St Thomas Church Palayur – The First church in India
St. Thomas the Apostle of Christ landed in 52 A.D. at Kodungallur, the first century west coast harbor of Kerala (Pliny’s Premium Emporium India) and went on to establish seven churches for the faithful he evangelized in kerala. Only one of the seven churches could claim continuous existence in the same location from the time of the Apostle. The church at Palayur is unique in that the present church has a continuous history of two millennia and stands on the same spot where the Apostle first established it. The first church founded by St. Thomas continued to exist for many centuries and we know that in 1607 the Italian Jesuit Fr.Fenecio S.J. decided, after obtaining due permission from the ecclesiastical authorities, to construct a more convenient church around the existing old structure for the parish of Palayur.
The Thrissur Archdiocesan authorities are today wholeheartedly committed to the cause of developing Palayur into the focus of national and international pilgrim tourism in South India. The palayur church was elevated as the first Archdiocesan pilgrim centre on 16th April 2000. The relic of St. Thomas conveyed from Ortona , Italy was established in the main altar of the church.
The 30km long annual Lenten Mahatheerthadanam of great pilgrimage on foot from Thrissur to Palayur has conducted in every year.In true Kerala tradition the Palayur pilgrim complex together with the Guruvayur temple and Manathala Masjid forms a sacred triangle of religious harmony and Communal amity embarrassing the Arabian sea and the Chettuvai Azhimugham with the elephant resort at Guruvayur providing the incomparable site of source of domesticated elephant.The sight and memories constantly bring to palayur all the year round, year in and year out, large numbers of pilgrims, tourists, scholars and researchers not only from kerala and India but also from countries all over the world. Palayur is the first port of call for all those who wish to learn about the St. Thomas tradition.
SPECIAL COVER BY KERAPEX’87
DATE OF ISSUE :- 15.2.87 – TRICHUR.
CANCELLATION ST.THOMAS STATUE & CHURCH.
