Mart Mariyam Big Church

Mart Mariam Big Church
In 1796 A D., the Sakthan Thampuran, King of erstwhile Cochin State (now part of Kerala) brought 52 Christian families to Trichur from the neighbourhood with a view to develop Trichur as a center of trade and commerce. The Marth Mariam Church was constructed in 1814 for the worship of those Christian families. Abraham Cathanar of Palai dedicated the Church in 1815 by the command of King of Cochin state, Ramavarma, successor of the successor of the famous Sakthan Thampuran, who had settled down this community in Trichur.
	The original name of this church, which is the oldest church in Trichur town, was “Vyakula Mathavin Pally”. Since the Roman Catholics began to argue that this church was a Catholic Church, the authorities of this church changed the name to Marth Mariam, which is the Syriac translation of the name St. Mary, Vyakula Mathavu also referred to the mother of Jesus Christ. The Chaldean Syrians of Trichur prefer to use the title Mother of Christ , while the Catholics and the Orthodox insist on the expression Mother of God.
The question of the faith of those Christian families has been debated in the various litigations. The litigations took a more serious turn after the arrival of Mar Abimalek Timotheus Metropolitan in February 1908, sent by the Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East from Kurdistan in the Middle East. The final settlement of the litigations in the District Court of Trichur and Royal Court of Cochin was by the ‘Award’ of Mr. C.W.E. Cotton, the British Political Agent who was the arbitrator appointed by the Maharaja of Cochin state. His Award was announced on 18^th April 1925 at Bolghatty Residency, Ernakulam that was the capital of the Cochin State. The Plaintiffs-Appellants of the Trichur case later joined Catholic Church and constructed the famous “Puthan Pally” near the old Church in the name of Vyakula Mathavu (Lady of Dolours). Now it is known as Basilica. It is the biggest church building in India.
Two Metropolitans from the Middle East (Mar Thoma Rokos 1861-62 and Mar Elia Mellus 1874-82) and a Metropolitan from the neighborhood of Palai (Mar Abdisho Thondanatt) served the Big Church. The Chaldean Syrians of Trichur claim their origin not to 1814 A.D. when the Big Church was constructed, but to 52 A.D. to the Mission of St. Thomas. Like the other Syrian Christian denominations of Kerala, the Chaldean Syrians of Trichur claim to be the faithful descendants of the first century converts of St. Thomas.
Mar Abdisho Thondanat Metropolitan died in November 1900 A.D. From 1900-1908 Michael Augustine Cor -Episcopa from Mosul ruled the Church in the absence of a Metropolitan. 1908 – 1945 Mar Abimalek Timotheus Metropolitan 1945 - 1952 There was no Metropolitan In June 1952 Mar Thoma Darmo Metropolitan arrived and served the Archdiocese until he left India on 7^th September, 1968. During his time the Chaldean Syrian Church in Trichur was divided into two groups. The Patriarchal group in 1964 adopted the western calendar prepared by Pope Gregory in October 1582. The Metropolitan group continued the eastern calendar, which was in use from the time of Julius Caesar before the time of Jesus. This group was governed by the Metropolitan Mar Aprem (George Mooken from Trichur) since October 1968 and the Patriarchal group was governed by Mar Timotheus Metropolitan (C.C.Timothy, Choondal House) from January 1972. In November 1995 both groups were united again under the universal headship of Mar Dinkha IV, Catholicos Patriarch who resides in Chicago. The Patriarch visited the churches and institutions in Trichur in January 2000. Mar Timotheus Metropolitan died on 6 August 2001. Bishop Poulose Mar Poulose, who belonged to the Metropolitan Group, died on 24 March 1998 during a bye Pass surgery in Apollo Hospital in Chennai . He was only 56 years old. He was the Chairman of the World Student Christian Federation (WSCF), Geneva and was well known in the church and society as an intellectual. The church is governed by Mar Aprem Metropolitan. There are 29 parishes and thirty thousand faithful. There is a Higher Secondary school, a High School and three Primary schools. There is a printing technology school, a parallel College for Girls, Orphanage and other institutions. This community was active in politics. Jawaharlal Nehru along with his wife Kamala and daughter Indira visited Mar Timotheus Metropolitan on 29 May 1931 during his first visit to Trichur town. Nehru has written about this visit in his An Autobiography with Musings on Recent Events in India, London, 1958, pages 273-4. Mahatma Gandhi had a famous meeting with this foreign bishop in Trichur on January 17, 1934. Two leaders of this community were in Travancore-Cochin assembly. Mooken Ouseph Thomakutty was an M.L.C.during 1945-1948 in the assembly of the Cochin state representing commerce constituency.. Mr.O.T.Inasu was an M.L.C during 1948 to 1951. Advocate P.P. Devassy who was a Vice Chairman in Trichur Municipality from 10 December 1938 till 11 November 1941,contested the election to the assembly and won. Among the Municipal Chairmen of Trichur town two were from this community. N.O.Inasu (Nadakavukaren House) from 13 January 1935 to 16 November 1938 and Advocate P.P.Devassy from 24 January 1949 to 8 January 1952. Two others served as Vice Chairman, namely C.T.Kurien (Chakola) in 1954 from January to July and E.L. Jos from 20 Sept 1983 to 30 September 1984. At present there are no members from this community in the City Corporation. The members of this church do not favour a single political party. Most political parties in Trichur have members from this church. Dr.Dorothy Chacko, an American doctor who married a deacon from Trichur Dr. Professor C.J.Chacko, was given Padmasree award by V.V.Giri, President of India. Professor Chacko earned Ph.D. in Political Science from the famous Columbia University in New York city way back in 1932.
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