St. Mary’s Church, Vallavilai, Kollemcode, Kanyakumari
St.
Mary’s Church is located at Vallavilai Village near Kollemcode in Kanyakumari
District of Tamilnadu. Vallavilai is located north-west to Cape Comorin (Kanyakumari) and south-east to Trivandrum (capital of Kerala). This place has historical importance since the
Portuguese invasion in India. St. Francis Xavier was visiting the coast from
Punnalkayal to Kanyakumari in November – December 1544. After had a rich
mission experience at the Fishery Coast, St. Francis Xavier entered the
Travancore Kingdom.
When St.
Xavier planned for a general conversion, he might have come to the Travancore
Coast that extended from Kanyakumari to Quilon. Though there was a large
population of infidels living outside the coast Francis Xavier tried first to
convert the people of the coast. On December 1544, 10000 Mukkuva fishermen
living in thirteen villages along the coast and Vallavilai is one among them
got converted to Christianity.
The
Church is located at about 250 meters from Vallavilai Junction Bus Stop.
Vallavilai is located at about 3 Kms from Kollamkode, 18 Kms from
Marthandam, 28 Kms from Thuckalay, 25 Kms from Colachel and 44 Kms from Thiruvananthapuram.
Nearest Railway Station is Parassala Railway Station, Kerala located at about
12 Kms from the Church. Kuzhithurai Railway Station, Tamilnadu is located at
about 16 Kms from the Church. Nearest Airport is located at Thiruvananthapuram.
