Location

Pilgrimage Centre

Historical Heritage

Special Significance

📜 Historical Background

Origin of the Name Sampaloor

The area was formerly known as ‘Ambazhakad’. During the Portuguese period, the Jesuits moved here from Kochi due to the threat posed by the Dutch. The St. Paul's Seminary, which had been functioning in Kochi, was subsequently re-established here.

The area later came to be known as ‘Sampaloor’ (San-Paul-Ur), meaning the settlement or place of St. Paul.

✝️ Presence of Saints and Missionaries

Historical records indicate that the renowned missionary St. Francis Xavier visited Sampaloor in the years 1542, 1544 and 1548.

Several other prominent missionaries, including St. John de Britto, Constantine Joseph Beschi, popularly known as Veeramamunivar, and Arnos Pathiri, also stayed and worked here.

🏛️ Destruction and Reconstruction

In 1781 AD, during Tipu Sultan's invasion of Malabar, the old church and seminary were completely destroyed.

The church was later reconstructed in 1862 under the leadership of Bernardin Bechinelli, the Vicar Apostolic of Verapoly.

📚 Cultural and Linguistic Importance

🖨️ Sampaloor in the History of Malayalam Printing

Sampaloor occupies an important place in the history of the Malayalam language. Many early Malayalam books were printed at the St. Paul's Press, which functioned here.

✍️ Arnos Pathiri

The renowned German missionary Arnos Pathiri (Johann Ernst Hanxleden) was the author of the famous Malayalam literary work ‘Puthen Pana’.

It was during his stay at Sampaloor that he received priestly ordination and studied Sanskrit and Malayalam.

🏛️ Historical and Cultural Heritage

Sampaloor's contributions to Christian missionary activities and to the development of the Malayalam language and printing are highly significant.

With its rich history associated with saints and missionaries and its contribution to the Malayalam printing tradition, Sampaloor is one of the important historical and cultural heritage centres of Kadukutty Grama Panchayat.