Habel of Kaipetta

Who was Habel of Kaipetta?

St. Habel of Kaipetta was a convert from Hinduism to Christianity, the first convert from the Chera Dynasty of Kerala.

Habel was born in Kaipatta Village, near Tiruvalla. Following Baptism, he learned theology from Europeans and traveled far and wide establishing congregations and churches and spreading the Gospel of Christ to thousands of people who took Baptisms and joined the Church. People revered him as a Saint.

Habel died at the age of 84 on August 18, 1899. Bishop Edward Noel Hodges attended his funeral. On September 6, 2003, Archbishop Stephen Vattappara of the Anglican Church of India declared him as a Saint. A church in the Village of Kaipatta is named after him.