|
Valiyapalli Church
 Location
:
2 Kms from Kottayam, Kerala
Famous For
:
Persian Stone Cross Engraved With Ancient Inscriptions
Inscription Language
:
Pahalavi Language
Built in
:
1550 AD
The St. Mary's Church, located 2 kms from Kottayam was built as early as 1550 AD. The church is well-known for its Persian stone cross, engraved with very old inscriptions. The church was built by the descendants of the Syrian Kanaya Christians who migrated to India in 345 A.D., from Jerusalem and near-by places under the leadership of Kana Thoma.
The Valliyapalli Church is well-known for its two granite crosses known as Persian Crosses, which were brought to their present position from a much older church near Crangannore, built by the forefathers of the builders of this church.
On each of the stone slabs there is a cross with an writing in the Pahalavi language, which was the official language of the Sassanian dynasty in Persia.
The slighter slab is placed on the northern altar while the larger slab lies on the southern altar of the church.
|
