Orethu Family

Introduction

The Orethu family are descendants of the first generation Christians in India. They were converted by St. Thomas, the Apostle of Christ in the year 52 AD. The name for the family is derived from the Syriac word Oretha (which means "teacher of Hebrew Prophetic books" in English). The name comes from the primary responsibility of the family in that age: teaching from the Holy Bible. Although the Orethu family was originally based in Kodungallur, over generations they migrated to Trissur and then to Kuravalangad and into southern Kerala.

Over the Ages

The group that moved to Kuravalangad continued further down south to Kuriannoor in Ranny Taluk under the guidance of Mathan Tarakan, a prominent businessman in Central Travancore. The family was awarded the title Tharakan by the Maharaja of Travancore, though none of the family members still use this title as surname. Most have a Patronymic surname based on their fathers given name.

As the family grew bigger, the elders found the need to keep the relations together and were among the first families to organize a Kudumbayogam or gathering of family members. Today, after almost 120 years, the tradition is as lively as ever and the meetings are now held in community hall dedicated to this purpose. A family Church called Neelethu Palli is also visited in such meetings.

The members of the Orethu family are all Christians but over the course of 20 centuries and the eventful history of the Church in Malabar region, different members adopted different sects of the Syrian Christian Community. The family now has members including Syro-Malankara Catholics, the eldest branch or sept; Orthodox Christians, the second eldest branch; Marthomites; Pentecostal; and other faiths.

True to their identity, the Orethu family established many schools throughout Travancore region which were later turned to the government for more efficient running.

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