St Mary's Cheriyapalli

The St Mary's Orthodox Church is located at Kottayam, at a short distance from St Mary’s Knanya Church. This Church is also called Cheriapally which means small church in the local language which is Malayalam. Though it is called Cheriapally it is not small at all and nor is its architecture in the typical church fashion.

The Church was built by the Portuguese in 1579 with the patronage of the local ruler. The Church architecture is actually a blend of temple and Portuguese architecture. The hanging lamps in the hall, the granite pillars and the larger outer brick-walls are similar to the ones in temples. The vegetable dye-paintings on the altar walls and ceiling, depicting the life of Christ, are of Portuguese origin.