This article lists the oldest churches in Kerala.For a list of the old churches and their approx. dates cf. George Menachery, ed. The Thomapedia, Ollur, 2000; George Menachery, ed. The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopaedia of India, Trichur, 1973; George Menachery, ed. The Indian Church History Classics, Vol.1, The Nazranies, SARAS, Ollur, 1998; George Menachery, The Elephant and the Thomas Christian, 2014; George Menachery, Murals in Kerala Churches, Ollur, 2015.For a list of old Kerala churches cf. George Menachery, "The Elephant and the Christians", Malayalam. SARAS, Ollur, 2014
Thrissur district
Palayoor St Thomas Syro-Malabar Church – According to tradition, the Syrian church was established in 52 AD by St Thomas, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ. It is the first church in India, and St. Thomas performed the first baptism in India here, therefore this church is called an Apostolic Church credited to the apostolate of St. Thomas, who preached and also introduced Christianity to the people here.
Kodungallur Mar Thoma Syro-Malabar Church – The Kodungallur church is considered to be one of the oldest churches built by Thomas the Apostle in 52 AD, second only to St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Church, Palayoor. The current Marthoma Pontifical shrine (Kodungaloor Mar Thoma Church) church is on the banks of the River Periyar about 6 km from Kodungallur, in the village of Azhikode in Kerala.
Arthat St. Mary's Orthodox Syrian Cathedral – According to local tradition the Arthat was a former Jewish settlement where Thomas the Apostle converted many Jewish families to Christianity. He also established a cross at Arthat which was consecrated as the Arthat church in the 2nd century. Mattom St Thomas Forane Syro-Malabar Church – The Mattam St Thomas Forane Syro-Malabar Church was established in 140 by the Syrian Christians who migrated from Palayoor.
Ambazhakkad St Thomas Forane Syro-Malabar Church – The Ambazhakkad Syrian Church was established in 300 in the land which was donated by a Nambudiri of the Ambazhakada Mana for the Saint Thomas Syrian Christians of Ambazhakkad who migrated from Kodungallur.
St. Mary's Orthodox Cathedral, Pazhanji – The Pazhanji church was constructed in the 4th century by the Saint Thomas Syrian Christian members of the Kunnamkulam Arthat Cathedral. Many Syrian Christians who fled Arthat at the time of the Mysorean invasion of Malabar in the 18th century joined the Pazhanji Syrian Church. Parappukara St John's Syro-Malabar Church – The Parappukkara Syrian Church was established in 400 by the Syrian Christians who migrated to Parappukkara from Kodungallur. It has ancient murals from the 10th century onwards.
Puthenchira St Mary's Syro-Malabar Forane Church – The Puthenchira Syrian Church was established in 400 by the Syrian Christians of Puthenchira who migrated from Kodungallur due to conflict between local rulers. North Pudukkad Our Lady of Mount Carmel Syro-Malabar Church – The Mullassery church was established in 400. The church was established by the Syrian Christians who migrated to Puthukkad which lies on the fertile plains of Manali river. Enammavu Our Lady of Carmel Syro-Malabar Church – The Enammavu Church (Enammakkal Church) was established in 510 by the Syrian Christians who migrated from Palayoor. In the later centuries many Syrian Christians migrated from Enammavu to Thrissur as they were invited by Shakthan Thampuran for the development of trade and business in the town. Chalakudy St Mary's Syro-Malabar Forane Church – The church was constructed in 600 by the Syrian Christians of Chalakudy who had migrated from Kodungallur where Thomas the Apsotle had converted them to Christianity. The Syrian Christians of Chalakudy attended the Ambazhakkad Syrian Church till the establishment of the Chalakudy Syrian Church. The Kodassery Karthakkal helped in the reconstruction of the Chalakudy Syrian Church several times Velayanad St Mary's Syro-Malabar Old Church – Established in the 9th century by the Syrian Christians of Velayanad who formerly attended the nearby Pazhuviland Puthenchira Syrian Church. The church was partially demolished by Tipu Sultan during the Mysorean invasion of Malabar in 1790.
Thazhekkad St Sebastian's Syro-Malabar Church – The Thazhekkad Syrian Church was established in the 10th century. It has hosted the notable Thazhekkad Sasanam where many privileges and grants where given to the Syrian Christians. The Syrian Christian community was primarily under the jurisdiction of Ambazhakad and later under the parish of Marth Mariam church, Velayanad. Arimbur St Anthony's Syro-Malabar Church – The Arimpur Syrian Church was established in the 9th century by the Syrian Christians who migrated from Enamavu who formerly attended the Enammavu Syrian Church.
Pazhuvil St Anthony's Syro-Malabar Church – It was founded in 883. This church is one of the famous pilgrimage centers in Kerala. It is renowned for the feast of St. Joseph on 19 March. The origin of Thattil family in Thrissur is linked with one of the army Chief of The King of Kochi. He was killed in a battle with Zamorin of Kozhikode at Enammavu in Thrissur. As a mark of respect and memory of this great warrior, King promised to construct a church, where his body is buried. The Syrian Christians of Pazhuvil attended the Ennamavu Syrian Church before the establishment of the Pazhuvil Syrian Church in 883 AD.
Mapranam Mar Sleeva Syro-Malabar Church – Believed to have been constructed in 928 AD by the Syrian Christians of Mapranam who were the former parishioners of the Kodungallur and Parappukkara Syrian Church. Kottekkad St Mary's Syro-Malabar Forane Church – The Kottekkad Syrian Church was established in 977 by the Cherman Perumal and the local Syrian Christians who migrated from Palayoor. Chavakkad Chittattukara St Sebastian's Syro-Malabar Church – The Chavakkad Chittattukara church was built in the 12th century by Saint Thomas Syrian Christians of Chavakkad by the Syrian Christians who separated from the Palayur Church.
Koratty St Mary's Syro-Malabar Church – The Thampuratty of the Koratty Kartha constructed a church near the burial place of her chief commander, for the spiritual needs of the Syrian Christians living in that region. Construction work began on 15 August 1381 and was completed with the consecration on 8 September 1382. This church came to be known as the Marian Pilgrim Centre of Koratty Muthy. Ambazhakad Church was the parish for the Syrian Christians of Koratty before the establishment of Koratty church."Koratty Muthy", Thrissur Rural Police Kottapadi St Lazar's Syro-Malabar Church – The Kottapadi Syrian Church was established in 1400 by the Punnathur Rajah (a vassal of the Zamorin) for Syrian Christian coconut traders brought from nearby areas like Kunnamkulam and Arthat.
Ernakulam district
Kottakavu Mar Thoma Syro-Malabar Church North Parvoor – The Kottakavu Syrian Church was established by Thomas the Apsotle in 52 AD. It is one of the oldest churches in India and is among the Ezharappallikal. Many Syrian Christian migrations happened from North Paravur to places like Angamaly, Kothamangalam, Edappally, Udayamperoor, Thodupuzhaetc.
Malayattoor St Thomas Syro-Malabar Church – Believed to be established as a cross in 60 AD by Thomas the Apostle.
Kothamangalam St Mary's Jacobite Syrian Cathedral – The Kothamanagalam Valiyapally was founded on the 4th century by some Syrian Christian families who migrated from North Paravur, Edappally and Angamaly. The new church established in 1338 by four Syrian Christian merchants who bought the entire land of Kothamangalam from a local chief for commodity trading with the nearby state of Tamil Nadu.
Kandanad St Mary's Orthodox Syrian Cathedral – Kandanad Valiyapally is a prominent church in the Kandanad village of Ernakulam District of Kerala. This church is believed to have been built around the 4th century, belongs to Kandanad West Diocese of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. The migrants from North Paravur had built the Kandanad Syrian Church.
Angamaly St Mary's Soonoro Cathedral – The Angamaly St Mary's Soonoro Jacobite Syriac Church was established in 409 AD by th Syrian Christians who migrated to Angamaly from Kodungallur. Later in the following centuries several waves of Syrian Christian migration happened into Angamaly. Angamaly St George's Syro-Malabar Basilica – Established in 430 by the Syrian Christian migrants from Kodungallur and North Paravur to Angamaly. Eventually the majority of Syrian Christians of Kodungallur had migrated to Angamaly in several waves of migrations due to wars between rivals and the great flood of 1381 AD.
Angamaly Mar Hormizd Syro-Malabar Cathedral – It was built in 480 AD by the Syrian Christian migrants from Kodungallur. The tomb of Mar Abraham of Angamaly, the last Chaldean Metropolitan to reach Malabar Coast in AD 1570 is situated in this church.Encyclopaedia of sects & religious doctrines, Volume 4 By Charles George Herbermann page 1180,1181 Kottoor St. George Orthodox Syrian Church – The Kottoor Church is believed to be founded in 5th century as a chapel of Pallippuram Church near Cherthala in the initial periods, later became a parish of the Kolenchery Syrian Church.
Udayamperoor Synod of Diamper Syro-Malabar Church – Consecrated in 510 AD by the Syrian Christians who migrated from Kodungallur, the Udayamperoor church hosted the Synod of Diamper in 1599.
Edappally St George's Syro-Malabar Forane Church – The church is thought to have been founded in 593 AD. It is regarded as one of the oldest churches in Kerala, after the seven churches founded by Thomas the Apostle in the first century. It was built by families from Paravur who had to travel to the Kottakkavu Mar Thoma Syro-Malabar Church, North Paravur to worship.
Piravom St Mary's Orthodox Cathedral – The Piravom Syrian Cathedral was consecrated in the 6th century and is dedicated to the Holy Magi, St. Mary, St. Peter, St. Paul and St. George. One among the three Biblical Magi was from India and was a member of the Chalissery Karthakal, a feudal Nair family from Piravom, Kerala, India. After returning to India, the scholar made a temple with the idol of Mary and infant Jesus and named the idol as "Bala Karthyayani" and kept it besides other Hindu deities. Later in the 5th century when the Saint Thomas Syrian Christian community was firmly established the temple was reconstructed as the Piravom Syrian Church. Later many Syrian Christian migrations happened in the following centuries from North Paravur and Pallippuram to Piravom. Moozhikkulam St Mary's Syro-Malabar Forane Church – Established in 601 AD by the Syrian Christians who migrated from Kodungallur and by those who separated from the Angamaly Old Syrian Church.
Kolenchery St Peter's and St Paul's Orthodox Syrian Church – St. Peter's and St. Paul's Orthodox Syrian Church is a church in Kolenchery, in Ernakulam, Kerala, India. It was established in the 9th century by Thankan Mappila of the Kolenchery family. Before the Kolenchery church was established the Syrian Christians of Kolenchery attended the Kottoor Syrian Church and Piravom Church.
Karingachira St George's Jacobite Syrian Cathedral – Karingachira St. George's Jacobite Syrian Church of Jacobite Syrian Christian Church, established in 722 AD (Makaram 13) by the Syrian Christians of Edappally Church who had migrated to Karingachira-Tripunithura in the 8th century. The Maliackel and the Palathinkal families had built the Karingachira Church. South Paravur St John the Baptist Syro-Malabar Church – The South Paravur church was established in 802 by the Syrian Christians of South Paravur who separated from the Udayamperoor Syrian Church.