St. Joseph's Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Meenkunnam

St. Joseph's Syro-Malabar Catholic Church
St. Joseph's Syro-Malabar Catholic Church
St. Joseph's Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Meenkunnam
Location	Meenkunnam, Muvattupuzha
Country	India
Denomination	Syro-Malabar Catholic Church
History
Founded	1921
Founder(s)	Mar Varghese Payyappilly Palakkappilly
Dedication	Saint Joseph
Consecrated	1925
Past bishop(s)	Mar George Punnakkottil
Associated people	Saint Thomas Christians
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Administration
Diocese	Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Kothamangalam
Synod	Syro-Malabar
District	Ernakulam
Clergy
Archbishop	Mar George Alancherry
Bishop(s)	Mar George Madathikandathil

St. Joseph's Syro-Malabar Catholic Church is situated in Meenkunnam village, 6 km from Muvattupuzha, India. It was founded by Servant of God Mar Varghese Payyappilly Palakkappilly in 1921. The church belongs to the Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Kothamangalam.

Meenkunnam village has a large population of Syrian Catholics. These Nasrani Christians, who were previously under Marth Mariam Syro-Malabar Catholic Forane Church, Arakuzha, have more than 1500 years of recorded history.

A main landmark of Meenkunnam is a copy of Michelangelo's Pietà, which was created by the artist Appukuttan. This sculpture at Meenkunnam is roughly 4 times the size of the original Pietà, located at the St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City. Owing to its size, the artist could make a compromise on intricate details and created a sculpture lacking realism, ideal beauty, harmony and balance observed in the original sculpture which showcases a balance of Renaissance ideals of classical beauty with naturalism.