Country Republic of India Bishop Baselios Cleemis | Style Indian-NeoGothic | |
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Denomination Syro-Malankara Catholic Church Website Syro-Malankara Catholic Church Founder(s) Metropolitan Archbishop Mar Ivanios Diocese Major Archieparchy of Trivandrum Address University of Kerala Senate House Campus, Palayam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695034 Parish Palayam, Thiruvananthapuram Similar Cathedral of St Vincent d, Syro‑Malankara Catholic Church, Basilica of St George - Angamaly, Arohana Marthoma Church - A, St Xavier's Church - Peyad | ||
The St. Mary, Queen of Peace Basilica, located in the Palayam/Cantonment area of the city of Thiruvananthapuram, in the state of Kerala, India, is the first Syro-Malankara Catholic Church to be elevated to the rank of a Catholic basilica. It is the fourth basilica in Kerala.
On 10 November. 2008, at the St. Mary's Cathedral, Pattom, Trivandrum, Leonardo Sandri, Papal representative and Cardinal Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, announced the designation of the Queen of Peace Pro-Cathedral in Thiruvananthapuram as a basilica. Major Archbishop Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos dedicated the church as the St. Mary, Queen of Peace Basilica on 7 December 2008. Kerala Minister M. Vijayakumar presided over a meeting that followed.
History
The former Pompador Cinema Theatre in the Palayam area of Trivandrum was converted into a church, and consecrated on 11 March 1933. The enthronement of Archbishop Mar Ivanios took place in this pro-cathedral on the same day. The roof of the new church was made of tin sheets, therefore people called it the 'Tin Church' (Thakara Palli). In 1991 the 'Tin Church' was replaced with a new building; Archbishop Benedict Mar Gregorios dedicated this new church to St. Mary, Queen of Peace.