St. Thomas Cathedral, Pala

St Thomas Cathedral Or simply Cathedral of Pala is the name that receives a religious building that belongs to the Catholic Church, follows the Syro-Malabar rite and is located in the town of Pala in the state of Kerala in the south of the Asian country of India. It serves as the mother church of the Syro-Malabar Diocese or Eparchy of Palai ( Eparchia Palaiensis) which was created in 1950 through the bull "Quo Ecclesiarum" of Pope Pius XII.

The church was constructed in the year 1002 July 3, by four Syrian Christian families. These four Christian families of Palai were Tharayil family of Pala (tharayil mappila), Koottumkal (brother of Tharayil Mappila), Erakonni &Vayalakombil. They engaged mainly in agriculture and trade. It is believed that the old church St. Thomas cathedral was built by these families. Tharayil Mappila seek the permission to build a church at Pala. But the local ruler meenachil kartha's (karthavu) asked him to bring three more families. He brought two families, ERAKONNI & VAYALAKOMBIL. And still he was in need of one. So he brought his own brother (Tharayil family) to Pala and gave him family name Koottumkal , in order to construct the church. Meenachil Karthas gave land on the banks of meenachil river and the church was constructed. These four families stayed in and around the church and opposite to the church. This church was designed by Architect Philip Mathew. He studied in Sir J.J School of Architecture, Bombay.

The church was rebuilt in 1702 by Srampickal Ittan Mappilai who was a chief trader and agriculturist of the land and when a mukalappada from Tamil Nadu set fire to the church during the last decade of the 17th century. Since the land where the church was situated which was owned by Ittan Mappilai, he built the church with his own money and ran out of money when the church was completed, which also left him in debt. According to his last wish He died lying on the Veranda of the church on November 30th 1702, and was buried in the church cemetery.

The new church of Cathedral as seen now was built under the leadership of Mar. Sebastian Vayalil, the first bishop of Palai.

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Wikipedia