Kokkamangalam is a village in Alappuzha district of Kerala state, south India. Tradition holds it to be one of the seven Christian communities in Kerala founded by the Apostle Thomas. Alappuzha district and town in Kerala Alappuzha is one of the 14 districts in the state of Kerala in India. ... Kerala (IPA: ; Malayalam: കേരളം — Keralam) is a state on the southwestern tropical Malabar Coast of India. ... A map of Southern India, its rivers, regions and water bodies. ... Christianity is a monotheistic religion centered on the life, teachings, and actions of Jesus as recounted in the New Testament. ... The Twelve Apostles (in Koine Greek απόστολος apostolos [1], someone sent forth/sent out, an emissary) were probably Galilean Jewish men (10 names are Aramaic, 4 names are Greek) chosen from among the disciples, who were sent forth by Jesus of Nazareth to preach the Gospel to both Jews and Gentiles... Thomas was one of the 12 apostles of Jesus. ...

Kokkamangalam is situated midway between Cochin and Kumarakom. It is on the western shore of Vembanad Lake, 5 km east of the town of Cherthala, which has the nearest railway station. Cochin may refer to: Cochin China Kingdom of Kochi, a former princely state of India, merged with Travancore to form the State of Kerala Cochin city, the former name of the city of Kochi, in Kerala Hôpital Cochin, a famous hospital in Paris, France Cochin font, from the Adobe... The village of Kumarakom is a cluster of little islands on the Vembanad Lake in Kerala, a state in India. ... Location of Vembanad lake, Kerala Vembanad Lake (Vembanad Kayal or Vembanad Kol) is the largest lake in Kerala, India. ... Cherthala is a small town, in Kerala, India, which is almost 35km from Cochin. ...

History

In the first century, Kokkamangalam was a prosperous Hindu village. According to tradition, St. Thomas, one of the twelve Apostles of Jesus, landed at Kodungalloor, an ancient port on India's Malabar Coast, in the year 52. He founded Christian communities in Kokkamangalam, Kodungalloor, Kollam, Chayal, Niranam, Parur, and Palayoor before he was martyred in Mylapore. The Apostle Thomas performed a miracle in Kokkamangalam, and converted several local Hindu families to Christianity. A church was erected near the village's Hindu temple. The present church was rebuilt in 1900 on the same site. A Hindu (archaic Hindoo), as per modern definition is an adherent of philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, the predominant religious, philosophical and cultural system of India (Bharat), Nepal, and the island of Bali. ... Alternate meaning: See Apostle (Mormonism) The Christian Apostles were Jewish men chosen from among the disciples, who were sent forth (as indicated by the Greek word απόστολος apostolos= messenger), by Jesus to preach the Gospel to both Jews and Gentiles, across the world. ... This article is about Jesus of Nazareth; for other uses, see Jesus (disambiguation). ... Kodungalloor is a well known tourist location in Kerala due to St. ... Malabar Coast, Kerala Bekal Fort Beach, Kerala The Malabar Coast also known as the Malabarian Coast, is a long and narrow south-western shore line of the mainland Indian subcontinent. ... For other uses, see number 52. ... Kodungalloor is a well known tourist location in Kerala due to St. ... For the district with the same name, see Kollam District. ... Niranam is a small village in Southern part of Kerala in India. ... Palayoor/Palayur is a part of Thrissur district and is located on the west coast of Kerala, in India. ... Mylapore is the oldest area within Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu state in southern India. ...

Local attractions include picnic boating at Kokkamangalam. The long view of "Vembanad Lakeexpans" with green margin of coconut palms is also considered a must see. Kokkamangalam village itself is a place of traditional coconut processing cottage industry and numerous small coir spinning units. Thannirmukkom saltwater barrier, Pathiramanal Island, Kumarakom bird sanctuary are among the places of interest nearby. The Cochin International Airport is 70 kilometers from Kokkamangalam. Pathiramanal Pathiramanal is a small island located on the border of Kottayam - Alapuzha Districts. ...

Apostle St.Thomas Pilgrim Center Kokkamangalam

St. Thomas sailed to Kokkamangalam where he preached the gospel for about an year. 1600 people embraced Christian faith through him according to the narration in "Rampan Pattu", an ancient form of Christian folk-song prevalent in Kerala. He formed a Christian community at Kokkamangalam and enshrined a Cross for the faithful. The people of Kokkamangalam and nearby places venerate St. Thomas as their beloved heavenly patron. For the genre of Christian-themed music, see gospel music. ...

Kokkamangalam church which holds a midway position among the seven churches founded by St.Thomas, is in the Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly. A miraculous portrait of St.Thomas is venerated here and was brought from the Carmelite Monastery Mannanam in 1897 by "Albhutha Mathai", pursuant to a revelation. This portrait is mounted in a decorated waft of great artistic value. For the district with the same name, see Ernakulam District. ... Angamaly (Malayalam: അങ്കമാലി) is a rapidly growing town in Ernakulam district of Kerala, south India, famous as the intersection of Main central road and National Highway 47. ... Origin and early history Carmelites (in Latin Ordo fratrum Beatæ Virginis Mariæ de monte Carmelo) is the name of a Roman Catholic order founded in the 12th century by a certain Berthold (d. ... The Tikse monastery in Ladakh, India A monastery is the habitation of monks, derived from the Greek word for a hermits cell. ... 1897 (MDCCCXCVII) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ...

The Relic of Apostle St. Thomas enshrined here was brough 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. Ortona is a coastal town and comune of Chieti province in the Italian region of Abruzzo, 42°21N 14°24E, 72 m (236 ft) above sea-level, with 22,700 inhabitants as of the 2003 census. ... Pope John Paul II (Latin: ), born Karol Józef WojtyÅ‚a (May 18, 1920 – April 2, 2005) reigned as pope of the Roman Catholic Church for almost 27 years, from October 16, 1978 until his death, making his the second-longest pontificate. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ...

The seven storied Kerala lamp burning in front of the Relic denotes the integration of seven Christian Communities founded by the Apostle. Pouring coconut oil in this lamp is a sacred practice here. The archives of Kokkamangalam are also an attraction with historians, pilgrims and tourists. Kerala (IPA: ; Malayalam: കേരളം — Keralam) is a state on the southwestern tropical Malabar Coast of India. ... Binomial name Cocos nucifera L. The Coconut Palm (Cocos nucifera), is a member of the Family Arecaceae (palm family). ...

The principal feast of Kokkamangalam the "Puthunjayar Thirunal" is observed on the first Sunday after Easter. Thousands of people irrespective of caste and creed participate in the feast. The celebration begins on Thursday and concludes on Sunday. The colorful procession of the feast is a special attraction. Easter is the most important religious holiday of the Christian liturgical year, observed in March, April, or May to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, which Christians believe occurred after his death by crucifixion in AD 27-33 (see Good Friday). ...

The feast of July 3rd "Dukharana" marking the martyrdom of St.Thomas is also celebrated with great devotion. Offerings of "Pachor Nercha" are distributed among the devotees.

The "Thiruseship Prathishta Thirunal" celebrated on every 13th of November commemorate the enshrining of the Relic attracts people from India and abroad.

External links

Kokkamangalam Church