Palayur Church

Palayaur church

Palur or Palayur was the stronghold of the Nambudiri Brahmins ('the super class people in Indian communities) when St. Thomas arrived from Kodungallur. Israelites had a settlement at Palayur, two thosand years ago. Ruins of an ancient Jewish Synagogue are still seen outside of a Brahmin temple about a furlong away from the Church. Broken pieces of idols, sculptures and remnants 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.

Point Of Topic !

" St.Thomas was able to convert the greater part of the village after a successful challenge with the Brahmins. The local temple deserted by the Brahmins as a part of St. Thomas's efforts, was turned into forming a Church.

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 the 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 century, reduced this flourishing Catholic centre to the state of decadence.

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

click Here to view Picture Gallery

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.