'Origin of St. Thomas Christians' According to tradition, St. Thomas the Apostle landed at Kodungalloor (Muziris) in 52 A.D. After preaching and establishing Christian communities in different parts of India, he suffered martyrdom at Mylapur in 72 A.D. Tradition holds that St. Thomas founded seven churches or communities in Kerala; at Kodungalloor, Niranam,Kollam]] Chayal, Kottakkavu, Kokkamangalam and [[Palayoor. Even before the Christian era, there were Jewish colonies in South India and there appeared to be seven churches situated in or near these colonies.