Amazing destinations in Kerala.St.Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Palayoor

 

St.Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Palayoor

 

           Palayoor is a small village approximately 2.5 Km from the temple town of Guruvayur in Kerala.  Palayoor St. Thomas Syro Malabar Catholic Church is situated at Palayoor, Thrissur and established in 52 AD by St.Thomas, one of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ.   Palayoor St. Thomas Syro Malabar Catholic Church is also called Apostolic Church and it is one of the oldest churches in India.  St. Thomas established 7 churches in India and Palayoor St.Thomas Syro Malabar Church is one of them.  St.Thomas here  sermonize and initiated Christianity. St. Thomas was the person who brought the religion of Christianity.

 

History of  Palayoor St.Thomas Syro Malabar Catholic Church

St.Thomas, the apostle landed at Palayoor through backwater by the means of  boat from Muziris (old name of Kodungallur). Earlier, Palayoor was the area of lots of Brahmins and Jews.  When St.Thomas came there, he saw Brahmins were offering Mantras to Sun God in the form of Tharpanam (pouring of water from palms).    St. Thomas saw that the water offered by the Brahmins  to the Sun god were falling back. He challenged that if the water doesn’t fell back, his God was real and the Brahmins would have to accept Christianity.  He threw water up in air, which still remained there and haven’t came back. Through this miracle, he converted a number of Brahmins and Jews to Christianity.  As a part of this,  Palayoor St. Thomas Syro Malabar Catholic Church was established. 

During the 17th century substantial improvements around it were carried out without relinquishing the main sanctitude of the place. However, after the church was fully completed and after the priest had delivered a proper sermon, the local people agreed to demolish the old wooden structure, which resulted in the Church looking elegant. The original altar consecrated by St. Thomas is still retained.

     After converting Brahmins into Christianity, the Hindu Temple which was situated there was incorporated and Church was built. So the Church outlook was like combination of Hindu architectural style in respect of ornamentation with a Persian plan.  The roofs of the church were similar to a tower with long heights.

The entrance to the Church is similar to Hindu Temples which have a Hindu style, a pillared hall with beautiful architecture for public rituals.  An Italian campaigner built the new church but the original Altar dedicated by St. Thomas is still remain.  During Tipu Sulthan’s invasion to Kerala, the Church was destroyed and thereafter it was re-built.

Festival held in St.Thomas Syro Malabar Catholic Church, Palayoor is similar to that of festivals held in Thrissur with lots of musical instruments, orchestras, a staged presentation with music that consists of a procession of narrated or enacted scenes. During the Lenten season  ‘Palayoor Mahatheerthadanam’ is conducted. Thousands of devotees come to visit the church for participating in the festival from different destinations. 

The places to visit near the church are Historical Museum, Bottukulam where St. Thomas landed at palayoor Thaliyakulam, the replica of Chinna Malai, etc.

 The beautiful places of attractions near Palayoor are Sree Guruvayurappan Temple, Mammiyoor Sree Mahadeva Temple, Sree Parthasarathy Temple, Punnathurkotta Elephant Camp, Kallai Kunnu or Kallazhi Hills, Sneha theeram Beach, Sakthan Thampuran Palace, Thrissur Zoo and Museum, Sree Vadakkunnathan Temple etc.

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