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Borken
pieces of idols, sculptures and remenants of the old temple
were lying around the church till a short time ago. Two
large tanks on the west and east gates are tell-tale relics
of the ancient glory of the Hindu temple.
During
the Portuguese time, an attempt to dismantle the old Church
to construct a new one was given up owing to the sentimental
objection of the local people. later on, however, a new
church was built carefully so as to enclose the old one
which had wooden walls.
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Present church was built carefully so as to enclose the
old one which had wooden walls.
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Palayur
was once the seat of a Bishop. This is evident from the
Bull of Pope Gregory XII, dated 15th March 1580. It admonishes
and directs athe faithful to 'be obedient to their prelate
Mar Abraham and George of Christ, the Bishop of Palayur'.
'Obedite vero in Domino Abrahamo Archiepiescopo, vestro
Georgio item Episcopo Palurensi'. Incursions and persecutions
by Hyder Ali and Tippu Sultan, the tyrants of Mysore, in
the seventeenth centrury, reduced this flourishing Catholic
centre to the state of decadence.
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[The
well from which water was taken for the Hindu sacrifice
before the temple was converted to the Church of Palayur]
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[ Wall of the old Hindu temple which was converted to the
Church of Palayur] |
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Enna
Vilakku
(Oil
Lamp)
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Bottujetty
Miracle
Spot
Kurisupally
(Chappel)
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Important
Historical Monuments at Palayoor
-
The Boat Jetty (Bottukulam) where St. Thomas landed
at Palayoor.
- Thaliyakulam -The pond where St. Thomas baptized
the local people.
- The replica of Chinna Malai(of Mylapore - Madras)
where St. Thomas attainted martyrdom
in AD 72.
- The historical remnants of old Aryan Temple.
- Historical Museum.
- 14 granite life size statues of various scenes
from the life of St. Thomas installed
on the main entrance of the Church.
- The Jubilee Door in front of the entrance of the main
hall of the Church, depicting various important
Biblical events, carved in Burmese teak
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The
beginning of British rule in India (1797-93) saw the slow
and steady rise of the present Church. Strangely enough,
there is not a single Brahmin house, at present, in the
Palayur village.
How
to reach Palayur?
Palayoor is a part of Thrissur District and is located on
the west Cost of Kerala. By road it takes 28 Km to reach
Palayoor from Thrissur. It is on Thrissur - Chavakad route,
via Pavaratty. To travel by train catch Thrissur - Guruvayur
train (24 Km). From Guruvayur to Palayoor take a bus or
a taxi/auto rikshaw (2 Km). Nedumbasserry International
Airport is only 80 Km from Palayoor.
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