The St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Malayattoor is one of the most prominent Christian pilgrim centres in the Malayattoor, Ernakulam district of Kerala. The Malayattoor Church attracts a large number of devotees from all over India. St. Thomas the Apostle was the one who took initiative to begin Christian community in Kerala. He also set up the church here which has been designated by the Vatican as one among the eight International shrines in the world.

St. Thomas is believed to have landed in Kerala at Kodungallur in AD 52. Oral tradition tells us that while travelling through Malayattor, faced with hostile natives, he fled to the hilltop, later named Kurishumudi (Hill of the Holy Cross) where he is said to have remained in prayer and that he left his footprints on one of the rocks. In deep anguish and agony, St. Thomas prayed to the Lord and he made a sign of the cross on the rock. The Mother of Our Lord, Blessed Mary, appeared to console and strengthens him. He descended from the top hill and continued his journey to Mylapoore in Tamil Nadu. At a later date,  local hunters went to the mountain for hunting. While they stayed overnight on the summit they saw a glittering sign of a cross on the rock. Out of curiosity, they struck there with their rude weapons & to their surprise blood gushed out. This is the humble beginning of Pilgrimage to Kurishumudi.