Pakalomattam family
The Pakalomattam family is an ancient Marthoma Nasrani (Syrian Christian) family in Kerala, India. The Pakalomattam family originated from Brahmins and intermixed with some Hindu elites, Arab-North African merchants and European settlers later on, who were brought into the Christian faith by Saint Thomas the Apostle in AD 52.The Pakalomattam family traditionally held the historical offices of Arkkadiyakon of all India, who headed the Marthoma Nasranis in Kerala and later Malankara Metropolitan (from AD 1653 till AD 1816) which headed the Puthenkoor faction of Marthoma Nasranis. The Pakalomattam Tharavad was initially at Palayoor, but later in 4th  Century they moved to Kuravilangad. Many branches of Pakalomattam later moved to different parts of Kerala, starting from 17th century due to the division created between Puthenkoor and Pazhayakoor.The Marthoma Nasranis consists of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church, Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, Malankara Jacobite Syrian Church and Malankara Syrian Catholic Church. History. According to tradition, St. Thomas, the apostle visited Kerala in AD 52, as part of his missionary work in Persia, India and Afghanistan. There is no direct contemporary evidence for Thomas the Apostle being in the subcontinent, though it definitely would have  been possible for a Roman Jew of the time to make such a trip. The earliest known source connecting the apostle to India is the "Acts of Thomas", written in Edessa likely in the 2nd century. The text describes Thomas' adventures in bringing Christianity to India, a tradition later expanded upon by early Indian sources such as the "Thomma Parvam" (Song of Thomas). According to a Malabar tradition, he anointed and appointed elders to conduct worship from the Pakalomattam family. The legend. Palayoor was one of the places near the port of Muziris, where St. Thomas established a church. The  place is referred to as Paloor in some old documents. At that time, according to tradition, Palayoor had a Brahmin village of families with the strength of 64 adults. It is believed that in one of the temple ponds in Palayoor, St. Thomas performed a miracle. Some Brahmins were performing a Vedic ritual called Tharpanam which means "That offering which satisfies" in which they devote Lord Sun by the symbolic submission of water in their palms along with Vedic recitation. St. Thomas was attracted to the ritual and queried about the act and challenged the logic of their submission since  the water was thrown above was not accepted and returned to earth. St. Thomas used this opportunity to present his subject before the present Brahmin community. St. Thomas threw water in the name of Jesus and it stood still in the air and glittered like a diamond. By this experience, many Brahmins accepted Christianity while the other Brahmins cursed the place and left the place with their families saying that they would do their rituals from then on at Vembanattu. Historical and traditional facts. Even today the place is known as Sapa-kadu or Chavakadu which means "cursed forest". The  place from where the unhappy Brahmins relocated from Palayoor to Vembanattu out of fear of black magic. It is stated that a Hindu temple that was abandoned by the Brahmins was converted into the present church. Temple remnants in the form of broken idols, sculptures, and relics of the old temple can also be seen near the precincts of the church, in addition to two large tanks near the west and east gates of the church. It is also stated that the conversion of Brahmins has resulted in such an aversion among the Nambudri Brahmins that they do not even  accept cold water or tender coconut water anywhere in the vicinity of the church. In Vembanattu there is a Brahmin illam of Kalatt, which according to tradition is one of the families which left from Palayoor out of fear. This place is still called Pudumanassery or the "Place of the new Mana" (Illam). Furthermore, a document called Grandavariola kept by a local Brahmin family (who had moved out from Palayoor during the preaching) testifies to the date of the gospel work of St. Thomas. The document states: "Kali year 3153 (52 AD) the foreigner Thomas Sanyasi came to our village  (gram) preached there and thereby causing ..." In many songs of "Margam Kali" - An art form of Saint Thomas Christians of Kerala, It is an ancient coordinated round group dance presented by women for entertainment and passing down information, a brief description of St. Thomas tradition is portrayed in it with exaggerations to make the song more interesting. A relevant part of such a song is translated below: "He then heard about Kerala and went there, arriving at Malankara, preaching to the Brahmans of Cranganore and anointed two of them. Then he went south, erecting crosses at Quilon, Niranam, Gokkamangalam, Kottakkayal , Cayla, and Poor. A Northern King sent for Thomas and inquired him of the completion of Castle's work. The King put him in prison when told he must wait till after his death to see the new palace and was so mortified by the deception. However, his brother died that night and saw the palace in heaven. He came back to life and told the King of its glory. The king, his brother and others were baptized, and the faith spread apace arousing the Brahmans"... Marthoma Metropolitians. The Marthoma Metropolitans were the Head of the Puthenkoor faction of Mathoma  Nasranis commonly referred today as Malankara Church. (which was a name synonymousy used to call Marthoma Nasranis.) References. http://pakalomattamfamily.org/history/ https://www.nasrani.net/2020/07/15/debate-on-the-apostolate-of-st-thomas-in-kerala-a-response/