Christianity: Details about 'Malayattoor'
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Malayattoor is one of the most prominent Christian pilgrim centers in Kerala. St. Thomas the Apostle established the church here, which has been designated by the Vatican as an International Shrine. The hilltop church is located 10km away from the town of Kalady. Historically, St. Thomas is believed to have landed in Kerala at Kodungallur (Cranganore) in AD52. While travelling through Malayattor, faced with hostile natives, he fled to the hilltop where he is said to have remained in prayer. According to beliefs, during prayer, he touched a rock, upon which blood poured from it. The chief festival is on the first Sunday after Easter. It is traditionally believed that St. Thomas used to make the sign of the Cross on the rock, kiss it and pray at Kurisumudi and later on, a miraculous golden cross appeared at that particular spot. Its common for the pilgrims going up to Kurisumudi to ceaselessly call out "Ponnum Kurishu Muthappo, Ponmala Kayattom", meaning "O Patriarch of the Golden Cross! Climb we shall, this golden hill!" This Shrine was elavated to the status of an Archdiocesan Shrine by His Grace Archbishop Mar Varkey Vithayathil on 4th Sept. 1998. There is also a very ancient Church in the name of St Thomas (Estd. 900) at Malayattoor on the bank of Periyar River which serves as the parish Church now. |
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