Kolenchery is a town in the Poothrikka gram panchayat in Ernakulam district, Kerala. Located on National Highway 85, Kolenchery is situated 3 km (1.9 mi) from Poothrikka and 20 km (12 mi) from Kochi. There have been plans to include Kolenchery as part of the Kochi metropolitan area.
The name of the place originates from St. Peter's and St. Paul's Orthodox Syrian Church or 'Kolenchery Church', which is an ancient and historic church at Kolenchery built by Thankan Mappila of the Kolenchery House in 9th century CE (7th century in Malayalam Calendar).[1] Tomb of Mar Thoma VII, the 7th Malankara Metropolitan, is situated in this historical Church.
The town's two Malankara Orthodox parishes have a combined strength of 1,920 Malankara Orthodox families and 7,730 members meaning that Malankara Orthodox Syrian Christians form 29.6% of the population of Kolenchery one of their largest concentrations in Ernakulam district.[2] The MOSC in Kolenchery come under the Diocese of Kandanad West.
St. Peter's College in the town has conducted botanical research.[3]
Etymology
In 345 AD, a family known as 'those who came from Syria' came along with Thomas of Cana and settled in the merchant centre of Kozhenchery. A branch of this family settled in Kandanad and later on in Elamkulam for business purposes. As this family came from Kozhenchery they came to be known as the 'Kolenchery family' and since this family established it, the church came to be known as 'Kolenchery church', from which originated the name of the place.[citation needed]
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References
- ^ Kerala (India); A. Sreedhara Menon (1982). Kerala District Gazetteers: Arnakulam. printed by the Superintendent of Govt. Presses. Retrieved 18 March 2011.
- ^ "Kolenchery, Ernakulam". Geo. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
- ^ Indian National Scientific Documentation Centre (2008). Indian science abstracts. Indian National Scientific Documentation Centre. Retrieved 18 March 2011.
