Ēḻarappaḷḷikaḷ

Ēḻarappaḷḷikaḷ (Seven and a half churches or Seven royal churches, alternatively spelled Ezharappallikal (pronounced), or the Seven churches of Saint Thomas, are the seven Saint Thomas Christiancongregations or places of worship which are traditionally believed to be established by Thomas the Apostle in the Malabar Coast of South India. Local tradition holds that Thomas arrived in India in AD 52 as part of his evangelical missions and founded Christian communities in the then major settlements of Malabar. The seven churches are traditionally listed as these pioneering churches. The conventional list of the churches counts those in Kodungallur, Kollam, Palayur, Kottakkavu, Kokkamangalam, Niranam and Nilackal as the seven churches of Saint Thomas. In addition, Thiruvithamcode is often listed as a 'half church', and hence the name 'Seven-and-half churches'.