye view of the origin and growth of the Malankara Orthodox Church in Kerala.

St Thomas arrived at Kodungalloor in Kerala in 52 A.D, continued his missionary journey up to Kollam and thence crossing the Western Chats went to mylapore in the chola Kingdom, the present day Tamilnadu, so goes the history. He evangelised the places he visted, and established seven churches at Kodungalloor, Palur, Paravur, Gokkamangalam, Chayal, Niranam and Kollam, and a semi church at Thiruvithamcode near Nagercoil.

In the early centuries the church in the world as a whole was a congregation of self-reliant and deeply faithful fellowships. Towards the dawn of the 4thcentury emperors, monarchs and governors began to protect and assist the church. The subsequent period in the history of the church may be described as one of decline and failure. Self -reliance gave way to insecurity, mutual Trust to mutual mistrust, true Christian faith to heresy. Critics and higher crities aro se. Misinterpretation of the scripture verses was in the air. This trend affected the church in Kerala too.

The church established by St.Thomas in Kerala was known as Malankara Orthodox Church or St. Thomas Christians. In A.D.325 Thomas of Canal and a group of Syrian immigrants arrived in Kerala. Another group of Syrian immigran its including mar Sapor and Mar Afrod arrived at Kollam in 823.A.D. They evangelized the neighboring places .Christianity flourished wherever they worked. The portugese arrived in Kerala in 1502.Their missionaries imposed Roman catholicism upon the innocent St. Thomas Christians. The Udayamperor Synod of 1499 supplied a canonical finish to this imposition. The ill-will of the majority of the Malankara Orthodox Church developed into a volcano and the ejection expressed itself in the form of a solemn oath "the Koonen Kurish Satyam" of 1653 taken at the Church ground of the Mattanchery parish' They broke away from the Roman Catholic Church, and ordained Arch Deacon Thomas as MarThoma I. Those who embraced Roman Catholicism were known as "pazhayakoottukar" and the others as 'puthenkoottukar'. Following this a sort of anarchy reigned in the Malankara Orthodox Church. The validity of the ordination was questioned . The existence of the religious rites, and the veneration attached to the Syriac language were in peril. This anarchy set the stage for the arrival of Mar Andrews from syria. SOS messages seeking assistance to tide over these difficulties were sent from the Church head-quarters to the churches of Alexandria, Syria and Babylon. Only the Syrian Church responded. Subsequently prelates from Syria arrived here with the specific mission of giving leadership, conducting ministries maintaining the special Syrian Christian culture and the religious rites. Mar Andrews was one among them. He landed at Cochin in 1678, stayed at the Mar Thoman church; mulanthuruthy.The church could not accommodate the simple life style and austerity of this venerable precisian. He was subject to several forms of tortures there.

He continued hismissionary journey touching Kuruppampady, Piravom, Manarcadu, Puthen cavu, Kallada, Kundara, etc. Everywhere, he had the mulanthurithy experience The Lord's will was otherwise He visited Kundara Valiyapally frequently and stayed in 'pallymeda' He led Kundara valiyapally which he accepted as his centre of spiritual activity. He died in ME 867(Kumbhom-19) and buried in Kallada Valiyapally.