Established in the year 1821 this church was raised to the status of Pro-Cathedral in 1910, when the head quarters of the Archdiocese was shifted from verapoly to Ernakulam Town.It was given Cathedral status in the year 1934. During the second world war a Royal Air Force Pilot accidentally crashed into the rebuilt. The tower was rebuilt hence. Novena in honour of Our Lady of
Perpetual Succor was started in 1956. Hundreds visit the cathedral seeking Succor of the Virgin Mother. People come in large numbers for the novena on saturdays. The present Cathedral was blessed on 4th October 1981. It is an inverted Arch, a one of its kind structure where the entire concrete slab roof is supported by the outer walls without a single pillar inside. Pope John Paul II in his visit to the cathedral in 1986 was given a scaled down model of it in wood. The Holy Father marvelled at the technical expertise of the Indian architects and builders.