Gyani24 at 06:13, 23 March 2026

2026-03-23T06:13:41Z

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{{Infobox church
| name = St. Mary's Forane Church, Pulinkunnoo
| image = India - Kerala - Alleppey -Pulinkunnu - St. Mary's Forane Church.jpg
| caption = St. Mary's Forane Church, Pulinkunnoo
| location = [[Pulinkunnoo]] in [[Kuttanad]], [[Kerala]]
| country = [[India]]
| pushpin map = India Kerala
| coordinates = {{coord|9.412|N|76.41|E|display=inline,title}}
| denomination = [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]]
| tradition =
| website =
| architectural type = Portuguese architectural style<ref>{{cite web |title=Pulinkunnu Church in Kerala |url=https://www.keralatourism.org/photo-gallery/pulikunnu-church/2132 |website=Kerala Tourism |publisher= Department of tourism, [[Government of Kerala]] |language=en}}</ref>
| style =
| parish =
| membership =
| dedication = [[Saint Mary]]
| archdiocese = [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Changanassery|Changanassery]]
| founded date = {{Start date and age|1450}}
| diocese =
| district = Alappuzha
| archbishop = Bishop [[Mar Thomas Tharayil]]
| vicar = Fr. Tom <ref name="lifeday">{{cite web |title=തണ്ണീര്‍ താണ്ടി വരുവായാ? പുളിങ്കുന്ന് പള്ളിയില്‍ നിന്ന് ഒരു മറുപടി |url=https://www.lifeday.in/a-lifeday-reply-from-the-pulinkunnu-church/ |website=Catholic Church News Malayalam |date=19 July 2018}}</ref>
| asstpriest = Fr. Jison Paul<ref name="lifeday"/>
}}
'''St. Mary's Syro Malabar Catholic Forane Church, Pulinkunnoo''' is a Catholic church located in [[Alappuzha district]] of [[Kerala]], [[India]]. Located in a small village named [[Pulinkunnoo]] in [[Kuttanad]], the church is also known as '''Pulinkunnoo church''' or '''Pulinkunnu church'''. It is one of the oldest church and Christian pilgrim centre under the [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Changanacherry]].

==Overview==
St. Mary's Forane Church, Pulinkunnoo is a Catholic church located in a small village named [[Pulinkunnoo]] in [[Kuttanad]], [[Alappuzha district]]. This church is more than five hundred years old and has been renovated four times.<ref name="ETV">{{cite news |last1=Bharat |first1=E. T. V. |title=പൈതൃകവും ടൂറിസവും ഒത്തുചേരുന്ന തീർഥാടന കേന്ദ്രമായി പുളിങ്കുന്ന് പള്ളി |url=https://www.etvbharat.com/malayalam/kerala/state/alappuza/heritage-and-tourism-spot-alappuzha-pulinkunnu-st-marys-church/kerala20211202125948542 |work=ETV Bharat News |agency=[[ETV Network]] |date=2 December 2021 |language=ml}}</ref> Many centuries old objects and documents are kept in this church.<ref name="ETV"/> Decades old iron staircase, wooden confession booths and special carvings on the altar are all features of this church.<ref name="ETV"/>

Pulinkunnoo Church, which is also the parish where the [[Saint]] [[Kuriakose Elias Chavara]] served.<ref name="ETV"/>

==History==
The early Christians of [[Kuttanad]] used to do spiritual things in the Niranam Church, which was established by the disciple of Christ, [[Thomas the Apostle]].<ref name="Malayalam UK">{{cite web |title=പമ്പയുടെ തീരത്ത് പഴമയുടെ പ്രൗഢിയും ഐശ്വര്യവും നിറച്ചു അനുഗ്രഹങ്ങൾ വർഷിച്ചു നിൽക്കുന്ന പുളിങ്കുന്ന് വലിയപള്ളി; 8 നോമ്പു പെരുനാൾ ആഘോഷിക്കുന്ന പുളിങ്കുന്ന് സെന്റ് മേരി ഫൊറോനാ പള്ളിയുടെ ചരിത്രത്തിലേക്ക് ഒരു എത്തി നോട്ടം....... |url=https://malayalamuk.com/bijo-thomas-adavichira-pulinkunnoo-valiyapalli-on-the-banks-of-the-pampa-is-full-of-the-pride-and-prosperity-of-the-past/ |website=Malayalam UK |language=ml |date=2 September 2021}}</ref> Later, with the establishment of the Kallurkkad Church, the center of worship of Christians in Kuttanad became the Kallurkkad church ([[Basilica of St. Mary, Champakulam]]).<ref name="Malayalam UK"/> When the number of Christians increased in Pulinkunnoo and surrounding areas, efforts were started under the leadership of Chakala Eepan Tarakan, who was the leader of the Christians at that time, to establish a church at Pulinkunnoo as well.<ref name="Malayalam UK"/> Chakala Eepan Tharakan met Vadakumkur Koical Thampuran who was the local ruler of these regions at that time to build a church there, and the request was allowed by the Thampuran.<ref name="Malayalam UK"/> The Araya (A community whose main livelihood has traditionally been fishing) people who used to live there were shifted to another place.<ref name="Malayalam UK"/> The 'Vallapura' (traditional canoe shed) was demolished to build the church structure.<ref name="Malayalam UK"/>

This first Christian church in Pulinkunnoo was established in AD 1450.<ref name="Malayalam UK"/> After 1500 AD, King of Chembakassery (present-day [[Ambalapuzha]]) conquered the Pulinkunnoo area and annexed it to his kingdom.<ref name="Malayalam UK"/> During the reign of the Chembakassery kings, many Christians migrated from other areas to Kuttanad including Pulinkunnoo.<ref name="Malayalam UK"/> In 1557, the Christians of Pulinkunnoo and its surrounding areas decided to demolish and rebuild the old church.<ref name="Malayalam UK"/> The last [[East Syriac Rite|Chaldaean]] Bishop of Kerala, who was in disguise fearing the Portuguese, was invited to Pulinkunnoo by the Christian families and the foundation of the church was laid by him.<ref name="Malayalam UK"/> On 4 February 1557, Pope Paul IV established the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Cochin|Diocese of Cochin]] and placed the entire area under this diocese.<ref name="Malayalam UK"/> When the construction was completed, the new church was consecrated and the church was given the name of [[Mary, mother of Jesus|Virgin Mary]], according to the special interest of the then Bishop of Cochin and the believers of Pulinkunnoo.<ref name="Malayalam UK"/>

In 1750, Maharaja Marthandavarma conquered the kingdom of Chembakassery and annexed it to Travancore.<ref name="Malayalam UK"/> With this many families from different parts of Travancore again migrated to Kuttanad.<ref name="Malayalam UK"/> Most of the present Christian families in Pulinkunnoo have migrated during this time.<ref name="Malayalam UK"/> As the number of believers increased, the church was renovated again in 1885.<ref name="Malayalam UK"/> Srampikal Geevargis Katanar, who was a parishioner of the church, led the construction of the present church.<ref name="Malayalam UK"/> The foundation stone of the church and the laying of the first stone was carried out by Fr. Geevargis Veliyanad, who was a parishioner of this church.<ref name="Malayalam UK"/> The new church was built on the foundation of the old church.<ref name="Malayalam UK"/>

==location==
St. Mary's Forane Church is located on the banks of [[Pamba River|Pampa river]] at [[Pulinkunnoo]] in [[Kuttanad]] in [[Alappuzha district]].<ref name="DTPC alappuzha">{{cite web |title=Pulikunnu Church |url=https://www.dtpcalappuzha.com/destination/pulikunnu-church |website=DTPC alappuzha |language=en}}</ref> It is located about 17 km away from Alappuzha Bus Stand and about 16.5 km away from [[Alappuzha railway station]].<ref name="DTPC alappuzha"/>

==Charitable activities==
In 2020, the church authorities had given away 2.06 acres of land free of cost for Pulinkunnoo Taluk Hospital.<ref name="pra">{{cite news |title=താലൂക്ക് ആശുപത്രി നവീകരണത്തിന് രണ്ടേക്കര്‍ ഭൂമി ദാനം ചെയ്ത് പുളിങ്കുന്ന് പള്ളി |url=https://pravachakasabdam.com/index.php/site/news/12427 |work=pravachakasabdam.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=പുളിങ്കുന്ന് താലൂക്ക് ആശുപത്രി നിർമാണം വേഗത്തിലാക്കും: മന്ത്രി |url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/district-news/alappuzha/2024/02/04/construction-of-pulinkunnu-taluk-hospital.html |work=www.manoramaonline.com |language=ml}}</ref> 8 cents of land was also handed over to the government in 1956, for the building the first hospital which was now elevated as a taluk hospital.<ref name="pra"/>

This church was one of the refuge centers for the locals during the [[2019 Kerala floods]].<ref name="ETV"/> At the beginning of the flood, the church authorities, who had delivered food to the houses, opened the parish hall of the church itself when the water entered the houses, temporary accommodation facilities have also been arranged in the church.<ref name="lifeday"/> The church's kitchen was also opened to cook for those who sought refuge in the church.<ref name="lifeday"/>

==In popular culture==
The church gained more attention when it was appeared in [[Gautham Vasudev Menon]]'s film '[[Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa]]'.<ref name="manorama">{{cite news |title=Here's the story of that church in 'Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa' |url=https://www.onmanorama.com/travel/kerala/2018/06/30/church-in-vinnaithaandi-varuvaayaa-movie-shooting-location-trisha-simbu.html |work=Onmanorama |publisher=[[Malayala Manorama]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-16 |title=' വിണ്ണൈത്താണ്ടി വരുവായ 'യിലെ പള്ളി ! |url=https://malayalam.news18.com/news/alappuzha/st-marys-forane-church-situated-alappuzha-pulinkunn-local18-660269.html |access-date=2024-07-02 |website=News18 മലയാളം |language=ml}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Syro-Malabar Catholic church buildings]]
[[Category:Churches in Alappuzha district]]

St. Mary's Forane Church, Pulinkunnoo - Revision history

Gyani24 at 06:13, 23 March 2026