ST. THOMAS MAJOR ARCHIEPISCOPAL FORANE CHURCH, PALAYUR
St. Thomas Church was established in 52 AD by St Thomas is located at Palayur. It is the oldest church in India and one of the seven founded by St. Thomas the Apostle. Original small Church structure has been retained at the oldest site. During the 17th century substantial improvements around it were carried out without relinquishing the main sanctitude of the place. However, after the church was fully completed and after the priest had delivered a proper sermon, the local people agreed to demolish the old wooden structure, which resulted in the Church looking elegant. The original altar consecrated by St. Thomas is still retained.
ST. ANTONY CHURCH, PAZHUVIL
St. Antony's Forane Church is a Syro-Malabar Catholic church and the first church in India named after St. Antony. It was founded in 883 AD. This church is one of the famous pilgrimage centers in Kerala. It is renowned for the feast of St. Joseph on March 19. The origin of Thattil family in Thrissur is linked with one of the army Chief of The King of Kochi. He was killed in a battle with Zamorin of Kozhikode at a place called Enamavu in Thrissur. As a mark of respect and memory of this great warrior, King promised to construct a church, where his body is buried
ST. ANTONY'S FORANE CHURCH, OLLUR
The St. Antony’s Syro-Malabar Catholic Forane Church is located at Ollur, Thrissur city in Kerala, India. The church belongs to Syro-Malabar Catholic Archdiocese of Thrissur. According to rough figures there are around 3000 Christian families in the parish. Because of the huge presence of Christian people in Ollur, with its religious, educational, medical, social-service, and secular organizations and institution, Ollur has been called as Chinna Roma (Small Rome). The church is constructed on a hill-top which is the highest location in the area. The church is surrounded by a huge protective compound wall called Elephant Wall(Aana Mathil).When Thrissur Vicariate Apostolic was erected in 1887, Ollur was the richest, most populous, and influential parish, so much that the Vicar of the Ollur parish were included in Adolph Medlycott‘s four-member diocesan apex council. St. Anthony’s Forane Church has 18 churches under its jurisdiction.
ST. JOSEPH CHURCH, PAVARATTY
Founded in 1876, the St. Joseph’s Parish Shrine at Pavaratty, Thrissur, is a parish of Syro-malabar traditions under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Arch-diocese of Thrissur. The church lies 23 kms North-west of Thrissur and 4 kms south of Guruvayur. It is located near Palayur, where the first church was founded in 52 C.E by St.Thomas the apostle. Pavaratty was once under the Chittattukara parish. The Annual Grand Feast of the Shrine falls on the third Sunday after Easter. The feast of St.Joseph, the Universal Patron is observed here. It is one of the most significant church festivals of Kerala
SACRED HEART CHURCH, PERINCHERY
Perinchery Sacred Heart was a part of Ollur Parish. Records testify that the consecration of the Sacred Heart Church took place in 1903 in the village of Perinchery . Since then, the Holy Mas and Sacred Heart devotion have been going on.
OUR LADY OF DOLOURS CHURCH, THRISSUR BASILICA
On 10th October, 1925, His Ex. Bishop Vazhappilly Mar Francis blessed and offered Holy Mass on the altar built temporarily in the School hall which stood in front of the present church. He named the Church as the church of Lady of Dolours and Proclaimed St. Theresa of Infant Jesus (Little flower) as the Co-patroness. As the small temporary church was not spacious enough for the convenience of the believers, they tried to build a church conforming fully to their needs and grandeur of the town. His Ex Bishop Mar. Francis Vazhapilly visited Rome and European countries keenly observing the architecture of the churches there. The present church, known as the largest in Asia was built on the plan he drew on his return from abroad. On 21st December, 1929, His Ex. Bishop Mar Francis Vazhappilly laid the foundation of the colossal church. It took eleven years under the supervision of the famous Engineer Jnanaprakasam and the superintendent Ambros to almost complete the construction of the new church. On 18th September 1935 Sri. Ramavarma Thampuran, the Maharaja of Cochin, saw in person, the Progress in the building of the Church, and donated all the teak wood needed for building it. On 24th November, 1940 His Ex. Bishop Mar Francis Vazhappilly consecrated the Church. It was then under the jurisdiction of the Lourdes Cathedral Church. Considering the need of the time, Mar joseph Kundukulam constituted this famous shrine also as a parish on 17th September, 1978. It was made the headquarters of a forane division on August 1980.
OUR LADY OF PERPERTUAL HELP SHRINE, MATTOM
Archdiocesan pilgrimage centre dedicated our Lady of perpetual succur .The copy of the blessed picture of Our Lady of Perpetual Help was brought to Mattom by Fr Sebastian Vellanikkaran from Rome and it was placed in a carved rock on the hillock where the shrine is located and was blessed on 24th May 1938. You can come to mother Mary anytime. Scenic place with perfect ambience for contemplation and adoration. If you are into mass program come for festivities on second weekend after Easter. Or in October rosary month for finale.
ST. JOSEPH CHURCH, VELUPPADAM
st. Joseph church runned by thrissur archdioseces.foundation sotne laid on 1969
