Kuravilangad is a town near Ettumanoor, on the Main Central Road, in Kottayam District of Kerala. The place is in Meenachil taluk, about 22 km north of Kottayam. Prime attraction is an ancient church, Kuravilangad St Mary's Parish (built in 355 AD). The church has an old bell, which bears a hitherto undeciphered inscription. Kuravilangad Moonnu Nompu, a three day feast at the St Mary's Parish, is attended by lot of people from all over Kerala. 

Kuravilangad is the center of Kerala Syro Malabar Christainity.Four Bhramin families were converted and baptised by St. Thomas appostal of J.Christ in AD 75 to 105.Kalli, Kalikavu, Pakalomattam and Shankarapuri.Even today all the Christians whether in catholic, orthodox or any division is proud to say, our ancestors were from Kuravilangad any of the above familes.Mar Crisostam of mathomite is the first one to cordinate the old family sources of kuravilangad, he is from shankarapuri.The temporal administration of the church was conducted by Archdeacons who were very influential in the society. It is believed that the Archdeacons have been descended from the Pakalomattam family. The mortal remain of a few Archdeacons are still preserved at the Pakalomattam Chapel.

The church at Kuravilangad was constructed in the third century, just one hundred years before Constantine declared Christianity as the official religion in the Roman Empire.The land is blessed by the esteemed presence of St. Mary’s Forane Church

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Kuravilangad, the historical place of Indian christianity is situated in Meenachil Taluk, 22 kms north of Kottayam, on the eastern side of M.C. Road. Martha Mariam church is the ancestral home of Christian communities, both inside and outside of Kerala State. Martha Mariam Church belongs to the diocese of Pala. Traditional beliefs, some legendary factors and historical associations contribute to the actual history of the church. It is history that four Christian families - viz. Palli (Kalli), Kaliyakal (kalikavu), Sankarapuri and Pakalomattam from Palayur got baptised by St. Thomas and arrived at Ettumanoor and they moved to Kalikavu near Kuravilangad in the beginning of the second century. This settlement was the first christian community in India. The first apparition of Our Lady was to a few children at Kuravilangad, who were tending their flock in the bushes. Our Lady asked them to build a church at the place from where a miraculous perpetual spring sprouted, a spring which exists even today. The children reported this matter to their parents and a church was built there in AD 332. The present church was completed in 1960 when Rev. Fr. Thomas Manakattu was the parish priest. Kuravilangad has a unique place in the history of the Church of Malabar. The temporal administation of the church was conducted by Archdeacons who were very influential in the society. It is believed that the Archdeacons have been descended from the Pakalomattam family. The mortal remain of a few Archdeacons are still preserved at the Pakalomattam Chapel.

Asia,s Biggest church bells at Kuravilangad..- Click and watch video clip   Mani nalam and Kappalottam

History Mar Alexander De Campo (Palliveetil Chandy Metran) is an illustrious son of Kuravilangad. He is the first indigenous bishop of the whole of India. He was ordained as bishop on first February 1663 by Mar Sebastany, a foreign bishop. Mar Alexander stayed at Kuravilangad till his death, 2nd January 1687. Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Nidhiri ( Nidhirikal Mani kathanar ) (1842- 1904) of Kuravilangad is a colossus in the history of the church in Kerala. He was an eminent educationalist, orator, organizer and a champion of ecumenism. He was the first editor of the first Malayalam daily "Deepika". As vicar of the Kuravilangad church, he started the St.Mary''''''''s boys High School in 1894. The tenth president of India, Sri.K. R. Narayanan matriculated from this school. Fr. Jacob Panamkuzhakal (Panamkuzhakal Valliyachan) (1479-1543) was a very holy priest of Kuravilangad. Many people testify on the favours received through the intercession of Fr. Jacob. The Panamkuzhakal family celebrates the death anniversary of Fr. Jacob on 5th November every year. "Moonnu Nompu" is the main feast of the church. Hundreds of thousands of people from all over India come to this three-days-feast. The ceremonial procession on the second day of the feast when the replica of the vessel used by prophet Jonah of the Old Testament is taken out is the main attraction of the feast. Kadapoor locality people have the privilege to carry the vessel during the procession. The statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary kept at the side altar is unique. It is carved from granite and it is believed that it was brought from North India. This is a miraculous statue and the devotees call this statue "Kuravilangad Muthiyamma". The granite cross in a single block of 48 feet in front of the church was erected around 1597. The devotes offer coconut oil in the lamps at the foot around the cross. On every First Fridays devotees stand in queue from early morning to late in the evening to offer oil .An ancient bell with the engraving on Syrian "Mother of God" speaks loudly of the traditional faith of Christian community here in Kerala. Three majestic bells that peal out the glory of Kuravilangad were brought from Germany in 1911. The eight tongued coconut scraper is a marvel in carpentry. It is carved out of a single block of wood. It was used to scrape coconuts for the "Monnu Nompu" feast. A good number of educational and charitable institutions do creditable service to the people of this locality. A century old Boy''''s Higher secondary school, half a century old girls secondary school and a first grade college, Devamatha speak volumes about the contribution of the church in the field of education.       Kuravilangadu Moonunombu Thirunnal KAPPALOTTAM- Video clip   Over view of Kuravilangad Town

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