Arthunkal
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Arthunkal is a small seaside village in Cherthala, Alappuzha district of Kerala state, south India. It is primarily a fishing village. The Arthunkal St. Andrew's Church, which has the Italian Saint Sebastian as its patron was built in Arthukal. This church is one of the most famous Christian pilgrimage centers in Kerala, and has a distinguished history of tolerance, faith and charity. Officially known as St. Andrew's Forane Church at Arthunkal. It is one of the sacred churches in Kerala that attracts lakhs of devotees both Christians and non-Christians every year from all parts of the State. The feast of St. Sebastian is celebrated on a grand scale for eleven days in a year. Owning to the manageable crowding of pilgrims and the resultant confusion on January 20 the final day of the feast, the church authorities have instituted another minor feast on the 8th day after the principal feast. This is known as Ettamperunnal. Of late this feast also has attained as much importance as the principal feast.
Among the devotees who flock to this church for worship a greater part consists of those who have recovered from serious illness and the other who have escaped grave accidents. The maimed, the crippled and the mentally derange, also visit the church. Those who have received special favors from the saint show their gratitude by crawling on their knees from the local beach of the church, known as Urulunercha, and make offering of Gold and Silver replicas of human limbs, bows and arrows etc.
On the 18th day of January at the day dawns and the gates of the church are opened, thousands of pilgrims who return from the Sastha temple of Sabarimala throng to this sacred place, take bath from the tank attached to the church and pay their homage to the Saint.
Arthunkal is renowned for St. Sebastians blessings and miracles.
