Ezharappallikal, Kodungallur

Ēḻarappaḷḷikaḷ, also spelled as Ezharappallikal and meaning seven royal churches, are the seven major churches or Christian communities of Saint Thomas Christians across Malabar Coast of India that are believed to have been founded by Thomas the Apostle in the first century. According to Indian Christian traditions, the Apostle Thomas arrived in Muziris in AD 52, established the Ezharappallikal and evangelised in present-day Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Many of these churches built near Jewish and Brahmin settlements. These were at Maliankara, Kollam, Palayoor, Kottakkayal, Kokkamangalam, Niranam and Nilackal. Thiruvithamcode church in Kanyakumari was built on the land given by arachan and hence it is often referred in the name Arappally. Similarly, the Churches at Malayattoor and Aruvithura are also referred to as Arappallikal. ()