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Marth Mariam Major Archiepiscopal Church, Kuravilangad, Kerala

The ARK Infrastructure Oct 20, 2019
Kuravilangad Church is is a Marian Pilgrim center of Syro-Malabar Catholic Church located at Kuravilangad in Kottayam district. This church is beleived to built in 105 AD. The church has an ancient bell with the engraving on Syriac language “Mother of God.” It is believed, Mother Mary's first appearance in the world, was in Kuravilangad.
Saint Mary appeared to a few children at Kuravilangad, who were tending their flock in the bushes and asked them to build a church at the place from where a miraculous perpetual spring sprouted, a spring which exists even today. The children reported the events to the elders & a church was built there. Bells of the church is one of the largest bell of Asia.
Marth Mariam Major Archiepiscopal Kuravilangad Church holds the Christian Heritage from the Beginning of Christian Era. This is homestead of Oriental Syrian ancestry in India. This is the only parish in Syro-Malabar church privileged with a Title of Major Archiepiscopal and having an ArchPriest.
Midnight Lights at St. Mary's Major Archiepiscopal Kuravilangad  Church during festival.
The church which was constructed in C.E. 345 is believed to have been consecrated by the Metropolitan Mar Joseph who reached Kerala with Knai Thoma. It was renovated many times and it acquired the present form in 1954.
A stone cross, a stone statue of Virgin Mary, and a model of a ship found there, are in the list of rare archaeological pieces. The statues of St. Augustine and St. Thomas are also there. The church has a chirava, the traditional gadget for grating cocoanut, carved out of a single block of wood, and opening out to eight branches
The ship, made of wood, depicts the scene of the fish spitting out Jonah the prophet is also a major attraction. There are also bells made of bell metal brought from Germany, which are one of the oldest and biggest bells of Asia. Murals depicting the Baptism of Christ, and Moses receiving the Ten Commandments from God, can be seen here.
The stone cross is the biggest in Kerala. It is 39 feet tall with seven round steps around the bottom and a twenty foot long pillar.
The stone statue of Virgin Mary holding the holy child is kept in a framework meant to keep a statue, in the centre of the Southern sankeerthi.  This painted statue does not look like a stone statue. It is one of the major attraction of church.
St. Mary's Parish at Kuravilangad tried its level best to add splendor to Moonnu Nompu (three-day lent) functions during Lent. 
Evening View of Marth Mariam Major Archiepiscopal Church, Kuravilangad

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The model of the ship is believed to have been donated by the sailors of Kadappoor.
A forty feet wooden ship, beautifully built with prow, stern, masts and rigging, depicts the scene of the fish spitting out Jonah the prophet.

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Universally famous 'Ship Running' (Kappalottam) festival of Kuravilangad church