|
Malayattoor (A meeting place of
land, mountain and river) shot into
prominence when she was blessed by
the missionary work of St. Thomas
the apostle of Jesus Christ. After
receiving wholeheartedly the mandate
to evalgelize the world, St. Thoams
set out on an arduous journey which
saw him land in the land of spices.
He set foot at Kodungalloor, the
famous port of yester years, in AD
52. The burning zeal within him to
spread the good news carried him
across the length and breadth of the
land and founded the seven churches
in Kodungalloor, Quilon, Niranam,
nilakkal, Kokkamangalam, Kottakavu
and Paalayoor. |
Malayattoor Church |
His journeys
missionary expeditions took him far and wide
and while traversing through the famous
Caravan route St. Thomas came to Malayattoor.
A hostile reception was in store and his
life was in danger. He was forced to flee to
the top of the mountain and he spend days
together in prayer. According to the Ramban
paattu, St. Thomas emulated his Lord and
deliberately went up the mountain to
converse with the Lord. Tradition has this
story that, in deep anguish and agony, St.
Thomas prayed to the Lord and upon touching
the rock blood sprang forth from it. The
Mother Of Our Lord, Blessed Mary appeared to
console and strengthen Him. He descended
from the presence of the Lord and baptized
many. His zeal for the Lord took him to
Mylappoor and later died a martyr's death in
AD72.
KURISUMUDI
|
Kurisumudi Church
|
Kurisumudi (where they found the
cross) as it is popularly known, is
1269 feet above the sea level. Set
in serene conditions, one cannot
miss the divine. Mountain peaks
gently caressing the clouds, the
shimmering sheen of the Periyar
below, the steep cliffs and the
winding roads, all provide an
ambience that is truly heavenly.
Right from the time of the golden
cross was found, the locals began a
practice of lighting an oil lamp and
whenever the lamp gave in for the
wind, a herd of goats came down
wailing and people used to climb the
mountain and light the lamp again.
Pilgrims who climb the mountain,
even today carry with them seasamum
seeds to feed the goats, even though
goats are a rare sight. |
The church at the
hill top stands above the cross that St.
Thomas had erected during his days of
intense prayer. It is the source of comfort
for the millions who climb the hill with
earnest devotion. Even though the principal
feast commences eight days after Easter,
people start flocking the mountain from the
beginning of the season of Lent. The Holy
Week witnesses pilgrims thronging the
mountain in very large numbers, in
reparation for their sins, reciting the Way
of the Cross all along the Way. A sixteen
foot long cross was built over the golden
cross to protect it from the wild animals
and a chapel was constructed over it.
|
A
stroll forward and you will find the
footprints of the great saint
embedded in the hard rock. Pilgrims
flock to this Kaalpadam (footprint)
to receive favours and miracle cures
from the saint. A good 150 ft
eastward is the oldest chapel which
has stood the ravages of the time
and pilgrims can still find the
bearings of the tuskers who tried to
demolish it. Miraculous it is
indeed, to find water running down a
stream, way up 1629 ft above the sea
level, to quench the thirst of the
pilgrims. At the foot step of the
hill, is the statue of St. Thomas
erected in 1938, perched on a rock
to protect it from the menacing
trunks of the elephants. |
|
ST. THOMAS
CHURCH, MALAYATTOOR
Malayattoor once had
no access to the other parts of the state by
road and the principal gateway was the
waterfront. It was imperative to build a
church for the pilgrims and the faithful and
thus in AD 900 the present church was built.
It was later renovated according to the
needs of the times. The church is spacious
enough and is decorated beautifully with
exquisitely hand altars.
FILIAL
CHURCHES
The seeds of faith
sown by St. Thomas was reaping hundredfold
yield and surge in population in and around
Malayattoor necessitated the erection of a
few other churches in the vicinity of the
great pilgrim center. In 1972, a church was
built in the name of the Immaculate Mary at
Vimalagiry, Sacred Heart Church in the year
1977 at Illithodu and another church in the
name of St. Sebastian at Sebiyoor. |
A-Z
Hotels