St.Mary’s Forane Church, Pallippuram is an ancient church of Kerala. The church is dedicated to Our Lady of Assumption. It was one of the divisions of Kottayam vicariate before the formation of Ernakulam vicariate. Today, it is a Forane church of Ernakulam- Angamaly Archdiocese of Syro- Malabar Rite. This church is the mother of many churches in Cherthala and Vaikom Taluks .
The Church is said to be established in 52 AD. It is traditionally believed that the cross that St. Thomas erected at Kokkamangalam, not far from here, happened to be thrown away into the Vembanad Lake by fanatics. But the cross safely floated over the surface of the lake and reached “Mattel” a small island, adjacent to Pallipuram. The miraculously found cross was solemnly taken by the people and a small Church was built to commemorate the event. In later years the cross was taken over to Pallippuram Church and it is preserved there today:
At Pallippuram there was a seminary, for the training of the Syrian clerics, the remnants of which can be seen even today. Some of the ancient paintings about Our Lady’s Assumption are of great attraction for visitors to this place. Stone carvings and ‘Taliyola’ writings are saved in the church.
The church is renovated firstly in AD 500 . The current church building keeps the Portuguese style architecture in its front side. Blessed Chavara Kuriakose Eliase served in this church as a priest for some years.
