Malayattoor pilgrimage kerala.Malayattoor , a place of prayer and pilgrimage; made rich by the foot steps of St. Thomas the Apostle, who sowed the seeds of Christianity in this part of the world. Revere at his saintly footsteps clearly embedded on the rock - marvel at the Golden cross that sprang up from no where - Yes malayattoor indeed has all these and more..Located 52 kms from Kochi, the Malayatoor Church is situated atop the 609 m high Malayatoor Hill. The church is dedicated to St. Thomas, who is believed to have prayed at this shrine. One of the most important Christian pilgrim centres in Kerala, this holy shrine attracts devotees in very large numbers not only from Kerala but also from the neighbouring states. This famous church is situated at Kurisumudi, a verdant hill in the Western Ghats girdled partially by the river Periyar. The Church has a life-size statue of St. Thomas and the imprint of the feet of the Apostle on a rock. This shrine has now been accorded an international pilgrimage station

Like a river originating so humbly and meekly as a brook, flowing incessantly and gathering many more brooks, gradually becoming a very big one, our church, Lourdes Forane Church originated from a congregation of merely 25 Catholic families, has become, a great and big parish, gathering many more families in the course of its growth. Today there are 1100 families, around 5000 parishioners in our church.Centuries back, Kottayam was a Christian centre. But after the ‘Koonan Kurishu Sathyam’, the church was split into various groups. There was a large-scale migration to the high range regions. They realised the prospects of the wonder tree ‘rubber’, planted rubber trees and became prosperous plantation owners.The Christians who settled in Kuttanad regions also became rich by paddy cultivation. They worked hard in the rice fields and earned money. These farmers could afford to provide good education to their children; as a result, the next generation saw many efficient lawyers and professionals, among these Catholics.Kottayam was the centre of Kottayam district, with the Civil Station and the District Court. The heads of church, identified the prospects of this place. ‘Sabhabhasuran’ Rev. Mani Nidheerickal selected this region as the centre of his activities related to ecumenism. His follower, Rev.Fr.Thomas Kurialassery, became the first local Bishop of Changanassery. He purchased 16 acres of land near the Civil Station and shifted the minor seminary (which had been functioning in the Bishop’s house at Changanassery) to this place in 1919. But this started to function fully in 1922 only.In the meanwhile, the lawyers who preferred to live in the vicinity of the District Court and the rich Catholics who wished to send their children, to the prestigious educational institutions in and around Kottayam settled down in Kottayam. They attended the Holy Mass at the Seminary Chapel.This Chapel was a ‘Bernadette’s’ Church in the beginning; and later the present name ‘ Lourdes Church’ was adopted. It was Mary Bernadette’s visions of the Virgin Mary, which led to the founding of the Shrine of Lourdes in France. His Holiness Mar.Mathew Kavukattu was the Vice-Rector here for a short period. There was a press attached to the Seminary.The foundation stone for the new church was laid on 18 th March 1934. The construction of the renovated church was completed on 16 th April 1938. The petty seminary was shifted again to Changanassery in 1945. In the meantime, our church has grown into a well-established Christian fellowship. In 1954, 5 acres of land was given free of cost to the Medical Mission Sisters, as they wished to start a training institute for the nuns. The result was a ‘Noviciate’ instead of a seminary- a convent and a school along with a church, is the usual concept of a catholic community.The construction of the Lourdes Parish Hall began in 1976. On 10 th October 1978, Arch Bishop Mar.Antony Padiyara inaugurated the new parish hall. On 25 th April 1982, the renovation of the church was completed. On 13 th December 1982, the parish was raised to a ‘ Forane Church’. On February 23,1992, the Vadavathoor church was inaugurated. On December 12 th 1993, Bishop Mar. Joseph Powathil inaugurated the Lourdes Forane Centre- a glittering chapter in the history of the church. The Platinum jubilee of the church was celebrated from January 29 to February 12, 1995- an occasion for spiritual renewal. Lourdes Public School was started in May 1996. On 30 th January 2000, the blessing of the Lourdes Public School was done by Mar.Joseph Powathil.Today Lourdes Forane Church is one among the excellent, model and rich parishes of Changanassery Arch Diocese. It is a supreme example of God’s mercy showered on a devoted community; renewed to create wonders, among the poor, suffering fellows; it is a community, blessed with Mercy, Love and Concern; it is a communion recharging themselves from the Holy Communion-the Eucharist; holding high the Eucharistic Culture; following the formula-the sum and substance of Pope John Paul II’s Encyclical letter- E.C = 4S + 3L, where E.C = Eucharistic Culture, 4S = Sharing, Silence, Suffering and Surrendering. 3L = Love, Life and Light.Rosamma RajanMethikkalamKalathilpady.

Born in a noble family at Milan, in Italy in the second century A.D. St.Gervasis and Prothasis were the twin sons of Vithilas and Valeena a highly respected couple of those times. The twins were popularly and reverently known as Kantheesangal (believed to have derived from the Syrian word kantheesangal that denotes a saintly person). Their parents lead exemplary lives in the true Christian spirit throughout their lives and became martyrs for their cause when Gervasis and Prothasis were still at a tender age.They grew up in age when persecution of the followers of Jesus Christ was raging throughout the Roman Empire. Their faith in God and the inspiration left behind by their parents made them spurn the lucrative offers to worship the pagan god of the Roman Emperors. They readily prepared to shed their blood and sacrifice their lives for Jesus Christ rather than worship a pagan God. Yet they were veiled in obscurity till the beginning of the 4th century even among the natives of Milan. Gradually they dawned out of oblivion as the nascent church began receiving heavenly blessings through these saintly brothers.As per a divine revelation received by St.Ambrose the tomb of Kantheesangal was exhumed for examination .The heads were found separated with stains of blood and the church took cognizance of the holy remnanents. A large number of miracles were witnessed on the occasion of the transfer of the relics to the Basilica of St.Ambrose on June 18th, 386 A.D. The blind were able to see again, the lame started to walk and many freed themselves from the clutches of the evil spirit. People from all corners of the then known world started pouring in and received heavenly favors through their intercession. The feast of the Kantheesangal is celebrated on 19th June throughout the Christian world and Kothanalloor church is the only one in the entire Palai diocese having Kantheesangal as their patron saint.