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Niranam
Church
has
a
rich
history
of
being
the
symbol
of
Christian
faith
in
Kerala
and
a
citadel
of
Orthodox
Christianity
since
its
inception
in
AD 54 by
St
Thomas,
one
of
the
twelve
apostles
of
Jesus
Christ.
St
Thomas
reached
Kerala
in
AD 52 and
started
preaching
the
gospel.
He
founded
8
churches,
which
are
called
'Ezhara
Pallikal',
meaning
seven
and
half
churches.
These
were
at
Kodungallur,
Kollam,
Niranam,
Nilackal
(Chayal),
Kokkamangalam,
Kottakkayal
(Paravoor),
Palayoor
(Chattukulangara)
and
Thiruvithamkode
(the
half
church).
St.
Thomas
who
had
great
respect
for
the
Holy
Virgin,
named
all
these
churches
after
St.
Mary.
At
Niranam,
St.
Thomas
baptised
many
people
and
ordained
people
with
social
eminence
as
priests,
to
administer
the
church.
The
church
founded
by
St
Thomas
at
Niranam
was
adjacent
to
Sri
Thrikpaleswara
Hindu
Temple
of
Lord
Shiva.
Some
adversaries
of
the
new
faith
later
took
out
the
cross,
founded
by
the
Apostle
and
threw
it
into
the
neighboring
river.
When
St
Thomas
returned
to
Niranam
after
two
years
(AD 54)
he
heard
about
this
and
went
in
search
of
the
cross.
He
found
it
at
a
place
in
the
down
stream
and
again
founded
the
church
at
that
place,
which
is
believed
to
be
the
present
location
of
the
church.
According
to
the
available
records,
the
present
building
is
the
fourth,
which
was
built
in 1912.
The
third
building
was
built
in 1259.
Analysis
of
soil
says
that
during
the
first
century,
Niranam
and
the
surrounding
places
were
costal
region.
Probably,
it
was
a
place
where
the
river
joined
the
sea.
Some
historians
are
of
the
opinion
that
the
name
Niranam
derived
from
an
old
name
'NeerMannu',
which
meant
land
with
water.
Presence
of
water
bodies
enabled
travel
through
water
and
it
is
believed
that
the
Apostle
reached
Niranam
in
a
ship
(it
might
be
a
big
boat).
During
the
14
th
century,
there
was
a
great
flood
and
the
geography
of
the
area
changed
a
lot
because
the
sea
retreated
exposing
a
lot
of
land.
Even
today,
there
is
a
place
at
Niranam,
near
Kolarayar
-
a
tributary
of
River
Pampa
-
named
'Thomathukadavu',
which
is
supposed
to
be
the
spot
where
St.
Thomas
got
down
from
the
ship.
The
word
'Thomathukadavu'
might
have
emerged
from
'Thoma
Vanna
Kadavu',
which
means
the
jetty
where
Thomas
came.
Niranam
Church
was
the
southern
headquarters
of
the
Orthodox
Church
in
Kerala
for
centuries.
Many
of
the
Malankara
Metropolitans
(the
chief
bishops)
ruled
the
church
by
staying
here.
The
church
is
famous
for
its
historical
importance,
loyalty
to
the
Indian
Orthodox
Church,
architectural
beauty
and
some
of
its
antiques.
Almost
all
of
the
old
churches
in
southern
Kerala
-
whether
belonging
to
Orthodox,
Marthoma
or
Roman
Catholic
churches
-
were
separated
from
this
mother
parish,
during
course
of
time.
Niranam
Church
witnessed
a
number
of
historical
events
in
the
church
history
including
the
establishment
of
a
Catholicate
in
the
Indian
Orthodox
Church
in
1912.
The
first
Catholicose
and
second
Catholicose
of
the
church
were
ordained
at
Niranam
Church
(in
1912
and
1925).
Four
of
the
Malankara
Metropolitans
of
the
church
passed
away
while
staying
here
and
two
were
buried
here
