St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Church, Malayattoor St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Church, Malayattoor The St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Malayattoor (or Malayatoor Church) is one of the most prominent Christian pilgrim centers in the Malayattoor Angamaly, Ernakulam district of Kerala, India. The Malayatoor Church attracts a large number of devotees from not just Kerala, but from all over India. St. Thomas the Apostle was the one who took initiative to begin Christian community in Kerala later found . He also set up the church here which has been designated by the Vatican as one among the eight International shrines in the world. It is believed that St. Thomas
North Malabar position of Kolathiri, although immensely respected, was politically titular. In North Malabar, the Kolathiri Kings had the ritualistic status of Perumaal such that their official designates or "sthanis" retained their jurisdiction all over Kerala except for the Rajarajashwara Temple at Taliparamba. The major festival observed by Hindus in this region is Vishu rather than Onam, which remains the major celebration for Hindus in the remainder of Kerala. In North Malabar, Vishu is celebrated as New Year. Because, the Kollavarsham month Medam - which is parallel to first Tamil month Chithirai - is the first month of the year for natives