Apostolic Origin
According to a very ancient tradition, St. Thomas, one of the disciples of Jesus, landed at Cranganore in 52 AD, founded seven Christian communities at Palayur, Cranganore, Kokkamangalam, Kottakavu (Parur), Quilon, Niranam, and Chayal. According to a tradition which is not contradicted by any other rival tradition, St. Thomas died the death of a martyr at Chinnamalai in Mylapore on the Coromandal coast. He was stabbed by some priests for refusing to take part in the worship of Kali. The tomb of the apostle is venerated even today at the Little Mount (Chinnamalai) in Mylapore, the land of peacocks. Marcopolo who visited the tomb around the year 1295 testifies to the veneration of the tomb and to a custom of pilgrims taking soil from the tomb to mix it with water and to administer it to the sick. His relics were taken to Edessa by the Syrian missionaries.

The early Christian community in India is known as St. Thomas Christians. Tradition connects the mission of the apostle with definite places and families: The Brahmins of Palayur even today do not bathe in Palayur. Both Christians and Hindus believe that when.5 6 the Apostle converted some Brahmins the other Brahmins cursed that place giving it the name “Chapakat” (Chawghat),and ran away to a nearby place called Vemmanat. A proverb has originated in this connection, “Iniyathe kuli Vemmanat (next bath at Vemmanat).

Some Christian families trace their Christian origin from the apostle. The Thomas Christians gave great respect to those families. Some of these families are: Pakalomattam, Sankarapuri, Kalli Kallikav, Madeipur, Koykkam, Muttodal, Nedumpally Panakkamattam etc. The existing written sources are to be dated from the sixteenth century onwards. The chief written sources are Rambanpattu (Thomaparvam), Margamkalipattu and Veeradianpattu. Many other records commemorating the life, works and death were destroyed by the Portuguese after the Synod of Diamper.