Cherpunkal is a small town in the Kottayam district of Kerala State in India[1] on the Kottayam-Palai Road, seven kilometers from Pala city.

[2] Cherpunkal is famous for Mar Sleeva Forane Catholic Church,[3] believed to have been established by Thomas the Apostle.

On the southern banks of the Meenachil River is the Holy Cross Forane Church of Cherpunkal is situated.

The relics of St. Sebastian, St. George, St. Alphonsa, Blessed Thevarparampil Kunjachan and of the Holy Cross are kept in the church and are taken out in a procession on feast days.

Tradition has it that the stone laid by St.Thomas ultimately led to the founding of the Holy Cross Church at Cherpunkal.

The routine of offering the Holy Mass on the main altar for the Kallampally family on 14 September every year still continues.

Every year there is a celebration in commemoration of the stone-laying of the church on the southern bank of the Meenachil River on 14 September, which happens to be the feast of the glorification of the Holy Cross.

During the eight days that follow there are devotional services, processions with due ceremonials from all the four corners of the parish, pyrotechnics and numerous artistic performances.

A memorial was erected, though after many centuries, in commemoration of the place where the apostle marked the site of the church with a sandal.

The devotion to Infant Jesus, the Novena associated with it and the offering of gingelly oil and gold made this church a pilgrim destination.

The long tradition of offering oil at the Holy Cross Church is based on a bible-centered Jewish observance.

The novena prayers, which give solace and hope to many, were prepared by the assistant vicar Fr.

In order to overcome the difficulties caused by the bifurcation of the parish into two parts by the Meenachil River a bridge was built under the leadership of Fr.

The Bishop Vayalil memorial Holy Cross College was started in 1995 with the concurrence of the government and the Mahatma Gandhi University.

They also serve at Agape Bhavan and Good Samaritan Centre at Cherpunkal, Little Lourde Hospital and St. Mary's Higher Secondary School at Kidangoor.

The Knanaya Catholics in Cherpunkal area used to have monthly get-together for prayer and social gathering along with food.

[10] Making use of the fund they raised, they wished to have their own Knanaya Catholic Church at Cherpunkal so that they can avoid difficult journey of six kilometers to Paingalam for services like baptism, wedding, and funeral.

[10] With that money Knanaya Catholics bought a property at Cherukara hills and constructed a small church, which was blessed by Bishop Mar Matthew Makil on 15 August 1913.Bishop [Makil also laid the foundation stone for a bigger church, which was built under the leadership of Fr.

However, because of a government ordinance against constructing any more churches in Kidangoor Village based on an issue arose from the construction of Kindangoor St. Mary's Knanaya Catholic Church, they sold Puthettu property and bought Kalloor property outside the boundary of Kidangoor village across Chakini thodu (ചകിണി തോട്) (Stream leading to Meenachil River).

Collections were also received from people of Cherpunkal and nearby villages under the leadership of Varikattu Chandy Chacko.

Makil Luke Senior blessed the church and offered first mass on 29 June 1914 with authorization from Bishop Mar Alexander Chulaparambil.

Bishop Mar Kuriakose Kunnacherry laid foundation stone for the construction of the new church at Cherpunkal Junction on 14 January 1990.

On the same day the vault construction in memory of Late Mr. Mathai and Mrs. Mariamma Valloor donated by their children was blessed by Archbishop Mar Mathew Moolakkatt.

Abraham Mutholath, a priest from this parish bought 39 cents of land and constructed a building at Agape Junction called Agape Bhavan for social service with special importance to the Community Based Rehabilitation of the physically and mentally disabled or differently abled.

Mutholath Auditorium[16] is also constructed in the same campus under the ownership of Kottayam Social Service Society to support the expenses of Agape Bhavan and Good Samaritan Center.

Mutholath[17] Nagar[18] is a designated area for social service at Cherpunkal village in Kottayam district between Ettumanoor and Palai.

Kottayam Social Service Society is a pioneer in the Community-based rehabilitation (CBR) for persons with disability in Kerala.

This center functions as the State Learning Centre for the Rehabilitation of Deafblind Persons with all types of disabilities.

This auditorium was blessed and inaugurated by Major Archbishop of the Syro Malabar Church Mar George Cardinal Alencherry 14 February 2017.

On this day Cardinal Alancherry requested Archbishop Mar Mathew Moolakkattu to name the campus, Mutholath Nagar.