St. Mary's Jacobite Syrian Cathedral, Manarcad

Front view

The inscription on the stones in the Haikalah of the church is in ancient script-nanum monum- that went into discus, about 600 years ago and the information it contained authenticate that the church was established more than 1000 years ago. First made of bamboo and mats of bamboo, it was renovated in different phases. In 16 the century it was reconstructed in the Portuguese fashion. The construction of the present church was completed in 1954.

The desire of Christians in the area for a holy place to conduct prayers and religious ceremonies were the root causes of the construction of the church. They started praying for this purpose. On the 8th day of their prayer, ancestors had a vision. The vision was to build a church in the forest where a cow and calf were lying down, where the fish and deer could be caught and Acacia Instia and canes were scattered around. They went in search of the cow and calf and found them where the church is presently situated.

The old Manarcad Church was built before the 10th century. To build a church in those days was a near impossible task. Ancestors were well aware of the difficulties ahead. The land where the church is constructed belonged to Devaswam. Edathil Tampuran, the Hindu chieftain there, opposed the plan to build a church. The King, who depended on Edathil family's private army in times of war, would not go against him. The odds were against the church.

Ancestors knew that Thekkumkur kings were traditionally very secular. Moreover, the king had a soft spot for them. The king also had the full backing of the Christian community there. He decided to meet the king with his request. After a lot of deliberation, the king finally decided in favor of ancestors not wanting to disappoint him. Sixty-one 'Pathalpadu' (a unit of area used for land measurement in those days) land was staked out for the church around the spot where the cow and calf were found.

Edathil Thampuran continued to nurse his grudge against ancestors for bypassing him and getting the approval of the King. He incited his men to destroy the church. The church was pulled down thrice and thrice it was rebuilt. Having spent almost all of his entire wealth on the church, ancestors found it hard to continue the construction anymore. Kallakkadampil family came to their help and with their financial assistance, the Manarcad Church was finally completed.

The construction of the present church was completed in 1954.[2]

• 15 January – A feast invoking the blessings of the Virgin Mary on agricultural seeds
• 26 February – Sunero Feast
• 6 May – Commemoration of St. George
• 15 August - Virgin Mary's Ascension Day
• 8 September - 8 Day Lent, Feast of the Virgin Mary's birth; millions attend the annual 8-day celebration, known as Ettunombu Perunnal, during which an image of Christ and the Virgin is unveiled.[3][4][5]

The small Church was built just opposite the main church on the main road in late 19th century. The area for building the small church was given by vettikunnel family. Eight kilometers east of Kottayam town, on K.K. Road, at Manarcad Junction, lies a Cross of the Church. The church and all church establishments are all only around 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) north of this cross. There is another cross set up half a kilometer west of the Churchyard at Kottayam.

• St. Mary's CBSE School, Manarcad (established 1993)
• St. Mary's Higher Secondary School (established 1949)
• St. Mary's IT College (established 1978)
• St. Mary's Nursing School (established 1976)
• St. Mary's College (established 1981)
• St Mary's Hospital

• Official website
• Miracle at Manarcad Church