Diocese of Palai

The Syrian Christians of Pala owe their faith to St. Thomas, one of the disciples of Jesus Christ who came down to Kerala. Though the diocese is only half a century old (July 25, 1950), some of the Churches trace its origin to the earlier centuries. Pala diocese comprises of Meenachil Taluk, and a few villages of Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam districts. Pala had contacts with other continents from time immemorial. In 1663, an Armenian is said to have influenced the construction of the Lalam (old ) church. Before Pala church was built in 1002, Aruvithura used to be the Parish. It is believed that St. Thomas traveled through the then navigable Meenachil river and reached Aruvithura and Cherpunkal.

Rev. Mar. Sebastian Vayalil
The first Bishop of Pala Diocese took charge on Jan 4, 1951. Mar Sebastian was born as the 6th child of Devasia and Thresiamma Vayalil. The family's roots in Vayalilkombil - one of the few families that were instrumental in establishing the Pala church. He had his primary education in Parappally. Later, studied in St. Thomas High School Pala, St. Joseph College, Trichur, S.B. College Changanacherry, Training College Thiruvananthapuram and Government College Thiruvananthapuram.