Piravom Valiya Pally

St. Mary's Jacobite Syrian Cathedral, Piravom
St. Mary's Cathedral, Piravom
Location	Piravom, Ernakulam District, Kerala
Country	India
Denomination	Jacobite Syrian Church
Tradition	Malankara Syrian Church
Website	https://www.piravomvaliyapally.org/
History
Founded	1st Century
Administration
Diocese	Kandanad

St. Mary's Jacobite Syrian Cathedral (Popular name: Piravom Valiyapally) is located in Piravom, Ernakulam Dt., Kerala, India. It is one of the prominent Jacobite Syrian Christian churches in Kerala. The church is situated on the eastern banks of Muvattupuzha river running through Piravom. Though the church is named after St. Mary, it is also known as Rajakkalude Pally ("Holy Magi church"), the three Kings who visited Jesus during his birth. It is also called Marth Maryam pally.

The church has been invariably known as Piravom Valiyapally, Marth Maryam Pally, Rajakkalude Pally, St Mary’s Jacobite Syrian Church etc. As legends say, it is the first Christian Church in the world, and it is the only church in the name of the Holy Kings (Magi) which stands on the solid rock of Christian faith. It is one among the rare churches in Malankara where there has been daily Holy Mass from very olden times. There is the "Vishudha Moonninmel Kurbana" (The Holy Mass offered jointly by three priests) almost daily and there are two Holy Masses one after the other on Sundays. Pilgrims from far and near come to pray for consolation and comfort. Many parishioners come daily in the afternoon to pray and they light candles in the church and at the tombs of their forefathers in the graveyard, which is another significance of this church among the Churches in Malankara. This Church remains loyal to the Patriarch of Antioch, seated on the H. throne of St. Peter.

About 2000 years ago, "…after the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem of Judaea, in the days of king Herod the "Wisemen" from the east (The Magi) reached Bethlehem through Jerusalem. The "star" they saw in the east was moving to direct them till they reached the birthplace of Infant Jesus… They saw the young child on the lap of mother Mary, knelt down and worshipped him. They opened their treasures and presented gifts to him: Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh (St. Mathew 2:1-11) And they returned with exceeding joy and satisfaction to their home land in the east. The Wisemen (Holy kings) were scholars, rulers and devotees. The legends name them as Melchior, Gaspar and Balthazar. Old Melchior, middle aged Gaspar and young Belthazar visited Infant Jesus. When they reached back their homeland, they built an edifice in the Indian style and here they began to worship the Holy infant. As such piravom valiyapally is the first church in the world, where worshipping Jesus Christ started. During the 5th Century, this building may have been rebuilt as a Christian church as we now see, " Piravom Valiyapally"