Origins

This is a brief taken from the Moothedathu Kudumba Charithram(Published Family History). Detailed history for interested family members is available as a book(hard cover-pub 1995) which can be ordered via the website. It is believed that St. Thomas, the disciple of Jesus Christ who came to India in 52 AD, landed in the port town of Kodungalloor and established(Ref 3,Ref 1-A) a Christian community there by Baptizing Brahmin Families.It is believed that Our family was one of the first to accept christianity. For business matters, Moothedathu Eapen came to Kayamkulam, which was the biggest commercial center of South Kerala then. At Kayamkulam, Moothedathu Paruthimootil Family along with another family(Kililethu) took initiative in the construction of a church in the year 825AD there, led by two Kadissas – Mar Sapore and Mar Afrod – with the permission of the then local King Sankaravisree, thus the name ‘Kadissa Palli‘. The Church records say that these two families held the trusteeship of the church.There is a Rock Inscription outside the church which also states the fact that, Moothedathu Paruthimootil family was one of the founding families of the church. Moothedathu family with their commercial ventures gained the goodwill of the then King and the local populace. The King helped them in the trading of pepper and bestowed them with land to construct the church.

Establishment at Kallooppara

Moothedathu Eapen  married  Aleyamma, the only daughter of Valiaveettil Potha, a rich landlord and agriculturist of Kalloopara. His third son Eapen, a very smart yongster, established Moothedathu family at Kalloopara. Eapen was bestowed with the Honorific title “THARAKAN”(Noble Trader) by the Raja of Edappally in the 15th Century and came to be known as “Kocheeappen Tharakan”.

Branches of Moothedathu Family

Note:-Below is only a brief history of each branch.

Kallooppara Church - Our Mother Church
                                

Family Branches

Kandathil Branch

Kocheeapen Tharakan had four sons and his third son Mathulla is the founder of Kandathil Kudumbam. Mathulla converted a paddy field into a residential plot at Vallamkulam to build a house; hence the family name “KANDATHIL”. The nearly two century old Kandathil Tharavadu is still preserved in its original form at Vallamkulam.Kandathil Mammen Mappila Established the Famous News paper Malayala Manorama in 1888. His brother KM Mammen Mappilla established the world class Tyre Manufacturing company MRF Tyres in 1946.Kandathil Mammen Mappila’s sons were honored by government of India by bestowing Padama Bhushan and Padma Shree. K. M. Cherian (Awarded Padma Shree, Padma Bhushan),K. M. Mathew ((Awarded Padma Shree),K. M. Mammen Mappillai (Awarded Padma Shree).

Paranolickal Branch

Kocheepan Tharakans youngest son settled at Paranolickal Kallooppara. His son Gheevarghese Eapen was a social reformer and landlord. He was instrumental in establishing education as the way to success and also the founding director of  Kallooppara School and contributed to may other institutions . Eapen functioned as the right hand of  Bishop Mar Ivanious in the establishment of Malankara Catholic Church. Eapen also was know for donating land for construction of Chengaroor Malankara Catholic Church, during the early period of Malankara Catholic church as a goodwill gesture for his close association with bishop Mar Ivanious. His son Eapen Zacharia was a Civil Engineer at SAE(Società Anonima Elettrificazione) the Italian company in Calcutta and served the SAE advisory board from 1956 to 1972  .Later he established the construction firm  Paranolical Constructions. He is famous for building many schools and colleges(eg Bishop Moore College.)

Kador Branch

Puthenpurackal Branch

Mannithottathil Branch

Pallithekkethil Branch

Vallonthara Branch

Kondur Branch

Irampallil Branch

References:-

1-A-The Apostles-National Geographic Magazine – St Thomas in India

1-Kallooppara- http://www.ask.com/wiki/Kallooppara

2-History of Christian Families – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kallooppara

3-St Thomas Christians- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Thomas_Christians

4-Syrian Malabar Nasrani- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syrian_Malabar_Nasrani

5-Moothedathu- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moothedathu

6-Kandathil Kudumbam- http://www.kandathilkudumbam.com/history.html

7- Orkut Community – http://www.orkut.com/Community.aspx?cmm=40646035&hl=en

8- Moothedathu Wiki- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Moothedathu

9- Maret Family History- http://jomaret.tripod.com/manayammannilupashakha.html

10- Adangapurathu Family History- http://adangapurathu.com/history_4.htm

11- Vadakkethalakkal Family History- http://www.vadakkethalackalmahakudumbam.com/UpashakhaManayammannil.html

12- Kallooppara Church(1339 AD)-http://kalloopparachurch.com/gbody.php

13- Ancestry Connections- http://www.ancestryconnections.com/1p.asp

14- Nasrani Network(History of Syrian St Thomas Christians)- http://nasrani.net/

15-Family Tree registry- http://www.familytreeregistry.org/details.php?i=758