Christ Bhavan Retreat Centre (Albutha Matha Alayam),
Thoothoor, Kanyakumari
Christ
Bhavan Retreat Centre is located at Thoothoor Village in Kanyakumari District
of Tamilnadu. It is also called as Albutha Matha Alayam. The Catholic
Church plays a conspicuous role in
the day-to-day life of the fishermen of Thoothoor village. The conversion of
the Hindu fishermen of this village may be traced back to A.D. 1544. The event
cumulated in the works of St. Francis Xavier, who is said to have converted 10,000 Mukkuva fishermen
living in thirteen villages along the coast (from Pallam to Poovar - Neerody, Marthandanthurai, Vallavilai, Eraviputhenthurai, Thoothoor, Poothurai, Thengapattanam, Enayam, Midalam,
Vaniyakudy, Colachel, Kadiapattanam, Muttom and Pallam) in December 1544.
Immediately
after this conversion, Hindu temples and idols which had been built earlier
were removed and replaced with a cross and thatches for worship. In due course,
they were converted into churches. In 1600, the Thoothoor Parish Church was
brought under the Padroado. Subsequently, this Parish came under the Diocese of
Cochin. In 1838, St. Thomas Church, Thoothoor and other adjacent coastal
Churches from Pallithura to Erayumanthurai were brought under the Diocese of
Varapuzha. This unification brought the Padroado–Propaganda dispute to a crucial stage.
Thoothoor
is a coastal village is situated on the Arabian
Sea coast. It is the headquarters of Thoothoor panchayat, consisting of five villages, namely Thoothoor,
Chinnathurai, Eraviputhenthurai, Poothurai and Erayumanthurai. These five villages
together are commonly just called Thoothooor. Thoothoor is geographically
located in Vilavancode Taluk, Kanyakumari District, Tamilnadu India.
The
Church is located adjacent Thoothoor Bus Stand. Thoothoor is located at about
15 Kms from Marthandam, 14 Kms from Vilavancode, 22 Kms from Colachel, 20 Kms
from Thiruvattaru, 37 Kms from Nagercoil, 60 Kms from Kanyakumari, 13 Kms from
Kuzhithurai, 25 Kms from Eraniel and 46 Kms from Thiruvananthapuram. Nearest
Railway Station is located at Kuzhithurai and Nearest Airport is located at Thiruvananthapuram.