Piravom Valiyapally (St. Mary's Cathedral, Piravom)

St. Mary's Cathedral at Piravom, known as Piravom Valiyapally, crowns a hill on the east bank of the Muvattupuzha river, 35 km east of Kochi. Built by the ancient Syrian Christians and dedicated to Mary, it is a pilgrimage centre for Syrian Christians in Kerala.

The main celebration is Denaha on 6 January, marking Christ's baptism, when the procession is the highlight. On Easter Day the Paithel Nercha is offered, in which twelve young boys sit with the priest and are served food, and the feasts of St George on 7 May and St Mary on 15 August are also kept. Custody of the church has long been disputed between the Jacobite and Malankara Orthodox Syrian churches. After a 2017 Supreme Court ruling for the Orthodox side and a tense standoff in September 2019, Orthodox members took control, while the Jacobite faithful have planned a church of their own nearby.