Church in Kerala

By 'VIRENDER'

Actual Image Size

: 600 x 800 Pixels

Memory Size in KB

: 457 KB

City / Place Name

: Cochin

Album (Category) Name

: Churches (Worship and Festivals)

Christianity in Kerala is considered as ancient as the Christian epoch itself. It is the land God's land that still resounds with the importunate words of the St. Thomas, one of the 12 Apostles of Jesus Christ who declared that he would not trust the events of Christ's death and resurrection until he witnessed the wounds of the ascended Christ. He is said to have set ashore at Muziris in AD 52 and set up seven and a half churches in Kerala - Kodungallur, Palayur, Paravur, Kokomangalam, Niranam, Chayal, and Kollam. He himself built the Malayatoor Church and this place still has the Golden Cross, the well-preserved footprints of St. Thomas and the miraculous water well. He is regarded as the father of Christianity in India as he preached and spread this religion and initially converted twelve families of Brahmin in Kerala into Christians. The Syrian Christians of Kerala trace their origin to these Brahmin families.

In the 16th century, the Portuguese brought in the new style of Church-architecture in Kerala and then the latinization of churches took place. Santo Antonio, currently known as St. Francis Church in Kochi is the first church built in India in this European style. With passing time many churches were established in Kerala.

Christianity in Kerala, Christian, Christmas, St. Thomas, Jesus Christ, Kodungallur, Palayur, Paravur, Kokomangalam, Niranam, Chayal, Malayatoor Church, Syrian Christians of Kerala, Santo Antonio, St. Francis Church, Easter Festival