Martha Mariam church is the ancestral home of Christian communities in Kerala and out side the State. It is in Meenachil Taluk, 22 kms north of Kottayam, on the eastern side of M.C. Road. Martha Mariam Church belongs to the diocese of Palai.Traditional beliefs, some legendary factors and historical associations contribute to the actual history of the church. It is believed that four Christian families - viz. Palli (Kalli), Kaliyakal (kalikavu), Sankarapuri and Pakalomattam from Palayur arrived at Ettumanoor and they moved to Kalikavu near Kuravilangad in the beginning of the second century. Kuruvilangad Church's Altar Fountain It is also believed that Our Lady appeared to a few children at Kuravilangad, who were tending their flock in the bushes. Our Lady asked them to build a church at the place from where a miraculous perpetual spring sprouted, a spring which exists even today. The children reported this matter to the elders and a church was built there. The present church was completed in 1960 when Rev. Fr. Thomas Manakattu was the parish priest. Kuravilangad has a unique place in the history of the Church of Malabar. The temporal administration of the church was conducted by Archdeacons who were very influential in the society. It is believed that the Archdeacons have been descended from the Pakalomattam family. The mortal remain of a few Archdeacons are still preserved at the Pakalomattam Chapel. Mar Alexander De Campo (Parampil Chandy Metran) is an illustrious son of Kuravilangad. He is the first indigenous bishop of the whole of India. He was ordained bishop on first February 1663 by Mar Sebastany a foreign bishop. Mar Alexander was staying at Kuravilangad till his death, 2nd January 1687. Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Nidhiri ( Nidhirikal Mani kathanar ) (1842- 1904) of Kuravilangad is a colossus in the history of the church in Kerala. He was an eminent educationalist, orator, organizer and a champion of ecumenism. He was the first editor of the first Malayalam daily "Deepika". As vicar of the Kuravilangad church, he started the St.Mary's English school for boys in 1894. The present president of India, K. R. Narayanan matriculated from this school. Fr. Jacob Panamkuzhakal (Panamkuzhakal Valliyachan) (1479-1543) was a very holy priest of Kuravilangad. Many people testify on the favours received through the intercession of Fr. Jacob. The Panamkuzhakal family celebrates the death anniversary of Fr. Jacob on 5th November every year."Moonnu Nompu" is the main feast of the church. Thousands of people from all over Kerala come to this three-days-feast. The ceremonial procession on the second day of the feast when the replica of the vessel used by prophet Jonah of the OT is taken out is the main attraction of the feast. The people of the Kadapoor locality has the privilege to carry the vessel during the procession.The statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary kept at the side altar is unique. It is carved from granite and it is believed that it was brought from North India. This is a miraculous statue and the devotees call this statue "Kuravilangad Muthiyamma".The granite cross in a single block of 48 feet in front of the church was erected around 1597. The devotes offer coconut oil in the lamps at the foot of the cross. On first Fridays devotees stand in queue from early morning to late in the evening to offer oil.An ancient bell with the engraving on Syriac "Mother of God" speaks loudly of the traditional faith of christian community here in Kerala. Three majestic bells that peal out the glory of Kuravilangad were brought from Germany in 1911.The eight tongued coconut scraper is a marvel in carpentry. It is carved out of a single block of wood. It was used to scrape coconuts for the "Monnu Nompu" feast. A good number of educational and charitable institutions do creditable service to the people of this locality. A century old Boy's Higher secondary school, half a century old girls secondary school and a first grade college, Devamatha speak volumes about the contribution of the church in the field of education. St.Vincent's Hospital run by congregation of the sisters of charity of St.Vincent De Paul in a land mark here is the field of medical service. About one hundred girls are taken care of at the Balabhavan run by the CMC sisters. Sisters from five convents render immense service to the parishioners. With about 2500 families and 12500 members, Kuravilangad is the ancient and the biggest parish in the diocese of Palai. This Marian pilgrim centre is a source of solace and hope to thousands of devotees who visit this church every year.

Like a river originating so humbly and meekly as a brook, flowing incessantly and gathering many more brooks, gradually becoming a very big one, our church, Lourdes Forane Church originated from a congregation of merely 25 Catholic families, has become, a great and big parish, gathering many more families in the course of its growth. Today there are 1100 families, around 5000 parishioners in our church.Centuries back, Kottayam was a Christian centre. But after the ‘Koonan Kurishu Sathyam’, the church was split into various groups. There was a large-scale migration to the high range regions. They realised the prospects of the wonder tree ‘rubber’, planted rubber trees and became prosperous plantation owners.The Christians who settled in Kuttanad regions also became rich by paddy cultivation. They worked hard in the rice fields and earned money. These farmers could afford to provide good education to their children; as a result, the next generation saw many efficient lawyers and professionals, among these Catholics.Kottayam was the centre of Kottayam district, with the Civil Station and the District Court. The heads of church, identified the prospects of this place. ‘Sabhabhasuran’ Rev. Mani Nidheerickal selected this region as the centre of his activities related to ecumenism. His follower, Rev.Fr.Thomas Kurialassery, became the first local Bishop of Changanassery. He purchased 16 acres of land near the Civil Station and shifted the minor seminary (which had been functioning in the Bishop’s house at Changanassery) to this place in 1919. But this started to function fully in 1922 only.In the meanwhile, the lawyers who preferred to live in the vicinity of the District Court and the rich Catholics who wished to send their children, to the prestigious educational institutions in and around Kottayam settled down in Kottayam. They attended the Holy Mass at the Seminary Chapel.This Chapel was a ‘Bernadette’s’ Church in the beginning; and later the present name ‘ Lourdes Church’ was adopted. It was Mary Bernadette’s visions of the Virgin Mary, which led to the founding of the Shrine of Lourdes in France. His Holiness Mar.Mathew Kavukattu was the Vice-Rector here for a short period. There was a press attached to the Seminary.The foundation stone for the new church was laid on 18 th March 1934. The construction of the renovated church was completed on 16 th April 1938. The petty seminary was shifted again to Changanassery in 1945. In the meantime, our church has grown into a well-established Christian fellowship. In 1954, 5 acres of land was given free of cost to the Medical Mission Sisters, as they wished to start a training institute for the nuns. The result was a ‘Noviciate’ instead of a seminary- a convent and a school along with a church, is the usual concept of a catholic community.The construction of the Lourdes Parish Hall began in 1976. On 10 th October 1978, Arch Bishop Mar.Antony Padiyara inaugurated the new parish hall. On 25 th April 1982, the renovation of the church was completed. On 13 th December 1982, the parish was raised to a ‘ Forane Church’. On February 23,1992, the Vadavathoor church was inaugurated. On December 12 th 1993, Bishop Mar. Joseph Powathil inaugurated the Lourdes Forane Centre- a glittering chapter in the history of the church. The Platinum jubilee of the church was celebrated from January 29 to February 12, 1995- an occasion for spiritual renewal. Lourdes Public School was started in May 1996. On 30 th January 2000, the blessing of the Lourdes Public School was done by Mar.Joseph Powathil.Today Lourdes Forane Church is one among the excellent, model and rich parishes of Changanassery Arch Diocese. It is a supreme example of God’s mercy showered on a devoted community; renewed to create wonders, among the poor, suffering fellows; it is a community, blessed with Mercy, Love and Concern; it is a communion recharging themselves from the Holy Communion-the Eucharist; holding high the Eucharistic Culture; following the formula-the sum and substance of Pope John Paul II’s Encyclical letter- E.C = 4S + 3L, where E.C = Eucharistic Culture, 4S = Sharing, Silence, Suffering and Surrendering. 3L = Love, Life and Light.Rosamma RajanMethikkalamKalathilpady.

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