St. Philomena's Forane Church, Koonammavu

St. Philomena's Forane Church, popularly known as Koonammavu Church is situated in Koonammavu, a northern suburban town of Kochi City of Kerala state, India. This is one of the oldest Roman Catholic churches in India, built in 1837 AD. Even though the church is dedicated to the Virgin Philomena, Saint Chavara Achan's feast is celebrated in every year as the annual festival, a nine-day festival lasting from 26 December to 3 January along with Holy Christmas and the New Year. The church is also popular among non-Christians as a pilgrimage centre and this seventh Forane of Roman Catholic Metropolitan Archdiocese of Verapoly serves as the Catholic Forane Church of 12 churches listed below.


 * 1) Church of Our Lady of Velankanni, Chariyamthuruth
 * 2) Christ the King Church-Christnagar, Varapuzha
 * 3) St. Antony's Church, Kongorpilly, Koonammavu.
 * 4) Church of Our Lady of Rosary, Maloth, Koonammavu
 * 5) Church of Our Lady of Nativity, Muttinakam, Varapuzha
 * 6) St. Joseph's Church, Neerikode, Alangad.
 * 7) Little Flower Church, Panayikulam
 * 8) Sacred Heart Church, Thevarkad, Varapuzha.
 * 9) Infant Jesus Church, Thundathumkadavu, Varapuzha.
 * 10) Amalolbhavamatha Church, Valluvally, Koonammavu
 * 11) Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St. Joseph's Minor Basilica, Varapuzha
 * 12) St. Antony's Church, Chennur, Varapuzha.