St. Peter and St. Paul's Church, Kolenchery

St. Peter's and St. Paul's Orthodox Syrian Church is an Indian Orthodox church situated in Kolenchery, in Ernakulam, Kerala, India. It was established in the seventh century.[1]

St. Peter's and St. Paul's Church
St. Peter's and St. Paul's Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church
Religion
AffiliationMalankara Orthodox Syrian Church
DistrictErnakulam
ProvinceKerala
Location
LocationKolenchery, Muvattupuzha, India
Architecture
TypeChurch
Completed7th century CE
Direction of façadeWest

Due to the issues between the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church and Jacobite Syrian Christian Church, the church was non-functional for few years and functioned as shared church from 1995. In 2006 a Jacobite member of the Kolenchery Church filed a suit over the administration of the church. The case proceeded from the lower courts and reached the Supreme Court of India. On 3 July 2017 the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, and the church has since been governed by the constitution of 1934.[2]

Tomb of Mar Thoma VII

While visiting the parishes, the Mar Thoma VII died at Kandanad Church; his body was taken to St. George's Church, Kadamattom and on the way they entered to Kolenchery Church to pay homage. As Kolenchery Church[3] was also his quarters for some time, the parishioners demanded that the body be buried there. It was agreed and Mar Thoma VII was buried at Kolenchery church on 22nd Mithunam (5 July), 1809.[4]

References
  1. "Fractured Faith: Two church factions clash over a disputed shrine in Kerala". India Today. 24 September 2011.
  2. "K.S. Varghese vs St.Peter'S & Paul'S Syrian Orth.. on 3 July, 2017". Indian Kanoon. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  3. "Kolenchery Church". kolencherychurch.blogspot.com. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  4. "Spiritual forefathers". pakalomattamfamily.org. Archived from the original on 8 November 2014.
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