St. Thomas Ecumenical Church, Nilackal

St. Thomas Ecumenical Church, Nilackal
St. Thomas Ecumenical Church, Nilackal
	St. Thomas Ecumenical Church, Nilackal
Religion
Affiliation	Christianity
District	Pathanamthitta
Ecclesiastical or organisational status	Independent Ecumenical church
Leadership	Various Episcopal Churches
Year consecrated	1985 AD
Location
Location	Angamoozhy, Kerala, India
State	Kerala
	Interactive map of St. Thomas Ecumenical Church, Nilackal
Coordinates	9°22′27″N 77°00′07″E / 9.37413°N 77.00182°E
Architecture
Type	Mix of Kerala and Persian
Completed	1985

Nilakkal St. Thomas Ecumenical Church is an ecumenical Christian church located in Angamoozhy, Kerala, India. It is traditionally regarded as the modern successor to one of the Ezharappallikal (seven and a half churches) believed to have been originally established by St. Thomas in the 1st century AD.^[2]

The modern structure was completed and consecrated in 1985 as the first ecumenical church of its kind, functioning as a shared place of worship managed by various Episcopal denominations in India.^[3]

History

Ancient origins and trade

Nilakkal, historically known as Chayal, is located in a dense forest area that was once a flourishing trade hub. The settlement served as a vital passage connecting the Chera Kingdom with the Pandyan Kingdom, facilitating extensive commerce with Madurai and Thirunelveli.^[2] According to local tradition, early written records, and ancient copper plates, St. Thomas founded a church here during his apostolic mission to Malabar.

In the 2nd century AD, following periods of regional persecution, Christian converts of Tamil Brahmin, Vellalar, and Chettiar backgrounds from the Coromandel Coast (including Mylapore and Kayalpattanam) migrated to Nilakkal and Kollam, blending into the local Syrian Christian community. Between the 2nd and 8th centuries, segments of the Christian population further migrated deeper into inland Kerala, establishing settlements in Kadampanad, Adoor, Thumpamon, and Chengannur.

Decline and destruction

By the 10th century, the Pandalam and Poonjar dynasties branched off from the Pandyan Kingdom, with Nilakkal falling under the territory of Pandalam. The city's decline began in the early 12th century when Maravarman Kulasekara Pandyan I conquered Quilon. Due to its strategic position on the trade route, Nilakkal became a target for frequent military raids and plunder by bandits.

The settlement faced severe crises during the Second Pandyan Civil War and the early 14th-century southern expedition of the Delhi Sultanate led by General Malik Kafur. The city was eventually plundered and burned, resulting in the destruction of the original ancient church. Following this collapse, the remaining Syrian Christian population migrated to safer regions, including Kanjirappally, Poonjar, Aruvithura, Ranni, Vadasserikara, Vaipur, Erumeli, and parts of Meenachil. The Great Flood of 1341 further altered the local geography, completely submerging what remained of the historic settlement.

Modern reconstruction

The historic church was later symbolically revived and reconstructed in Angamoozhy, approximately 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) from the historic site of Nilakkal. It is situated about 52 kilometres (32 mi) east of Ranni in the Pathanamthitta district. Consecrated in 1985, the modern church stands as a monument to Christian unity and heritage in Kerala.^[1]

Member denominations

The church operates as an independent ecumenical body and is jointly maintained by the following episcopal Christian denominations in India:^[3]

Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church
Malankara Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church
Malabar Independent Syrian Church
Knanaya Jacobite Syrian Archdiocese
Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church
Syro-Malabar Catholic Church
Syro-Malankara Catholic Church
Church of South India (Madhya Kerala Diocese)

Administration and leadership

Nilakkal Ecumenical Trust Committee Leadership
Position	Name	Ecclesiastical Title / Affiliation
Chairman & Managing Trustee	Most Rev. Dr. Theodosius Mar Thoma Metropolitan	Primate of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church
Vice Chairman & Managing Trustee	H.G. Dr. Samuel Mar Irenios Metropolitan	Archbishop of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Eparchy of Pathanamthitta
Secretary & Managing Trustee	Rt. Rev. Dr. Bishop Sabu Koshy Cheriyan	Bishop of the Church of South India (Madhya Kerala Diocese)
Treasurer	Abraham Ittycheria
Administrator	Fr. Shaiju Mathew OIC	Syro-Malankara Catholic Church

References

1 2 "Nilackal". pathanamthittatourism.com. District Tourism Promotion Council, Pathanamthitta Dist. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
1 2 Whitehouse, Thomas (1873). Lingerings of light in a dark land: researches into the Syrian church of Malabar (1873 ed.). William Brown & CO. p. 39.
1 2 "'Nilackal ecumenical church a symbol of unity'". The Hindu. 30 January 2011.

This article about a church building or other Christian place of worship in India is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information.

[dtpc-1] 1 2 "Nilackal". pathanamthittatourism.com. District Tourism Promotion Council, Pathanamthitta Dist. Retrieved 19 January 2022.

[Whitehouse-2] 1 2 Whitehouse, Thomas (1873). Lingerings of light in a dark land: researches into the Syrian church of Malabar (1873 ed.). William Brown & CO. p. 39.

[TheHindu-3] 1 2 "'Nilackal ecumenical church a symbol of unity'". The Hindu. 30 January 2011.

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[2]

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v t e Christianity in Kerala
Denominations	Assemblies of God in India Believers Eastern Church Chaldean Syrian Church Church of God (Full Gospel) in India Church of South India Indian Pentecostal Church of God Jacobite Syrian Christian Church Kerala Brethren Latin Catholic Church Malabar Independent Syrian Church Mar Thoma Syrian Church Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church The Salvation Army St. Thomas Evangelical Church of India Syro-Malabar Church Syro-Malankara Catholic Church The Pentecostal Mission
Religious organisations	Divine Retreat Centre, Muringoor Jerusalem Retreat Center Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council Kerala Council of Churches Parumala Seminary Potta Ashram Thrikkunnathu Seminary
Related	All India Catholic Union Angamaly police firing Arnos Pathiri Benjamin Bailey (missionary) Bible translations into Malayalam Carmelites of Mary Immaculate Christianity in India Congregation of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux Hermann Gundert Malankara-Persian ecclesiastical relations Maramon Convention Pentecostalism in Kerala Saint Thomas Christians Sister Abhaya murder case Sisters of the Destitute Synod of Diamper Syrian churches of Kerala Syrian Malabar Nasrani Varthamanappusthakam Niranam Grandhavari
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Wayanad	Pallikunnu Church St. Jude's Church, Chundale St. Mary's Church, Meenangadi St. George Forane Church Kallody, Wayanad
Kozhikode	St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Maikavu St. George's Syro-Malabar Forane Church, Kulathuvayal Vattal Kurishu Palli
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Palakkad	St. Raphael's Syro-Malabar Catholic Cathedral
Thrissur	Basilica of Our Lady of Dolours, Thrissur Fathima Matha Chapel, Kandeswaram Mar Sleeva Syro-Malabar Church, Mapranam Marth Mariam Cathedral Marth Mariam Cathedral Mary Matha Syro-Malabar Church, Ollur Our Lady of Lourdes Metropolitan Cathedral Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, West Chalakudy Pazhanji Church Pazhuvil Church St. Antony's Forane Church St. Francis Xavier's Church, Sampaloor St. Francis Xavier Forane Church, Velur St. Joseph Chapel, Americankettu North West St. Mary's Church, Cheloor St. Mary's Syro-Malabar Forane Church, Chalakudy St. Thomas Cathedral, Irinjalakuda St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Church, Palayoor
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Idukki	Pattumala Matha Church St. Mary's Forane Church, Karimannoor St Sebastian's Church, Neyyassery
Kottayam	Holy Family Syro-Malabar Church, Mannila Immaculate Heart of Mary Cathedral, Kottayam Mar Aphrem Church St. Antony's Syro-Malabar Forane Church, Kurumpanadam St. George Orthodox Church, Puthuppally St. George's Syro-Malabar Catholic Forane Church, Aruvithura St. Mary's Church, Kottayam St. Mary's Jacobite Syrian Cathedral, Manarcad St Mary's Metropolitan Cathedral, Changanassery St. Mary's Syro-Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Church Kuravilangad St. Thomas Cathedral, Pala St. Thomas Church, Arunoottimangalam Vettikkunnel church
Alappuzha	Basilica of St. Mary, Champakulam St. Andrew's Basilica, Arthunkal Kattachira Church Marthoma Church, Cheppad Pazhaya Suriyani Pally St. Bursouma's Church, Attuva St. George's Church, Cheppad St. George Orthodox Church, Cheppad St. Mary's Orthodox Cathedral, Puthencavu St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church, Pallipad
Pathanamthitta	Arohana Marthoma Church, Anicadu Bethel Marthoma Church, Chengara Holy Innocents' Church, Mezhuveli Kadammanittapally Kadampanad Church Kannamcode Cathedral Mar Thoma Sleeha Syro-Malabar Church, Thulappally Nilackal St.Thomas Church Sacred Heart Church, Mylapra St. George Orthodox Church, Chandanapally St. George Orthodox Church, Mylapra St. Ignatius Monastery Manjinikkara St. John's Cathedral, Tiruvalla St. Mary's Church, Niranam St Mary's Orthodox Church, Kallooppara St. Thomas Marthoma Church, Kozhencherry
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