Our Parish

A Brief Historical Survey

It is a historical fact ,approved and acknowledged by eminent historians across the world that St. Thomas, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ founded the Christian Church in India in A .D 52. Nilackal (chayal) and Kollam (Kurakeni Kollam) were two of the seven places where St. Thomas converted the natives to Christianity and founded a community of believers. The first migration of our forefathers took place from Nilackal through Kadampanadu and Kuruvilangadu, and also from Kollam. The first generation of our predecessors for a few centuries had to migrate to Kadamapandu which was founded in A.D 325 (St Thomas Church) and later from 8th century onwards to Thumpamon (St Marys Church )for fulfilling their spiritual needs. There are historical references and evidences which show that there was a community of believers who lived in and around Kudassanad as early as the ninth century. As years advanced , our ancestors found it impracticable and rigorous to reach to Kadampanad and later Thumpamon for fulfilling their religious needs. Hence they desired to build a church at a nearby convenient place.

Primary Initiatives for Place of Worship

It is believed that there had been a Christian migration from Kadampanadu to Kayamkulam as also to so many other nearby and far away places, in 6th and 7th centuries ,and the Syrian migration in the 9th century , led by Mar Sabor and Mar Aphroth resulted in the founding of churches in Kollam and Kayamkulam. It is assumed that there had been attempts to construct a church at Kudassanad, a place situated at the North East of Kayamkulam, where there was a strong community of Christian believers ,as early as the 9th century.

Founding of a new Parish – First Phase

Our forefathers quite rightly and firmly believed that building up a place of worship was more valuable and rewarding than building up a habitation for their family. Accordingly ,they tried to find an appropriate places to build a new church. They identified a serene spot at Pappadikoyickal, about one kilometer west to the present Kudassanadu junction. But God’s will was that this church should be built on a place of high elevation , like the temple of God on the Mount of Jerusalem. This place is in the eastern part of kudassanadu, a small hill beside a water stream. Thus in 1678 (M. E – 854) , a small church made of bamboo and thatched roof was built on that hill, named ‘Vaipinkunnu’. People now call this church as ‘Valiyapally’ or ‘Puthenpally’.

Renovated Church – Second Phase
As years advanced , our forefathers felt the fervent desire to have a church on their own land , with all clear and flawless ownership documents. Thonnallur pakuthi settlement register , with the ‘Thandapper” 2222 registered in the name of Kallinal Ipu kirian , was later transferred to four members of the parish committee (Keeppallil Vareeth Vareeth, Valiyaveettil Kuruvila Vareeth,Nerathyayathu Iduculla Vareeth, Kaleeckal Vareeth Vareeth), in whose names revenue tax was remitted . There a church with mud walls , mud floor, and thatched roof on bamboo frame was built. Clear reference to the presence of such a church could be seen in the ‘Memoir of the survey of the Travancore and Cochin State’ published in 1816. Our forefathers fulfilled aspiration to build a church at Pappadikoyickal area is still commemorated when the procession (Rasa) to the church on the feast of St Stephen set out from there every year.

Reconstruction of the Church – Third Phase
The Dreams and aspiration of the people to build up a new church in the light of the limitations of the existing church was materialized on 20th January 1873 (M. E 1048, Makaram 8th) When H. G. Joseph Mar Dionysius II of Pulikkottil laid the foundation for the new church, in the name of St Stephen, the first martyr and the prominent one among the seven Deacons. The indomitable and steadfast faith of the people in the intercession of St Stephen could be known from the fact that people from as far as 6K M from the church came for worship and meditation here. A fact that makes us proud and honoured is that most of the nearby Orthodox Parishes founded later are the ‘Sister Parishes’ of our church.
Later , the structure of the church had to be extended lengthwise , with the portrait of H. G Joseph Mar Dionysius II ( who was held in high esteem by H . G Mar Gregorios of Parumala ) on the raised portion above the main entrance on the western side of the church (Mukhavaram) . Records show that Rev. Fr. Yohannan from Thekkedathu, Thumpamon was appointed as the first Vicar of the church , renovated in the third phase. It was by the advice of Parumala Thirumeni that the structure of the church was extended and the portrait of Pulikkottil Thirumeni placed above the main entrance.

The Existing Church – Renovation as Fourth Phase
As the number of families registered with the parish and as the number of worshippers increased considerably, it became imperatively essential that a large church be built. Accordingly , H. G Daniel Mar Philoxinos , the Metropolitan of Thumpamon Diocese , laid the foundation for new church, on 22nd of January , 1972 (M. E 1147 , Makaram 8th ), when Rev. Fr. Paul Madathu, was the Vicar. It took twelve years for its completion . On 23rd of January 1984, the new church was consecrated by Baselios Marthoma Mathews I, the Catholicos and Malankara Metropolitan, assisted by H. B. Mathews Mar Coorilos (Catholicose Designate ), H. G. Daniel Mar Philexinos (Thumpamon) , H. G Thomas Mar Thimothios (Malabar, later H. H. Didimos I Catholicos), H. G Yuhanon Mar Severios ( Kochi) , H . G Geevarghese Mar Osthathios (Niranam )and H. G Geevarghese Mar Dioscoros (Thiruvananthapuram), Rev Fr. K M Thomas was the Vicar.


Multiple Honors and Titles Conferred
St Stephen's Mount
St Stephens Mount allured by the enchanting beauty and ennobling serenity of Vaippinkunnu, upon which the church was established,H. H the Baselios Marthoma Mathews I, declared the little hill as ‘St Stephen’s Mount’ on 24th January 1984.

Prayer Home
On 22-01-1984 H.H. Baselios Mathews I Catholicos installed the Holy reliese of St. Parumala mar Gregoriose in our parish. In1992 H. G. Geevarghese Mar Dioscoros consecrated the prayer home where the Holy Relies of St. Parumala mar Gregorios is installed. Now this centre is most convenient for the believers to worship.

St Stephen’s Cathedral
In consideration of the ardent spiritual fervor, strong and steadfast faith of the parishioners , the long history of the church, H. G the Daniel Mar Philexinos declared St Stephen’s Church as ‘St Stephen’s Cathedral’ , on April 22nd 1984 vide Kalpana No 164/84..

Installation of the Holy Relics
It was a long cherished ambition of the parishioners to have the holy relics of St Stephen be installed in the parish for veneration and seeking intercession. Accordingly , on 3rd April 2018 with the approval of the Holy Episcopal Synod of the church , H. G Thomas Mar Athanasius (Diocesan Metropolitan) H.G Dr. Gabriel Mar Gregorios (Thiruvananthapuram), H. G Dr. Mathews Mar Thimothios (U K, Europe, Africa and Asst. of Chengannur ) together installed the holy relics of St Stephen in the church.
The holy service was preceded by a ceremonial procession in which a large number of Christians and non- Christians participated with piety and devotion. We are much indebted to Rev. Fr. Mathews George Anandapally , Fr. Dr. Vivek Varghese who were instrumental in getting the holy relics from Mount Athos , Greece and to Rev. Fr. Thomas P Ninan, the parish Vicar and Rev .Fr. Binu Joy , the Assistant Vicar.

Declaration as St Stephen’s Pilgrim Centre- the First in Malankara
On 22nd of March 2023, the Catholicos and Malankara Metropolitan H. H Baselios Marthoma Mathews III declared the parish as the first St Stephen’s Global Pilgrim Centre, vide Kalpana No MOSC/CMM/81/2023. Even before that, right from the day of the installation of the holy relics, the church became a St Stephen’s Pilgrim Confluence Centre as people from far and wide assembled in the church seeking the saint’s intercession and to venerate the holy relics.
Thus the church has the rare fortune of getting garlanded with three titles simultaneously. On 20th January 2024, prior to the feast of St Stephen a ‘Vilambara Rally’ ( a ceremonial procession announcing the feast and the formal declaration as the Global Pilgrim Centre) commenced from St Thomas Cathedral , Kadambanadu and visited St Mary’s Cathedral, Thumapamon and a number of neighboring churches and reached the parish.
On 21st January 2024, after the Holy Service ,with the consent of Diocean Metropolitan, H. G Dr. Joshua Mar Nicodemos formally declared the cathedral as ‘St Stephen’s Global Pilgrim Centre’.
We are deeply indebted to Catholicos and Malankara Metropolitan H. H. Baselios Marthoma Mathews III, H G Dr. Mathews Mar Thimotheos, Metropolitan of Chengannur Diocese, Rev Fr. P. K Koshy, Secretary of Chengannur Diocese, Rev. Fr. Wilson Sankarathil, Vicar of the parish and Rev. Fr. Tino Thankachen, Asst. Vicar of the parish.

We humble ourselves before the Almighty who used our forefathers and who still uses us, their successors as a tool in his hand to shower his blessings upon his people through this parish. H.G Gabriel Mar Gregorios (Thiruvananthapuram Diocese) is a member of our parish and also there are eleven priest and one sister as members.

The parish has a Chapel (St Thomas) , thirteen Shrines, three Sunday Schools, twenty eight units of area prayer fellowships, eleven units of Martha Mariyam Vanitha Samajam (women fellowship) , three units of O.C.Y.M, two units of Bala Samajam (children’s fellowship),one unit of M.G.O.C.S.M (student fellowship) and a unit of Akhila Malankara Orthodox Susrushaka Sankham (Altar Assistant’s fellowship) , and a parish council to support the spiritual and temporal growth of the parishioners and the society at large. Moreover ,our St. Stephen’s Public School and Junior College is a blooming educational institution which is meant to meet the educational and academic needs to the society at large.

Present address

St Stephens Mount
Kudassanad, Poozhikkad P.O
Pathanamthitta
Kerala - 689515

Web: www.kudassanadcathedralpilgrim.com