Tharakan Moothedathu

Shown here is the picture of Moothedathu Tharavadu (Family Bungalow). 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 in the church which says that our family were one of the founding fathers 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.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”.