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The
good old church erected at the top of the mount is believed
to have attacked by the Wild elephants as shows the marks
on the walls. Today this old church is called Anakutthiyapalli
(Elephant attacked Church).
THE ANCIENT MOTHER CHURCH AT MALAYATTOOR
St. Thomas church Malayattoor traces back its origin
to the missionary visit of St. Thomas, the apostle of India,
in AD52. It is believed that St. Thomas established a living
Christian community in Malayattoor. The church established
here has a very ancient origin. The
altar of this church is designed in accordance with the
Greek archaeological tradition. The background of
the central altar is carved with designs and paintings which
include the five stations of joyful mysteries of our Lord
Jesus Christ . The front portion of the Church is designed
in the peculiar tradition of Roman Catholic Church. On the
left portion of the center door we could trace out the marks
of the historic flood of AD 90 .The church is divided into
three wings where separate facilities are provided for confession
and adoration. The ancient baptismal pond and the traditional
pulpit are of historical relevance. On one side of the church
the river Periyar is flowing calmly soothing the troublesome
minds of the pilgrims.
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.
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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.
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Kurisumudi Church
Malayattoor
Church |
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.
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.
-
Marhoma Mandapam
- Sannidhi
- Golden cross
- Foot prints of St. Thomas
- The ancient chapel struck by the elephants
- The miraculous water spring
- MarSt. Thomas Bhavan
It is believed that the footprints and the marks of his knees
on the rock in the mountain is of St. Thomas. The Golden Cross
(ponkurisu) is the place where St. Thomas is believed to have
found solace in prayer and in communion with Heavenly Father.
The miraculous pond is the place where St. Thomas quenched his
thirst when he was in need of water. Later on the wandering hunters
called the nayadis or the vedar is believed to have seen
this golden cross and gathered there for prayers and offerings.
It is a custom among the newly-weds of Malabar to make a pilgrimage
to Maleattur on the first Sunday after Easter that follows their
marriage. There is a custom followed from generation to generation
of shaving the hair and beard before bathing in the river. The
foundation stone of the Church, which now caps the mountain at
Malayattoor, was blessed by Bishop Medlycott, the first Vicar
Apostolic of Trichur. Interestingly enough pilgrims climbing up
and down the slopes, invoke aloud St. Thomas, calling him, according
to their customs Muthappan, i.e., grandfather.
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