St. Mary’s Church, Vallavilai, Kollemcode, Kanyakumari

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.