File:Coonnan Cross Koonan Kurishu palli Mattanchery kerala.jpg

Camera location	9° 57′ 46.17″ N, 76° 15′ 14.58″ E	View this and other nearby images on: OpenStreetMap	9.962825; 76.254050

The St. George Orthodox Koonan Kurish Old Syrian Church at Mattancherry town of Cochin better known as the Koonan Kurishu Pally entered the annals of history following the oath taken by St Thomas Christians of Kerala protesting against the the attempt to impose the hegemony of the Roman Church by the Portuguese. The Indian Church was established by Apostle St Thomas in AD 52.

Portuguese who arrived India in AD 1498 was surprised to find the presence of St Thomas Christians here, but Portuguese were unhappy that these native Christians were not under Rome . With the help of Portuguese army and Portuguese missionaries they started luring and threatening native Christians to bring them under Rome.

The Koonan Kurishu Oath of AD 1653 refers to the action of thousands of native Christians assembling at this church and taking an oath to preserve the traditions and rituals followed by them since AD 52 and resist the attempts to impose the Roman rituals among the native Christians. But the gathering was so large that hundreds were unable to touch the cross directly. They drew a rope from the cross, and touching it, publicly denounced the Roman Church.The cross bent under pressure and hence the name ‘Koonan Kurisu’. The event is described as ‘Koonan Kurishu Sathyam’ or the oath before the bent cross.

The incident is the first attempt to resist colonialism and western invasion in India.

Apart from the historical legacy the method adopted for the renovation of the church building assumes importance. The renovated church is built using clay to keep faith with the ancient architecture heritage. The use of cement and steel have been completely avoided and visitors from India and abroad are coming to the church to see the architecture of the building.

The church located at Mattancherry , Cochin is constructed entirely of compressed earth blocks (CSEB). The distinct style with catenary vaults, arches and a dome evokes the past, in a way, never seen before. The technique of construction was developed in Egypt, today known as the Nubian Technique. There are 13 vaults and a dome to complete the structure. Today, it stands as the second largest catenary structure in South India.

The concept of domes, vaults and arches used in the renovated building has been drawn from early symbols of eastern Christianity.

In AD 1751 Church was dedicated to St George with the installation of holy relics of St George in its altar , is another unique specialty of Mattancherry Leaning Cross Old Syrian Church.

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