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St.Mary's Forane Church, Kanjoor

St Mary's Forance Church is the one of Oldest Syro Malabar Churches In Kerala after  St George Forane church ,Edpappailly and  St George Basilica. Angamaly. The Church is located at a Village called Kanjoor ,which isNear to The Cochin International Airport and 3 km away from the nearby Town called Kalady. Although the Church is under the Name of St.Mary but it is Famous for the Annual Feast of St.Sebastian conducts from 17 January to 20th January. The Administration of St.Mary's Church is under the Jurisdiction of Ernakulam-Angamaly Arch Diocese.

History

As per the historians, the first church was founded by a noble Nasrani woman called Valiya Veetil Elisa.it is widely believes that in the middle of 8th century AD, few priests who were on their Pilgrimage to Malayattor spotted a lady with heditional Suriyani Nasrani cloths on the bank of Periyar river .Out of curiosity they docked their wooden raft to the bank and discovered a  prominent christian community lives there without a Parish/Church. Considering the difficulties of native to attend the mass the priests decide to celebrate a holy mass at Elisa's house. Later on the natives built the first Church building made of Palm leaves.

Local Legends

It is widely belived that Tipu sultan of the Kingom of mysore came to attack Kochi Kingdom while destroying churches and temples he spotted Kanjoor church and  becuase of he heard an anynimous noise from