Champakulam Kalloorkadu Church

Champakulam Kalloorkadu Marth Maryam (St. Mary's) Basilica (Valia Palli), , Kerala
Champakulam St. Mary's Syro-Malabar Catholic Church (Kalloorkkadu Palli) / Valia Palli. This is the view from the North East side.
Basic information
Location	Champakulam, Alappuzha, Kerala, India
Geographic coordinates	9°24′33″N 76°24′40″E / 9.40917°N 76.41111°E / 9.40917; 76.41111Coordinates: 9°24′33″N 76°24′40″E / 9.40917°N 76.41111°E / 9.40917; 76.41111
Affiliation	Syro-Malabar Catholic Church
District	Alappuzha District
Year consecrated	AD 427
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	Forane Church
Website	http://champakulampally.com/

Champakulam Kalloorkadu Marth Maryam (St. Mary's) Basilica (Malayalam: ചമ്പക്കുളം വലിയ പള്ളി) is an ancient Christian Church in Kerala. It belongs to the Syro-Malabar Church under the Archeparchy of Changanacherry. It is a Forane church, with several Parishes under it.

Champakulam Kalloorkadu Marth Maryam Basilica (also called Champakulam Valia Palli) is one of the oldest Christian churches in India and the mother church of almost all Catholic Syrian churches in Alleppey District. It is the first one under the church at Niranam which is believed to have been founded by St.Thomas,the Apostle himself. Believed to be established in AD 427. Rebuilt many times and the many rock inscriptions found around the church tell us about the history of the church. The open air Rock Cross at Champakulam church is one of the most ancient ones with clear documentation of its antiquity up to AD 1151. There are many archaeological artifacts found around the church about its history. Champakulam church was once under Niranam Church, which was founded by the Apostle Saint Thomas himself.. Champakulam Church had very friendly relations with the Jacobite Syrian group and had a pivotal role in many ecumenical efforts in the Eighteenth century. One of the martyrs of east syrian catholics (nasranis), Ikkako Kathanar was born to this parish.

Champakulam church has been recognised by the Universal Church as a Basilica. On 27-Nov-2016, the church was officially declared as a Basilica by Mar Yawseph, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Changanacherry. This is the first Basilica in the archdiocese of Changanasserry, 4th in the Syro Malabar Church, 9th in Kerala and the 23rd basilica in India.

(1): Fr. Thomas Chekonthayil

There are many famous parishioners in the history of Kalloorkadu church. One of them is the martyr of the church, Ikkako Kathanar.

Ikkako Kathanar was a priest from this parish who became martyr in the hand of Portuguese for protecting the east syrian tradition of the indigenous catholic church of India (Nasranis) mainly along the malabar coast. Till the arrival of Europeans Nasranis were belonging to the east syrian rites in the Catholic Church. The Europeans under the Padroado and Propaganda tried to forcefully convert the nasranis into western or latin rite. Ikkako Kathanar is one of the faithful of the church who tried to resist this illegal attempt which extended over more than five centuries. He attained martyrdom under the hands of propaganda carmelites during this.

Apart from general Christian Holy celebrations like Christmas, Good Friday & Easter (Holy week) etc., there are two main yearly feasts (മലയാളം: പെരുന്നാള്‍).