St. Thomas Church, Kokkamangalam

2021-07-04T03:00:13Z

2401:4900:3314:8065:DD09:293A:BF73:461A:

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2018}}

{{Infobox church
| name = St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Kokkamangalam
| fullname =
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| native_name = കോക്കമംഗലം പളളി
| native_name_lang = ml
| image = KokkamangalamChurch.jpg
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| caption = Kokkamangalam church
| pushpin map = Kerala
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| map caption = Location in Kerala
| coordinates = {{coord|9.682732|76.3752|display=inline,title}}
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| location = [[Kerala]]
| country = {{flag|India}}
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| founder = [[Thomas the Apostle|St.Thomas]]
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| architectural type = Mix of [[Persian architecture|Persian]] and Kerala
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| years built = 52 A.D (?)
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| archdiocese = [[Eranakulam]] - [[Angamaly]]
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| district = [[Alappuzha]]
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[[File:StThomasCross.jpg|thumb|left|200px|The cross reputedly erected by the [[Apostle Thomas]] in [[Kokkamangalam]] (the original one is at [[Pallippuram, Alappuzha|Pallippuram]]; the replica in stone was erected in 2002).]]
[[File: Syro-Malabar_icon_of_Throne_of_Mar_Thoma.jpg|thumb|Icon of Throne of Mar Thoma Sleeha
November 21 : The Feast of the Arrival of Mar Thoma Sleeha in India and The Feast of the Throne of the Mar Thoma Sleeha]]

'''St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Kokkamangalam''' which holds a midway position among the seven churches founded by St. Thomas, is in the Syro-Malabar Catholic Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly, in the [[South India]]n [[States and territories of India|state]] of [[Kerala]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://travel.manoramaonline.com/travel/essential-kerala/in-the-footsteps-of-saint-thomas.html|title=In the footsteps of Saint Thomas}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ptXYAAAAMAAJ|title=First International Conference on the History of Early Christianity in India|date=2005|publisher=Institute of Asian Studies}}</ref> A portrait of St. Thomas is venerated here and was brought from the [[Carmelite]] [[Monastery]] Mannanam in 1897 by "", pursuant to a revelation. This portrait is mounted in a decorated waft of great artistic value.<ref name="SamuelSantiago2008">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oJtAAQAAIAAJ|title=Early Christianity in India: (with parallel developments in other parts of Asia)|publisher=Institute of Asian Studies (Madras, India), International Centre for the Study of Christianity in India|year=2008|isbn=978-81-87892-40-3|author1=G. John Samuel|author2=J. B. Santiago|author3=P. Thiagarajan}}</ref>

St. Thomas sailed to [[Kokkamangalam]] where he preached the [[gospel]] for about a year.<ref name="Thayil2003">{{cite book|author=Thomas Thayil|title=The Latin Christians of Kerala: A Study on Their Origins|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ixTZAAAAMAAJ|year=2003|publisher=Kristu Jyoti Publications|isbn=978-81-87370-18-5}}</ref> 1600 people converted to Christianity through him according to the narration in "[[Rampan Pattu]]", an ancient form of [[Christian folk-song]] prevalent in Kerala.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uT4MAQAAMAAJ|title=Journal of the Institute of Asian Studies|publisher=The Institute|year=2001}}</ref> He formed a Christian community at Kokkamangalam and enshrined a Cross for the faithful. This cross was later cut off by saboteurs, and thrown into the Lake Vembanad, through which it floated up to [[Pallippuram, Alappuzha|Pallippuram]], where it is enshrined.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/Kerala-tourism-to-tap-states-Christian-heritage/articleshow/56041091.cms|title=Kerala tourism to tap state’s Christian heritage - Times of India}}</ref>

The Relic of Apostle St. Thomas enshrined here was brought from [[Ortona]] in [[Italy]] by [[Pope John Paul II]] in November 1999. Special [[Novena prayers]] are held on Friday evenings to venerate the Relic. Devotees who aspire for jobs in foreign countries seek the intercession of the Apostle here.{{citation needed|date=June 2017}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Kokkamangalam Church}}
*http://www.stthomasdiocese.org/syromalabar-church

{{Christianity in Kerala}}
{{Churches of Kerala}}

[[Category:Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly]]
[[Category:Catholic pilgrimage sites]]
[[Category:Churches in Alappuzha district]]

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St. Thomas Church, Kokkamangalam