Mart Mariam Big Church
Encyclopedia
Mart Mariam Cathedral is the cathedral
of the Chaldean Syrian Church
of India
, part of the Assyrian Church of the East
. It is located in Thrissur
in the state of Kerala
, and is the city's first Christian church.
The church established in 1814 as a Catholic church and was originally known as Our Lady of Dolours Church. It served members of the body now known as the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church
, an Eastern Catholic church in communion with the Pope
. However, disputes over church hierarchy led part of the community to seek their own autonomous bishop, and in 1874 the Chaldean Catholic bishop Elias Mellus
arrived in India and convinced a large part of the Christian community to accept him as their bishop. The group supporting Mellus was based in Our Lady of Dolours. They eventually broke with the Catholic hierarchy and formed the Chaldean Syrian Church
. They retained the Our Lady of Dolours building, but renamed it Mart Mariam. In 1929 the Catholics erected a new building, the Basilica of Our Lady of Dolours
.
Eventually the Chaldean Syrian Church entered into communion with the Assyrian Church of the East
. Mart Mariam now serves as the cathedral
.
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
of the Chaldean Syrian Church
Chaldean Syrian Church
The Chaldean Syrian Church is an Indian Christian church that is currently an archbishopric of the Assyrian Church of the East. Its members are part of the St. Thomas Christian community, who trace their origins to the evangelical activities of Thomas the Apostle in the 1st century. They are almost...
of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, part of the Assyrian Church of the East
Assyrian Church of the East
The Assyrian Church of the East, officially the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East ʻIttā Qaddishtā w-Shlikhāitā Qattoliqi d-Madnĕkhā d-Āturāyē), is a Syriac Church historically centered in Mesopotamia. It is one of the churches that claim continuity with the historical...
. It is located in Thrissur
Thrissur
This article is about the city in India. For the district, see Thrissur district. For the urban agglomeration area of Thrissur see Thrissur Metropolitan Area...
in the state of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, and is the city's first Christian church.
The church established in 1814 as a Catholic church and was originally known as Our Lady of Dolours Church. It served members of the body now known as the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church
Syro-Malabar Catholic Church
The Syro-Malabar Catholic Church in India is an East Syrian Rite, Major Archiepiscopal Church in full communion with the Catholic Church. It is one of the 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in the Catholic Church. It is the largest of the Saint Thomas Christian denominations with more than 3.6...
, an Eastern Catholic church in communion with the Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
. However, disputes over church hierarchy led part of the community to seek their own autonomous bishop, and in 1874 the Chaldean Catholic bishop Elias Mellus
Elias Mellus
Mar Yohannan Elias Mellus was a Bishop of the Chaldean Catholic Church.Elias Mellus was born on September 19, 1831 in Mardin. He entered in the monastery of Rabban Hormizd in Alqosh...
arrived in India and convinced a large part of the Christian community to accept him as their bishop. The group supporting Mellus was based in Our Lady of Dolours. They eventually broke with the Catholic hierarchy and formed the Chaldean Syrian Church
Chaldean Syrian Church
The Chaldean Syrian Church is an Indian Christian church that is currently an archbishopric of the Assyrian Church of the East. Its members are part of the St. Thomas Christian community, who trace their origins to the evangelical activities of Thomas the Apostle in the 1st century. They are almost...
. They retained the Our Lady of Dolours building, but renamed it Mart Mariam. In 1929 the Catholics erected a new building, the Basilica of Our Lady of Dolours
Basilica of Our Lady of Dolours
Basilica of Our Lady of Dolours is a minor basilica of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church in Thrissur in the Indian state of Kerala. The biggest and tallest church in Asia, it is famous for its Gothic style architecture...
.
Eventually the Chaldean Syrian Church entered into communion with the Assyrian Church of the East
Assyrian Church of the East
The Assyrian Church of the East, officially the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East ʻIttā Qaddishtā w-Shlikhāitā Qattoliqi d-Madnĕkhā d-Āturāyē), is a Syriac Church historically centered in Mesopotamia. It is one of the churches that claim continuity with the historical...
. Mart Mariam now serves as the cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
.