Ēḻarappaḷḷikaḷ

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Ēḻarappaḷḷikaḷ or Ezharappallikal (pronounced [eːɻɐɾəpːɐɭːikɐɭ], Malayalam script: ഏഴരപ്പള്ളികൾ, English: seven and a royal churches), are the seven major churches or Christian communities of Saint Thomas Christians across Malabar Coast of India that are believed to have been founded by Thomas the Apostle in the first century.^[1] According to Indian Christian traditions, the apostle Thomas arrived in Muziris (Kodungallur) in AD 52, established the Ezharappallikal (Seven royal churches or Seven and a half Churches) and evangelised in present-day Kerala and Tamil Nadu.^[2][3][4] Many of these churches built near Jewish and Brahmin settlements. These were at Maliankara (Kodungallur), Kollam, Palayoor, Kottakkayal (North Paravur or Kottakkavu), Kokkamangalam, Niranam and Nilackal (Chayal).^[5][6] Thiruvithamcode church in Kanyakumari was built on the land given by arachan (king) and hence it is often referred in the name Arappally (half church).^{[7][8][9][10]} Similarly, the Churches at Malayattoor and Aruvithura are also referred to as Arappallikal.^[7]

The Church of Malabar was discovered by the Portuguese in 1501, and they record that upon arrival in the region in AD52, St Thomas converted King Chozha Perumal of Meliapor by dragging a large log ashore that elephants had been unable to move. The relics of St Thomas were returned to Edessa in Syria in the 3rd century. In the 4th century the Church of St Thomas was in decline, so large group of Christians from Edessa emigrated to Malabar. They were led by Mar Joseph, Metropolitan of Edessa, and Knai Thoma, a merchant who had previously visited Malabar and found the Christian community there in need of support.^[11][12]

Ezharappallikal

The seven churches are located at Kodungallur, Kollam, Palayoor, Kottakkavu (Paravoor), Kokkamangalam (South Pallippuram), Niranam and Nilackal (Chayal).^[6]

Kodungallur

The Kodungallur church is considered to be the oldest church built by St. Thomas on the Malabar Coast.^[6] Kodungallur is known in various names such as Muziris, Muchiri, Muyirikkode, Shengala, Shinjli, Makottai, Mahadevarpattanam and Cranganore. The Church at Kodungallur rose to prominence after the fall of the Christian community in the Coromandel Coast, especially Mylapore.^[13] Francisco Roz, the first latin Archbishop of Saint Thomas Christians, describes Cranganore as the most ancient episcopal see in India.^[6]

The current Marthoma Pontifical shrine (Kodungaloor Mar Thoma Church) church is situated on the banks of the River Periyar about 6 km from Kodungallur, in the village of Azhikode in Kerala.^[14]

Palayur

St. Thomas Church, Palayoor is located at Palayur (also spelled Palayoor), in Thrissur district in Kerala on the west coast of India. According to tradition, it was established in 52 AD by St Thomas. It is the first church in India, and is called an Apostolic Church credited to the Apostolate of St. Thomas who preached and also started the conversion of people to Christianity here.^[6]

Pierre du Jarric gives part of a letter by James Fenicio, a Jesuit missionary in the Zamorin's territory.^[15][16][17]

As the church of Palur dedicated to Saint Cyriac [Quriaqus], which was the oldest (primus) among all the churches in Malabar, and renowned for favours and graces obtained, and for this reason much frequented, I devoted myself more especially to it. The stone church which I began two years ago [enclosing, apparently, within it the primitive building] had risen to the height of the windows. At this stage no one would dare to pull down the old wooden building, fearing to be struck down by sudden death: it stood surrounded by the walls of the new erection, but after I had prayed and removed their timidity, the old structure was pulled down, and the new building stood out in such fine proportions that the Hindus, the Mahomedans, and the Jews flocked to see it.

— Jarric 1615, p. 50–51

Kottakkavu

Kottakkavu Church was established by St. Thomas in North Paravur in the Ernakulam district. It is considered to be one of the oldest Church in Kerala. The church of Kottakkavu was rebuilt in the 9th century. It was renovated for the third time in 1308. Pope Gregory XIII raised the altar of this church to the status of privileged altar in 1575.^[6] The church was originally dedicated to Saints Sabor and Aproth. The Synod of Diamper removed their names and dedicated the church to Gervasius and Protasis.

MS Vatican Syriac N. iv., dated A.D. 1556, has the following colophon in folio 278:

"By the help of our Lord we have finished this book of the Prophets; it was written on a Monday, the 18th of February, in the year 1556 of the birth of our Lord. I, priest Jacob, the disciple of Mar Jacob, and from the village of Puraur, have written this book in the holy Church of Mar Shapur and Mar Iapot [Piruz]. May the holy name of God be praised for ever. Amen!"

— MS Vatican Syriac N. iv.^[18]

Kokkamangalam

Kokkamangalam church (or Gokkamangalam church) is situated at Gokkamangalam near Cherthala in the Alappuzha district. St. Thomas sailed to Gokkamangalam where he preached the gospel for about a year. 1600 people converted to Christianity through him according to the narration in "Rampan Pattu", an ancient form of Christian folksong prevalent in Kerala. He formed a Christian community at Kokkamangalam and enshrined a cross for the faithful.^[7]

Nilakkal

Nilakkal is a village, roughly 52 km (32 mi) east to Ranni and near Sabarimala in Pathanamthitta district. This church area was discovered during the time of Malankara Metropolitan Pulikottil Thirumeni (then head of the Orthodox Church). For the harmony of ecumenism among St Thomas Christians, then leadership of the Orthodox church paved the way to dedicate the church for all denominations. It was a mountain route of trade between Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Saint Thomas accompanied by Habban came over here and baptised 1100 people.^[7]

Niranam

Niranam Pally is one of the oldest churches in Kerala. It is believed that the church was founded by St. Thomas, in AD 54 at Niranam near Thiruvalla in Pathanamthitta district. The church was reconstructed several times since then. The stones in the church show the reconstruction in 1259. On his way from Kollam, he arrived at Niranam (Thrikpapaleswaram) by sea. He converted two Hindu Brahmin families named Pattamukkil and Thayyil and two Nair families named Manki and Madathilan to Christianity. He also gave priestly powers to the members of Pattamukkil family.

It is believed to be one of the oldest churches in Kerala and thus in India as well as among the oldest ones in the world. The architecture shows striking similarities to ancient temple architecture.^[19][6]

Kollam (Quilon)

Our Lady of Purification Church also known as the Port Kollam Church is a historic Roman Catholic church near Kollam Port in Kollam district of Kerala. According to ecclesiastical tradition the church was established by Thomas the Apostle in 52 CE along with six other churches in Kerala and these churches together are called Ēḻarappaḷḷikaḷ. The church follows Latin Rite and is in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Quilon.

Tradition holds that in AD 52, Thomas the Apostle travelled to Kerala's coast.[5][6] For people who were baptized by Saint Thomas to worship, a church was built in Kollam between CE 52 and 78. However, Violent sea erosion destroyed this church. The believers built a second church for worship with the King of Kollam's approval, but it was also destroyed by sea erosion. The ruins of the second church are still visible in the sea during low tides. The name "Pallikallu" given to it by the local fishermen literally translates as "the stone of the great church". A group of local divers retrieved a rock from the submerged church ruins in February 2021, and it was then installed in the church as a symbol of the community's unwavering faith.

Arappallikal

The churches at Thiruvithamkode, Malayattoor, Mylacombu, and Aruvithura are referred to as Arappallikal, which may be translated either as Half churches or Royal churches.^[7]

Thiruvithamkode

Thiruvithamcode St Marys Orthodox Church (Arapalli) or Thomayar Kovil, is located in Thiruvithamcode, Tamil Nadu, India, 30 km to the south of the Kerala state border. It is believed by the Christian communities in Kerala that the historic Thiruvithamcode Arappally, also called Amalagiri church as named by the Chera King Uthiyan Cheralathan, was built by St. Thomas, known as the Apostle of India, in AD 52.AD

Malayattoor

St. Thomas is believed to have returned to Malankara coast via Malayatur where he establishes ‘the half church’ (a small Christian community dependent on the Church of Maliamkara). Oral tradition says that while travelling through Malayattor, faced with hostile natives, he fled to the hilltop where he said to have remained in prayer and that he left his footprint on one of the rocks. According to beliefs, during prayer, he touched a rock, upon which blood poured from it.

Mylacombu

Mylacombu Church, situated in the Kumaramangalam Grama Panchayath of the Idukki district in Kerala, India, is believed to have been founded by St. Thomas, during his second visit to Kerala after preaching gospel at Mylapore. He then returned back to Mylapore where he was martyred. According to the tradition, during his journey, St. Thomas requested the local king for a place to pray and preach the gospel in the eastern regions. However, the king refused this demand. During that time, Nedumakil Panikalyar, one of the king's generals, was residing at Mylacombu. Upon learning from the locals that Panikalyar could help him, St. Thomas visited Mylacombu and met Panikalyar. During St. Thomas's visit, Panikalyar's daughter was seriously ill, and despite various treatments, her condition did not improve. St. Thomas prayed for the child by laying his hands on her head, and miraculously, she recovered. In gratitude for his daughter's healing, Panikalyar accepted St. Thomas's request and gifted him a place for prayer. Later, disciples of the Apostle constructed a church at the site to serve the growing community of believers who were converted by St. Thomas.^[20][7] Mylacombu church is known as ‘The Mother Church of the East as many ancient churches like Kadamattom, Nakapuzha, Arakuzha, Nediasala, Muthalakodam, Kothamangalam etc were formed from this church.

Aruvithura

It is believed that St. Thomas visited Irapeli and converted a prominent families into Christianity and laid a cross on the banks of the Meenachil River. Local traditions also support this belief. This is the first church in the Palai diocese and was built in the 1st century. St. Thomas founded seven and a half churches there. The 'half' church refers to a cross laid at Irapoli by St. Thomas, making the church of Irapeli the half church.^[7] It is reported that the church was rebuilt once or twice before the 16th century. The ancient churches were constructed and maintained by the prominent families in the area until the 16th century. In the beginning of the 16th century a new church was built under the leadership of Kallarackal Kathanar by the prominent families. The church was first dedicated to the Assumption of Saint Mary. In the 14th century when either the Nilackal Church or the Chayal Church founded by St. Thomas was destroyed, several families migrated to Irapeli bringing with them a statue of St. George. Gradually the church itself was re-dedicated to Saint George.

References

• Whitehouse, Thomas (1873). Lingerings of light in a dark land: Researches into the Syrian church of Malabar. William Brown and Co. p. 23-42. Though Cranganore and Quilon are always mentioned amongst their earliest and most important settlements, five other places are named in conjunction with them, viz., Palúr, North Parúr, South Pallipuram, Neranum, and Nellakkul. The whole group are traditionally styled the Seven Churches founded by St. Thomas the Apostle.
• Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala. "Seven and half Churches (Ezhara Pallikal)".

Further reading

• A.C. Perumalil, The Apostles in India, Patna (India), XTTI, 1971.
• George Menachery, Ed.,"The St.Thomas Christian Encyclopaedia of India", esp. Vol.2, 1973.
• George Menachery, Ed.,"The Nazranies", Indian Church History Classics, Vol. 1, 1998, esp. books fully reproduced in it by Mackenzie, Medlycott, Farquar, and many others.