The church, officially Arthunkal St. Andrew’s Forane Church, Arthunkal, Alappuzha district, Kerala, India was originally built by the Portuguese missionaries in the 16th century. It was rebuilt in 1584, under the then vicar Fr. Jacoma Fenicio, whom the devotees claim, possessed magical powers to heal the body and mind. Devotees fondly referred to him as “Arthunkal Veluthachan”, which in English translates to “fair skinned father”. Fr. Fenicio died in 1632. Eight years after his death, the church was rebuilt again, this time facing the west towards the long white-sand beach on the shores of the Arabian Sea. In 1647, a statue of St. Sebastian, struck with arrows all over his bleeding body (he was executed on the order of the Roman emperor for embracing the Christian faith) sculptured in Milan, was brought and placed in the Arthunkal church.

Arthunkal St Andrews Forane Church, the first Parish of the Diocese of Alleppey was elevated to the status of Basilica on 9 July 2010.

Arthunkal Basilica became the first Basilica in the diocese of Alleppey and the 7th Basilica in Kerala. It is the 3rd Basilica of the Roman Catholic Latin church of Kerala. Source:- wikipedia

About 45 kilometres to the south from Kochi and 22 kilometres to the north from Alappuzha, in Kerala a southern state of India, situates the simple and beautiful village Arthunkal. This is under Cherthala Taluk and Alapuzha District. The nearest Railway station is Cherthala. Visit Church Website to read more