The Holy Relic of St Thomas, one of the 12 Apostles of Christ who is said to have introduced the religion in Kerala [Images], is being taken to various churches across the state.

The relic was brought in an Emirates flight from the Italian city of Orthona on Sunday, airport sources said.

It was escorted from Italy [Images] by Changanassery Archbishop Mar Powwathil.

Thousands of devotees and priests lined up at various places at Perumbavoor, Muvattupuzha, Koothatukulam in Ernakulam district and Ettumanoor in Kottayam as the Holy Relic was being transported.

It will be brought to the Kurumbanadam Forane church in Kottayam and will pass through various places in Kottayam, Alapuzha, Thiruvananthapuram districts before being brought to the St Thomas pilgrim centre at Niranam under the Changanacherry diocese for installation on July 3, on St Thomas Day.

St Thomas is believed to have come to Kerala in the first century and preached gospel and initiated church communities in seven places in the Malabar coast.