St. Mary's Forane Church

St. Mary's Forane Church in Pallippuram, near Cherthala, is one of the oldest Christian churches in India, traditionally believed to have been established in 52 AD. It is the first church in Asia dedicated to Our Lady of Assumption and serves as a prominent Marian pilgrimage center. The church features Portuguese and Syrian Christian architectural styles and houses ancient artifacts including a sacred cross attributed to St. Thomas.

Visitors can explore a historic church with Portuguese and Syrian Christian architecture located on the banks of Vembanad backwaters. The church contains ancient stone carvings, traditional paintings depicting Our Lady's Assumption, and a sacred cross believed to date from 52 AD. The serene surroundings include backwater views and coconut palms typical of the Kuttanad region.

Traditionally believed to have been established in 52 AD, making it one of the oldest churches in India. The church houses a sacred cross that St. Thomas the Apostle reportedly erected at Kokkamangalam, which miraculously floated across Vembanad Lake to reach Pallippuram. The current structure features sixteenth-century European-influenced facade with baroque main altar. Palackal Thoma Malpan founded a seminary here in 1818, and St. Kuriakose Elias served as priest at this church.

The church is the maternal church for most churches in Northern Travancore and Southern Cochin. It is a famous Marian pilgrimage center and the first church in Asia named after Our Lady of Assumption. The church holds significant importance for Syro-Malabar Catholic Christians and preserves ancient Christian heritage through stone carvings, Taliyola writings, and traditional paintings.