Pakalomattom Ayrookuzhiyil
Pakalomattom / Pakalomattam Ayrookuzhiyil family is an ancient Suriyani (Syrian) Christian family in Kerala , India , spread all over the world . They are popularly known as Syrian Christians in view of the Syriac (classical form of Aramaic) liturgy used in church services since the early days of Christianity in India and not for any Syrian migration. They are also known as Nazaranis (followers of Jesus the Nazarene). |
History
"Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature " Mark 16:15 - Holy Bible.
Inspired by this command of the Lord ,St. Thomas ,one of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ came to Kerala, India in 52 A.D. Landed at a small village on the western coast of Kerala , Malliankara ,near Kodungallore , presently located at the southern tip of Trichur ( Trissur ) district of Kerala in India. He further moved towards north by coast and reached a small village called Palayur, near Guruvayoor which was a priestly class settlement at that time. Here he conversed with priestly class community of Aryan worship system. Convinced by the Divine power possessed by this foreign monk of new faith, four prominent rich and priestly class families accepted the Christian faith and were baptised by St. Thomas himself.
The four prominent high class priestly Hindu families who accepted The New faith were Kali, Kalikavu, Pakalomattom & Sankarapuri . Because of their new faith, these families and their children were subjected to much hardship by others and consequently they had to move towards South of Kerala by the end of the 2nd century. Thus they came via Angamali, to Kuravilangad , near Ettumanoor in Kottayam district. Here they prospered and over the course of time, spread to all parts of Southern Kerala. The High priest Eravi Kartan, was the first person who accepted the new faith in Pakalomattom family. Alapatt house in Kuravilangad is very prominent among the Pakalomattom descendants.
There was an unbroken succession of leadership of Malankara ( Kerala ) Church by Pakalomattom family as Arkkedeons (Archdeacon) and Metropolitans till 19th century. Geevarghese Arkkedeon, leader of Syrian Christians during the time of Synod of Diamper ( Udayamperoor ); Thomas Arkkedeon (Marthoma I ) who led the native Christians towards 'Kunnankurishu Oath (Coonen_Cross_Oath) '; successive Metropolitans Marthoma II to V were a few of them.
A handsome youth & silk cloth merchant from Pakalomattom Alapatt house, named Idiculareached the Royal Palace of Venad in 1680 A.D. Queen Maharani Umayamma honoured him with The Title " Tharakan ", meaning noble merchant. As per The Ancient customs, an honoured person was a preferred guest of the Royal family. So Idicula Tharakan lived in the palace during Umayamma 's rule till 1684 A.D.He then moved to a house in Malakkara called Ayrookuzhiyil. Afterwards he moved to Arattupuzha. The property in which he lived there is still known as Tharakan veedu. Later he shifted to Puthencavu and settled on the pampa river bank. Here he used the Malakkara house name Ayrookuzhiyil. Thus he became the Doyen of the great Ayrookuzhiyil Family which has now spread all over the world.
Idicula Tharakan (Senior) Ayrookuzhiyil Puthencavu had six sons : (1) Idicula Tharakan (Junior (2) Kochaipa Tharakan (3) Mammen Tharakan (4) Mani Mathen Tharakan (5) Joseph Tharakan and (6) Abraham Tharakan
The first son, Idicula Tharakan ( Jr.) moved to a nearby village in the East, Arattupuzha, and settled there. The other sons lived in Puthencavu and Mulakuzha.
The Ayrookuzhiyil family members belongs to most major Christian denominations viz., Marthoma, Orthodox, St.Thomas Evangelical Church, Jacobite, Catholic, CSI etc. The total strength of the family members is over 2000. It is the grace of the Almighty God Jehovah, Son Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit and the blessings of the forefathers that keeps this great family and its members well and strong for centuries.
Ayrookuzhiyil is also written as Ayiroorkuzhiyil, Ayrurkuzhiyil, Ayrookuzhi, Ayrukuzhy, Ayrookuzhy, Ayrukuzhyil, Ayroorkuzhiel etc. Pakalomattom is also popularly written as Pakalomattam. The various sub-families of Ayrookuzhiyil family include Kulathunkal, Vadakkanethu, Thundiyil, Untantayyathu, Valanjavattom, Vazhayil, Vazhiyambalathil, Kuttiyil, Nanthalathu, Vilakumadathil, Valiyaveetil, Kochettukalayil, Pavakkara, Kochidayadiyil, Thuruthyil-Karimpanackal, Kadavana, Arapurakal, Pullannimannil etc.
See also
- Pakalomattom
- Suriyani Christians of Kerala
- Christianity in India
- Saint Thomas Christians
- Syrian Malabar Nasrani
External links
- Official Ayrookuziyil family website - www.ayrookuzhiyil.org
- another website
- Kulathunkal branch homepage
- Thuruthyil-karimpanackal BRAnch Homepage
- MSN communities
- Ayrookuzhiyil Kudumbayogam
Copyright issues
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