No image available
Marthoma Pontifical Shrine
The Marthoma Pontifical Shrine in Azhikode is a major Christian pilgrimage center located on the banks of the Periyar River, approximately 6 kilometers from Kodungallur. Built in the model of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, it commemorates the landing of St. Thomas the Apostle in India in 52 AD. The shrine houses a holy relic, the bone of St. Thomas's right arm, brought from Ortona, Italy in 1953. It is recognized as the first of seven churches established by St. Thomas in Kerala and forms part of the Muziris Heritage Project.