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Kerala church attracts pilgrims on Easter season
Published on Sun, Mar 23, 2008 at 16:30, Updated on Sun, Mar 23, 2008 at 17:17 in Nation section
Tags: Kerala, Easter , Malayatoor
FULL FAITH: The church is only shrine in Asia to be recognised by the Vatican as an international pilgrimage centre.
Malayatoor (Kerala): In the Easter season, the world renowned Malayatoor Church in Kerala attracts thousands of pilgrims.
The pilgrims shared the suffering of Jesus in an annual ritual on Good Friday. They crawled up the hill to the St Thomas Church reenacting the Passion- the final moments of suffering of Christ.
The believers wanted to share the pain and hardships Jesus went through the way to crucifixion at Calvary.
“A lot of people visit this place because they have experienced many miracles by praying to St Thomas,” says Vicar, St Thomas Church, Malayatoor, Fr Varghese Njaliath.
The Malayattoor Church is believed to have been established by St Thomas, who was one of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ.
It is the only shrine in Asia to be recognised by the Vatican as an international pilgrimage centre.
The annual festival here comes immediately after Easter, and draws lakhs of pilgrims.
“For the past six years I have been coming here from Thrissur and I have an immense belief that whatever I ask from Thomasleekha definitely he will succeed all the needs and every thing and I have a very good belief regarding that and this is my fourth time I am kneeling down and climbing the mountain,” says a believer, Prijo.
For believers, a pilgrimage to the shrine is a deliverance from sin and a reaffirmation of faith in the way of the cross.
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May i wish a very happy easter to all Ibn live, and all it's readers:Cllr Ken Tiwari(Oxford UK)
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