From February 28 to March 2, the novices of the Common Novitiate at Kunnambetta, Kerala, embarked on a three-day pilgrimage through some of the most sacred and historically significant Christian sites in the state. Their journey was not merely a tour of monuments, but a spiritual encounter with nearly two millennia of living faith—stretching from apostolic foundations to modern ecclesial leadership.
To walk through Kerala is to traverse a living chronicle of Christianity in India. Each church, shrine, and hilltop bears witness to a tradition rooted in the preaching of St. Thomas the Apostle and nurtured through centuries of prayer, sacrifice, and cultural harmony.
At the Roots of Indian Christianity
The pilgrimage began at Palayur in Thrissur district, one of the most revered sites in Indian Christian history. Here stands the St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, traditionally believed to be one of the seven churches founded by St. Thomas in 52 AD.
According to ancient tradition, it was at this very place that the Apostle preached the Gospel and baptized several local Namboothiri Brahmins, laying the foundation of the Nazrani Christian community. The sacred Thaliyakulam (pond) nearby is closely associated with these early baptisms. Standing beside its waters evokes a profound sense of continuity with the first-century Church in India.
The day continued with visits to two shrines that reflect Kerala’s rich spiritual heritage. At the St. Euphrasia Pilgrim Centre, the novices reflected on the life of St. Euphrasia, affectionately known as the “Praying Mother,” whose life of silent adoration remains a model of contemplative fidelity. They then visited the St. Mariam Thresia Pilgrim Centre, honouring the mystic and founder of the Congregation of the Holy Family, whose intercession is sought especially for the wellbeing of families.
The first day concluded at Liguori Bhavan Provincial House, the Provincial House of the Redemptorists, where the group rested and prepared for the spiritual ascent awaiting them.
Climbing the Holy Mountain
Sunday morning was marked by a physically demanding yet spiritually uplifting climb up Kurisumudy—the Hill of the Cross at Malayattoor. Tradition holds that St. Thomas sought refuge here during persecution, spending time in prayer and solitude.
At the summit, the novices joined countless pilgrims in venerating the rock believed to bear the Apostle’s footprint. They also drank from the ancient spring said to have miraculously appeared to quench his thirst. The ascent became a symbol of their own vocational journey—arduous yet grace-filled.
Descending in the afternoon, the group visited St. Mary’s Forane Church, noted for its historic murals and distinctive “Elephant Gate,” an architectural feature reflecting a fascinating blend of Kerala and Persian influences.
Later that evening, the pilgrims explored the colonial layers of Kochi’s history. At St. Francis Church, the oldest European church in India, they stood at the original burial site of the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama. Though his remains were later moved to Lisbon, the site remains a reminder of the era when global trade, missionary expansion, and cultural encounters shaped the region’s identity.
The Heart of the Modern Church
The final day centred on Ernakulam, the administrative and spiritual hub of the Syro-Malabar Church. At St. Mary’s Cathedral Basilica, the mother church of the Syro-Malabar Major Archdiocese, the novices prayed at the tomb of Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil, whose leadership played a vital role in strengthening and guiding the Eastern Catholic community in India.
Just a short walk away stands St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral, the seat of the Latin Archdiocese of Verapoly. The proximity of these two cathedrals serves as a powerful symbol of the harmonious coexistence of diverse liturgical traditions within Kerala’s Catholic Church.
A Living Continuity of Faith
From the ancient waters of Palayur to the windswept summit of Malayattoor, this pilgrimage offered more than historical insight—it became a lived experience of continuity. The novices walked paths once believed to have been trodden by an Apostle, prayed in shrines sanctified by saints, and reflected before the tombs of contemporary Church leaders.
In retracing these sacred footprints, they encountered not a distant past, but a vibrant and enduring faith—one that continues to shape Kerala’s spiritual landscape and inspire new generations called to serve.
The Novices
