St.Marys Church Athirampuzha

About this place

St.Mary's Church at Athirampuzha is one of the most popular and oldest churches in Kerala. It is a mush frequented pilgrim centre and attracts devotees from all over Kerala. The church has a history of that dates back to 835 AD. The church is dedicated to Virgin Mary, and it has an ancient statue of St. Sebastian which is a major attraction for both devotees and travellers. According to history, the statue was brought to the church by a Portuguese navigator named Leonard D'Cruz in the year 1687. The church is located at a distance of about 10 kms from Kottayam and is easily accessible by road. This church centre is believed to have influenced the cultural and religious history of the region in great degrees from early nineteenth century. The festivals of the church are celebrated with much fervour, and lots of people visit this church for its religious as well as historical significance.