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56-463: The St Thomas Syro Malabar Catholic International Shrine, Malayattoor (or Malayatoor Church ) is one of the eleven international shrines in the world, situated in Malayattoor Angamaly , Ernakulam district of Kerala , India . The Malayatoor Church attracts many devotees not just India, but from all over the world. The church is associated with the evangelisation activity of St. Thomas

112-417: A cross with his finger. He remained there praying for a long time, and ultimately a golden cross appeared on the spot. The church was later built on that cross, and another golden cross was erected right on top of that stone which remains in the center of the church. One of the most curious sights at the mountain was the permanent footprint and the marks of knees of St. Thomas imprinted on the rock. At present,

168-399: A diocesan (or archdiocesan) shrine , an honor conferred by the local bishop or archbishop. To be designated as a shrine, the subject church must be a place "to which numerous members of the faithful make pilgrimage for a special reason of piety." It must exceed other churches in terms of worship, Christian formation, and social services. When these requirements are met, the parish petitions

224-522: A left towards Malayatoor. Folks driving down from Ernakulam / Cochin can drive up to Angamaly and take the same route or take the left towards Kalady after Cochin International Airport on the NH47. The latter route is shorter but the time taken will be a little more due to the small roads one will have to drive in. There is a new bridge from Kodanad to Malayatoor which makes it easy for people coming from

280-463: Is commemorated on August 31. The Malankara Orthodox Church celebrates his feast on three days, 3 July (in memory of the relic translation to Edessa , modern Şanlıurfa ), 18 December (the Day he was lanced), and 21 December (when he died). The Passing of Mary , adjudged heretical by Pope Gelasius I in 494, was attributed to Joseph of Arimathea . The document states that Thomas was the only witness of

336-720: Is mentioned in the books and church traditions of Saint Thomas Christians in India, some of whom claim descent from the early Christians evangelized by Thomas the Apostle in AD 52. For example, it is found in the Malayalam ballad Thoma Ramban Pattu (The Song of the Lord Thomas) with the earliest manuscript being from the 17th century. The sources clearly have Thomas coming to India, then to China, and back to India, where he died. In other attested sources,

392-404: Is the most popular and largest St. Thomas shrine in India. Every year on the first Sunday after Easter, thousands of pilgrims throng to this shrine to seek holy blessings. The church has been decorated with beautiful carvings, designs and paintings that depict the life of Jesus Christ . There are facilities for confession and adoration also in this church. The church also has an ancient pond that

448-463: The Assumption of Mary into heaven. The other apostles were miraculously transported to Jerusalem to witness her death. Thomas was left in India, but after her first burial, he was transported to her tomb, where he witnessed her bodily assumption into heaven, from which she dropped her girdle . In an inversion of the story of Thomas' doubts, the other apostles are skeptical of Thomas' story until they see

504-709: The Book of Thomas the Contender , part of the Nag Hammadi library , he is alleged to be a twin to Jesus: "Now, since it has been said that you are my twin and true companion, examine yourself…" A " Doubting Thomas " is a skeptic who refuses to believe without direct personal experience—a reference to the Gospel of John 's depiction of the Apostle Thomas, who, in John's account, refused to believe

560-718: The Common Worship calendar of the Church of England) prefer 3 July, Thomas is remembered in the Church of England with a Festival . The Eastern Orthodox venerates Thomas on the following days: Thomas is also associated with the "Arabian" (or "Arapet") icon of the Theotokos (Mother of God), which is commemorated on 6 September. He is also associated with the Cincture of the Theotokos , which

616-449: The Gospel of John . In John 11:16, when Lazarus has recently died, and the apostles do not wish to go back to Judea , Thomas says: "Let us also go, that we may die with him." Thomas speaks again in John 14:5. There, Jesus had just explained that he was going away to prepare a heavenly home for his followers, and that one day they would join him there. Thomas reacted by saying, "Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know

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672-566: The Guaraní tribes of Paraguay claims that the Apostle Thomas was in Paraguay and preached to them under the name of Pa'í Sumé or Avaré Sumé (while in Peru he was known as Tumé). in the estate of our college, called Paraguay, and twenty leagues distant from Asumpcion. This place stretches out on one side into a pleasant plain, affording pasture to a vast quantity of cattle; on the other, where it looks towards

728-662: The Independence of Paraguay . This is mentioned by Franz Wisner von Morgenstern, an Austro-Hungarian engineer who served in the Paraguayan armies prior and during the Paraguayan War . According to Wisner, some Paraguayan miners while working nearby some hills at the Caaguazú Department found some stones with ancient letters carved in them. Dictator Francia sent his finest experts to inspect those stones, and they concluded that

784-794: The Saint Thomas Christians of modern-day state of Kerala in India , Saint Thomas travelled outside the Roman Empire to preach the Gospel, travelling as far as Kerala in South India, and reached Muziris (modern-day North Paravur and Kodungalloor in Kerala State) in AD 52. In 1258, some of the relics were brought to Ortona , in Abruzzo , Italy, where they have been held in the Church of Saint Thomas

840-458: The (arch)bishop to canonically elevate the church. When devotion has grown, the (arch)diocesan shrine may petition the national Conference of Catholic Bishops. Evaluation by the nation's (arch)bishops involves considerations including canon law, liturgy, and doctrine. Declaration of an international shrine is conferred by the Holy See similar to basilicas . There are 230 national shrines in

896-463: The 4th century the Church of St Thomas was in decline, so large group of Christians from Edessa emigrated to Malabar. They were led by Mar Joseph, Metropolitan of Edessa, and Knai Thoma, a merchant who had previously visited Malabar and found the Christian community there in need of support. The main festival of the Church on the first Sunday after Easter , which is when the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

952-601: The Apostle Thomas the Apostle ( Greek : Θωμᾶς , romanized: Thōmâs ; Aramaic ܬܐܘܡܐ, romanized: Tʾōmā , meaning "the twin"), also known as Didymus (Greek: Δίδυμος, romanized: Dídymos, meaning "twin"), was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus according to the New Testament . Thomas is commonly known as " Doubting Thomas " because he initially doubted the resurrection of Jesus Christ when he

1008-585: The Apostle in Kerala. The church has been designated by the Vatican as one of the eight International shrines in the world. It is believed that St. Thomas held prayer at the place where the church is situated when he landed in Kerala. The hilltop church is located 15 km away from the town of Kalady . Malayatoor and Kodanad villages are located on the opposite banks of the Periyar river with unspoiled and rustic views of

1064-703: The Apostle I slew in India has overtaken me in Edessa; here and there he is all himself. There went I, and there was he: here and there to my grief I find him. Ephrem the Syrian , a doctor of Syriac Christianity , writes in the forty-second of his "Carmina Nisibina" that the Apostle was put to death in India, and that his remains were subsequently buried in Edessa , brought there by an unnamed merchant. According to Eusebius' record, Thomas and Bartholomew were assigned to Parthia and northwest India. The Didascalia (dating from

1120-564: The Apostle Thomas are said to have been sent by an Indian king and brought from India to the city of Edessa, Mesopotamia , on which occasion his Syriac Acts were written. The Indian king is named as "Mazdai" in Syriac sources, "Misdeos" and "Misdeus" in Greek and Latin sources respectively, which has been connected to the "Bazdeo" on the Kushan coinage of Vasudeva I , the transition between "M" and "B" being

1176-634: The Apostle. He is regarded as the patron saint of India among its Christian adherents, and the Feast of Saint Thomas on July 3 is celebrated as Indian Christians' Day. The name Thomas remains quite popular among the Saint Thomas Christians of the Indian subcontinent . Many churches in the Middle East and southern Asia, besides India, also mention Apostle Thomas in their historical traditions as being

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1232-594: The One-Begotten. The merchant is blessed for having so great a treasure. Edessa thus became the blessed city by possessing the greatest pearl India could yield. Thomas works miracles in India, and at Edessa Thomas is destined to baptize peoples perverse and steeped in darkness, and that in the land of India. ... Into what land shall I fly from the just? I stirred up Death the Apostles to slay, that by their death I might escape their blows. But harder still am I now stricken:

1288-619: The Son of God, occurs. It is traditionally believed that St. Thomas used to make the Sign of the Cross on the rock, kiss it and pray at Kurisumudi . The story has it that a miraculous golden cross appeared at that particular spot. Pilgrims going up the hill call out incessantly " Ponnum Kurishu Muthappo, Ponmala Kayattom ", meaning "''O Patriarch of the Golden Cross! Climb we shall, this golden hill!''" This Shrine

1344-508: The abode of God. In deep anguish and agony, St. Thomas prayed to the Lord and he made a sign of the cross on the rock. The Mother of Our Lord, Blessed Mary, appeared to console and strengthens him. He descended from the top hill and continued his journey to Mylapoore in Tamil Nadu. Later on the hunters went to the mountain for hunting. While they stayed in the night they saw a glittering sign of cross on

1400-633: The apostle in the New Testament is derived from the Aramaic תְּאוֹמָא Tʾōmā ( Syriac ܬܐܘܿܡܵܐ/ܬ݁ܳܐܘܡܰܐ Tʾōmā / Tāʾwma ), meaning "the twin" and cognate to Hebrew תְּאוֹם tʾóm . The equivalent term for twin in Greek, which is also used in the New Testament, is Δίδυμος Didymos . The Nag Hammadi copy of the Gospel of Thomas begins: "These are the secret sayings that the living Jesus spoke and Didymus, Judas Thomas, recorded." Early Syrian traditions also relate

1456-655: The apostle's full name as Judas Thomas. Some have seen in the Acts of Thomas (written in east Syria in the early 3rd century, or perhaps as early as the first half of the 2nd century) an identification of Thomas with the apostle Judas, Son of James . However, the first sentence of the Acts follows the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles in distinguishing the apostle Thomas and the apostle Judas son of James. Others, such as James Tabor , identify him as Jude, brother of Jesus mentioned by Mark. In

1512-551: The central part of the city of Chennai in India. Marco Polo , the Venetian traveller and author of Description of the World, popularly known as Il Milione, is reputed to have visited Southern India in 1288 and 1292. The first date has been rejected as he was in China at the time, but the second date is generally accepted. According to tradition, in AD 232, the greater portion of relics of

1568-499: The eastern side like Kothamangalam, Munnar etc. They can take the turn at Kuruppampady towards Kodanad and reach Malayatoor in 20 minutes by car. People coming from Perumbavoor can take the Vallom - Kodanad road to access the same bridge to reach Malayatoor in less than 20 minutes. International shrine For a church to receive the status of a national shrine involves a number of steps and certifications. It must first be designated as

1624-916: The empty tomb and the girdle. Thomas' receipt of the girdle is commonly depicted in medieval and pre- Council of Trent Renaissance art. According to traditional accounts of the Saint Thomas Christians of India, the Apostle Thomas landed in Muziris ( Cranganore ) on the Kerala coast in AD 52 and was martyred in Mylapore , near Madras , Tamil Nadu in AD 72. He is believed by the Saint Thomas Christian tradition to have established seven churches (communities) in Kerala. These churches are at Kodungallur, Palayoor , Kottakkavu (Paravur), Kokkamangalam , Niranam , Nilackal (Chayal) , Kollam , and Thiruvithamcode . Thomas baptized several families. Many families claim to have origins almost as far back as these, and

1680-500: The end of the 3rd century) states, "India and all countries condering it, even to the farthest seas... received the apostolic ordinances from Judas Thomas, who was a guide and ruler in the church which he built." According to traditional accounts, Thomas is believed to have left northwest India when an attack threatened and traveled by vessel to the Malabar Coast , possibly visiting southeast Arabia and Socotra en route, and landing at

1736-501: The error of idolatry vanished from India. 2. Through St. Thomas the Chinese and Ethiopians were converted to the truth. 3. Through St. Thomas they accepted the sacrament of baptism and the adoption of sons. 4. Through St. Thomas they believed in and confessed the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit. 5. Through St. Thomas they preserved the accepted faith of the one God. 6. Through St. Thomas

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1792-1104: The first evangelist to establish those churches, the Assyrian Church of the East , the early church of Sri Lanka. Saint Thomas Christian denominations Syro-Malabar Catholic , Syro-Malankara Catholic , Latin Catholic Malankara Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church , Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Malabar Independent Syrian Church Chaldean Syrian Mar Thoma Syrian , St. Thomas Evangelical Protestant denominations Andhra Evangelical Lutheran , Assemblies Jehovah Shammah , Christian Revival Church , Church of North India , Church of South India , Garo Baptist , Indian Brethren , Indian Pentecostal Church of God , Church of God (Full Gospel) , North Bank Baptist Christian , Northern Evangelical Lutheran , Methodist Church , Presbyterian , The Pentecostal Mission , Seventh-day Adventist , United Evangelical Lutheran Thomas first speaks in

1848-521: The former flourishing port of Muziris (modern-day North Paravur and Kodungalloor ) (c. AD 50) in the company of a Jewish merchant Abbanes/Habban. From there he is said to have preached the gospel throughout the Malabar coast. The various churches he founded were located mainly on the Periyar River and its tributaries and along the coast, where there were Jewish colonies. Thomas's alleged visit to China

1904-478: The holy cross) is a mountain at Malayattoor, that has its fame as a place visited by St. Thomas, one of the 12 Apostles of Jesus Christ . Jesus gave a mandate to his Apostles to go out to the whole world and to proclaim the Good News. Thomas set out to India and landed at Kodungalloor in AD 52. A hostile reception was given and his life was in danger. He was forced to flee to the top of the mountain and had spent days in

1960-586: The land of Shir (land of Seres , Tarim Basin , near what was the world's easternmost sea for many people in antiquity). Additionally, the testimony of Arnobius of Sicca , active shortly after AD 300, maintains that the Christian message had arrived in India and among the Persians, Medians, and Parthians (along with the Seres ). According to Kurt E. Koch , Thomas the Apostle possibly traveled into Indonesia via India with Indian traders. Ancient oral tradition retained by

2016-508: The letters carved in those stones were Hebrew -like symbols, but they couldn't translate them nor figure out the exact date when those letters were carved. No further recorded investigations exists, and according to Wisner, people believed that the letters were made by Thomas the Apostle, following the tradition. According to Syrian Christian tradition, Thomas was killed with a spear at St. Thomas Mount in Chennai on 3 July in AD 72, and his body

2072-597: The life-giving splendors rose in all India. 7. Through St. Thomas the Kingdom of Heaven took wing and ascended to China . In its nascent form, this tradition is found at the earliest in the Zuqnin Chronicle (AD 775) and may have originated in the late Sasanian period. Perhaps it originated as a 3rd-century pseudepigraphon where Thomas would have converted the Magi (in the Gospel of Matthew ) to Christianity as they dwelled in

2128-617: The major ferial days of Advent . Traditionalist Roman Catholics (who follow the General Roman Calendar of 1960 or earlier), the Lutheran Church , and many Anglicans (including members of the Episcopal Church as well as members of the Church of England who worship according to the 1662 edition of the Book of Common Prayer ), still celebrate his feast day on 21 December. However, most modern liturgical calendars (including

2184-484: The natural footprint is not there but instead there is a man-made footprint (A replica) made by the Church. An ancient chapel at Kurishumudi, was attacked by tuskers in the past when it used to be surrounded by thick jungle. Deep tusk marks can still be found on the back wall of the chapel. A well, situated near the ancient chapel at the top of the mount is believed to be the spot from where St. Thomas quenched his thirst during his time of prayer. Feeling thirsty, he struck

2240-401: The next railway station Aluva (Alwaye)as most of the trains halt there. Malayattoor Church is easily reachable from anywhere in Kerala and Cochin as the place is well connected by a wide network of roads. To get to Malayatoor driving down on the NH47, one will have to take a diversion towards Kalady from Angamaly and drive all the way up to Kalady town which will take about 10 minutes. Then take

2296-421: The religious historian Robert Eric Frykenberg notes that: "Whatever dubious historicity may be attached to such local traditions, there can be little doubt as to their great antiquity or to their great appeal in the popular imagination." It was to a land of dark people he was sent, to clothe them by Baptism in white robes. His grateful dawn dispelled India's painful darkness. It was his mission to espouse India to

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2352-459: The resurrected Jesus had appeared to the ten other apostles until he could see and feel Jesus' crucifixion wounds . When the feast of Saint Thomas was inserted in the Roman calendar in the 9th century, it was assigned to 21 December. The Martyrology of St. Jerome mentioned the apostle on 3 July, the date to which the Roman celebration was transferred in 1969, so that it would no longer interfere with

2408-521: The rock from which fresh water started flowing. Pilgrims consider the water in the well to possess divine power to heal ailments. With its recent recognition by Vatican as an international pilgrim centre, this famous shrine at Malayattoor dedicated to St. Thomas would be extending its healing touch and spiritual bliss to more visitors and for those who come to enjoy its serenity. St. Thomas founded churches in different places in Kerala including Kollam , Kodungalloor , Nilakkal, Niranam , etc. This center

2464-405: The rock. Out of curiosity they struck there with their rude weapons. To their surprise blood gushed out. They ran to the valley and told the locals. They went to the mountain and while they prayed there they got many miracles. This is the humble beginning of Pilgrimage to Kurishumudi Kurishumudi is where one can find the Golden Cross believed to have formed when St. Thomas knelt on a rock and signed

2520-562: The rocks. According to beliefs, during prayer, he touched a rock, upon which blood poured from it. The Church was discovered by the Portuguese in 1501, and they record that upon arrival in the region in AD52, St Thomas converted King Chozha Perumal of Meliapor by dragging a large log ashore that elephants had been unable to move. The relics of St Thomas were returned to Edessa in Syria in the 3rd century. In

2576-489: The same oral traditions from the Paraguayan tribes. He wrote: ...The paraguayan tribes they have this very curious tradition. They claim that a very holy man (Thomas the Apostle himself), whom they call "Paí Thome", lived amongst them and preached to them the Holy Truth, wandering and carrying a wooden cross on his back. The sole recorded research done about the subject was during José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia 's reign after

2632-459: The south, it is surrounded by hills and rocks; in one of which a cross piled up of three large stones is visited, and held in great veneration by the natives for the sake of St. Thomas; for they believe, and firmly maintain, that the Apostle, seated on these stones as on a chair, formerly preached to the assembled Indians. Almost 150 years prior to Dobrizhoffer's arrival in Paraguay, another Jesuit Missionary, F. J. Antonio Ruiz de Montoya recollected

2688-526: The surroundings. St. Thomas is believed to have landed at Kodungallur (Cranganore) in Kerala in AD 52. In AD 62, St. Thomas returns to Malankara coast via Malayatur where he establishes ‘the half church’ (a small Christian community dependent on the Church of Maliamkara). Oral tradition says that while travelling through Malayattor, faced with hostile natives, he fled to the hilltop where he said to have remained in prayer and that he left his footprint on one of

2744-512: The tomb, was first built in the 16th century by the Portuguese, and rebuilt in the 19th century by the British. St. Thomas Mount has been a site revered by Christians since at least the 16th century. Traditional accounts say that the Apostle Thomas preached not only in Kerala but also in other parts of Southern India – and a few relics are still kept at San Thome Basilica in Mylapore neighborhood in

2800-423: The tradition of making Thomas the apostle of China is found in the "Law of Christianity" (Fiqh al-naṣrāniyya), a compilation of juridical literature by Ibn al-Ṭayyib ( Nestorian theologian and physician who died in 1043 in Baghdad ). Later, in the Nomocanon of Abdisho bar Berika (metropolitan of Nisibis and Armenia, died in 1318) and the breviary of the Chaldean Church it is written: 1. Through St. Thomas

2856-657: The way?" John 20:24–29 tells how doubting Thomas was skeptical at first when he heard that Jesus had risen from the dead and appeared to the other apostles, saying, "Except I shall see on his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe." But when Jesus appeared later and invited Thomas to touch his wounds and behold him, Thomas showed his belief by saying, "My Lord and my God". Jesus then said, "Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." The name Thomas ( Greek : Θωμᾶς) given for

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2912-445: The world, as well as eleven international shrines. There are four national shrines in Africa. There are 46 national shrines in Asia. There are eight international shrines (listed above) and 37 national shrines in Europe. There are 101 national shrines in North America. There are 72 national shrines in the United States. There are five national shrines in Oceania. There are 35 national shrines in South America. Thomas

2968-462: Was interred in Mylapore. Latin Church tradition holds 21 December as his date of death. Ephrem the Syrian states that the Apostle was killed in India, and that his relics were taken then to Edessa. This is the earliest known record of his death. The records of Barbosa from the early 16th century record that the tomb was then maintained and a lamp is burning there. The St. Thomas Cathedral Basilica, Chennai , Tamil Nadu , India, presently located at

3024-421: Was promoted to Archdiocesan status by Major Archbishop Mar Varkey Cardinal Vithayathil on 4 September 1998. There is also an ancient Church in the name of St Thomas (Estd. 900 AD) at Malayattoor on the banks of Periyar River which serves as the parish Church at present. The annual festival of this church is known as 'Malayatoor Perunal' and it is celebrated in the months of March–April. Kurishumudi (Hill of

3080-478: Was told of it (as is related in the Gospel of John ); he later confessed his faith (" My lord and my God ") on seeing the places where the wounds appeared still fresh on the holy body of Jesus after the Crucifixion of Jesus . While it is often assumed he touched the wounds in art and poetry, the scriptures do not say that he touched the wounds, merely that Jesus invited him to do so, with it being unclear if he actually felt them. According to traditional accounts of

3136-493: Was used for baptism purposes and a traditional pulpit that is considered to be of much historical significance. There is a Holy Mass daily at 7:30 AM. On Sundays and Feast days there are two services - 7:30 AM and 9:30 AM. The main feasts celebrated are: The Cochin International Airport is at a distance of 15 kilometers from here. The Angamaly railway station is at a distance of 17 kilometers from Malayattoor, but since most trains do not stop at Angamaly you can get down at

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