About St. Thomas Syro Malabar Pilgrim Church
St. Thomas, also called Didymos, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus, had done his missionary work in Mesopotamia, Media, Persia, Bactria and Ethiopia, and embarked for missionary work at Malyankara in Kodungalloor, Kerala in AD 52. Many were converted to Christianity through the preaching of the word and miracles. The tradition is that after a missionary journey in Tamil Nadu (Pandya Rajya), the apostle returned to Kerala via Malayattoor and preached the gospel in Malayattoor. Malayattoor became a holy land because of the missionary work done by St. Thomas in Malayattoor. When there was no positive change in the apostle’s preaching of the gospel, the apostle climbed the nearby mountain and prayed. During the prayer, The Virgin Mary appeared and blessed St. Thomas. The vision and blessing of the Holy Mother infused the apostle with divine spirit and new strength. St. Thomas came down to the mountain and boldly preached the gospel again and baptized many people and formed the Christian community
A few centuries later, hill tribes who came to the top of the mountain to hunt saw a golden aura on the side of the rock and poked it with their weapon. As the punctured area became blood-colored, they got scared and went down the hill and informed the people at the foot of the hill. Christians living in Palayur, Paravoor, Kodungallur and other places came in groups to the top of the mountain to see the miraculous phenomenon. The Malayattoor mountain which became holy with the touch of the feet of Saint Thomas and the apparition of the Virgin Mary, the Golden cross that appeared on the mountain, and the belief in the invisible presence of the saint, made the place prominent pilgrim center for the Marthoma Nasranis.
Kurisumudi, perched at an elevation of 1269 feet above sea level, is a natural wonder that captivates the heart of all who behold it. Rising majestically against the backdrop of the Sahya Mountain ranges, Kurisumudi presents a truly mesmerizing sight. The expansive beautiful rock surface atop Kurisumudi coupled with the steep cliff plunging nearly 1000 feet to the east and the lust northern mountain ranges rising in cascading steps, form a breath taking panorama that powerfully proclaims the infinite majesty of the creator.