The Koonan Kurishu situated in the congested and busy Mattancherry bazaar is spiritual solace to believers and a completely different stop on the travel map of tourists. This small chapel houses a leaning wooden cross with an emotional and sanctifying history behind it.On hearing about the persecution suffered by his flock in Malankara, the Patriarch of Antioch, Mor Ignatius Ahathulla, set out to Malankara in 1653. He was captured by the Portuguese en route and was taken to Madras. Two Syrian Christian deacons from Malankara, Itty and Kurian, who were on pilgrimage to Mylapore heard about the incident. They managed to meet Mor Ahathulla and secured a 'Statikon' from him appointing Archdeacon Thomas as the episcopa of Malankara [with the condition that a proper ordination would be obtained as soon as the situation permitted]. In the meantime, Mor Ahathulla was brought to Cochin. On hearing about his arrival, hoards of Syrian Christians rushed to the Cochin Port to free their holy father. They were unable to free Mor Ahathulla. He was taken to Goa in a ship and burnt on the stake. But news spread that he was drowned in the Arabian Sea with a millstone tied to his neck. As the news of this cruelty spread, the Syrian Christians were on the verge of an emotional outburst.On 3rd January 1653 AD at Mattancherry, under the leadership of Archdeacon Thomas and a Knanaya priest, Anjilimmoottil Ittythomman Kathanar (Rev. Itty Thomas), about 25000 Syrian Christians held on to a rope tied to a leaning cross (an ancient assyrian cross that had become leaning with the passage of centuries) and pledged to never surrender to Portuguese Archbishop of Goa, Francis Garcia under the Roman yoke and always remain under the Holy Apostolic See of Antioch maintaining their ancient rites and traditions. Rev. Itty Thomas was the main organizer of the rally for Koonan Cross Oath. This historic event is known as the Koonen Kurishu Sathyam (The Leaning Cross Oath).
How to get to the cross: This Holy Cross is hardly a Kilometer away from Fort Cochin, easily accessible by road.
