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| St. Mary’s Orthodox Syrian Church or the Cheriya Pally church, typical Kerala design. www.kottayamcheriapally.com |
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| strikingly wonderful, artistic interior and roof. Cheriapally or St Mary Orthodox Church in Kottayamwww.alamy.co |
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| Cheriya Pally church Kerala's style of architecture , slanting roof www.stockpicturesforeveryone.com |
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| Cheriya Pally church - colorfull altar.www.stockpicturesforeveryone.com |
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| tall pole made of brass, similar to flag staff in the Hindu temples. note the Cross atop the pole. www.stockpicturesforeveryone.com |
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| Typical brass oil lamp. Kottayam Cheriapally (St. Mary's Orthodox Syrian Church. www.tripadvisor.com |
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| Cheriya Pally church. Here are brass lamps typically found in Indiantemples. www.stockpicturesforeveryone.com |
There is a tall thick pole made of brass (gold?), very much similar to the Dwajasthambam or flag staff commonly found in the Hindu temples. The "Cross" atop the pole distinguishes it from a temple flag staff!Lamps are lit in the church as in the Hindu temples. All along the corridor, there are brass lamps. Oil lamps, it is believed, will impact the sanctity of the place of worship. Devotees, who visit this unique church, will derive positive energy after intense prayer and meditation.
Tit-Bits:
During the time of Punnathara Mar Dionysious, the 11th Marthoma of Malankara Church, the relation with Travancore and Cochin was good. The Ruler of Travancore Rani Gouri Parvathi Bhai, magnanimous as she was, gave a number of privileges to the Seminary. The Rani respected the other faiths very much. As for Christians, she showed special privileges. During her reign, for the first time in Travancore in 1818, Maha Rani appointed a number Christians as Judges. Mar Dionysious passed away on May 17, 1825 and was laid to rest at Kottayam Cheriapally.
Ref:
http://kottayamcheriapally.com/
http://mosc.in/pilgrimcentres/kottayam-cheriapally