St. Mary's Orthodox Cathedral, Kandanad

Kandanad Valiyapally, the St. Mary's Orthodox Cathedral, stands in Kandanad village in Ernakulam district and belongs to the Kandanad West Diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. It is believed to have been founded around the 4th century, a date given in an inscription on its wall; the present building was completed in 1910.

In the 14th century Kandanad was a port, where Jewish Christians from Kodungallur settled to trade in spices through the riverside market of Kandanad Angadi, and the church played a leading part in local trade. The first Malayalam translation of the four Gospels was made here over three years, led by Kayamkulam Philipose Ramban and Pulikkottil Ramban. The church served as the seat of the Malankara primates Marthoma I to Marthoma IX, and Marthoma IV is buried here. It is also known for the Kandanad Padiyola, and following the First Kandanad Synod it began formal schooling in 1806.