Three score years ago in a small village called Mangad near Kunnamkulam was born Paul on 30th Aug 1946 in the ancient Syrian Christian family of Kollannur to K. I. Ipe and Kunjeetty. Paul’s mother hails from the famous family of Pulikkottil and Paul was baptized at St. mary’s orthodox church, pazhanj. Groomed by his parents and grand parents, Paul had his LP and UP education at Mangad schools.

He had his secondary education at Govt. H. S, Pazhanji, Paul moved to the city of Trissur for his pre-university and undergraduate studies at St. Thomas college, Trissur from where Paul passed in flying colours. He had his postgraduate studies in sociology at CMS College, Kottayam.

From his childhood Paul showed keen interest in spiritual matters. His parish church, St. Marys Orthodox church was the nerve centre of his spiritual growth. At the age of 13, he was selected by his parish priest to be vast in the ‘washing of feat’ service celebrated by H G Paulose Mar Severios Metropolitan. This marked a turning point in the life of young Paul when the metropolitan invited him to the priesthood.  The influence of his parents especially that of his mother who hails from the famous Pulikkottil family played a great role in moulding his early life. Even from his childhood, he use to learn Syriac chants and prayers and was very keen in attending the church service.  Young Paul joined the Orthodox Theological Seminary from where he secured GST and took BD from the Serampore University.

H G the late Yuhanon Mar Severios, Metropolitan of Kochi diocese ordained him as sub deacon at Parumala seminary on 8th April 1972 and as deacon at Sion seminary, Koratty on 31st May 1973.  He was ordained as priest by H G the late Yuhanon Mar Severios at Sion Seminary, Koratty on 2nd June 1973. Fr K I Paul celebrated his fist Holy Qurbana at Mar Gregorius Orthodox Chapel Mangad.

Fr Paul served as a model shepherd of St. Marys Orthodox Church Ernakulam, Moolepat Orthodox church Pazhanji, St. Marys Magdalene Convent Adappotty, Kummanmkulam and Medical College Chapel Kottayam. The malankara Syrian Christian association held at MGM Thiruvalla on December 28th 1982 elected Fr Paul as metropolitan. H G the late Mathews Mar Coorilos (later H H Moran Mar Baselius Mar Thoma Mathews II) professed  him Ramban on 14 May 1983 at Parumala Seminary.  On 15th May 1985 H H Moran Mar Baselius Marthoma Mathews  I consecrated Paul ramban as Episcopa with the name Paulose Mar Milithios.

H G Paulose Mar Milithios had the privileged of becoming the first bishop of newly formed Kunnamkulam diociese on 1st August 1985.  His Grace was elevated as Metropolitan on 25th Oct 1991. besides shepherding the kunnamkulam dioceses His Grace serves as the president of orthodox Syrian Sunday school association of the east (OSSAE), MBCH Mannapra Vadavucode, Pulikottil Mar Divannasius Bhavan Kottapady.  His Grace is the vice president of Mar Gregorios Orthodox Christian Student Movement of India, MMM hospital, Kunnamkulam and manager of  M. D. college Pazhanji. His grace has also served as the president of the Orthodox Youth Movement.

The Holy Episcopal synod and the Managing committee nominated His Grace as the successor to the Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan on 27 Sep 2006.

Catholicate Aramana

Devalokam P.O, Kottayam

Kerala, India

Tel:             04812578499      ,             04812578500     

Email: marmilithios@gmail.com

Kunnamkulam is the home of the people who bear in their hearts the natural piety of spiritualism, the fragrance of tradition and the steadfastness of true faith. The uniqueness of this region is that the Christian Church was established in this part of Malankara at the same time when Christian faith was established in Rome, Antioch and Alexandria. The entire history and glory of Kunnamkulam is associated with the The Chattukulangara (Arthat) Church. Being the permenant monument of the St. Thomas mission in Kerala, it has a long and glorious tradition and history. The Christian Community associated with the Church is believed to be the most ancient Christian community in Kerala, even a little bit earlier than the Niranam Christian Congregation.

The Kunnamkulam Diocese was formed in 1985 and it was in the same year itself that Paulos Mar Milithios was consecrated as bishop.

The present Catholicos H. H. Moran Mar Baselios Paulose II is the Metropolitan of Kunnamkulam Diocese and a native of the this locality.     

Kunnamkulam is a municipal town situated in the Thrissur District of Kerala in India, spread over an area of 6.96 km2. It is an old commercial town, with an ancient history , famous for its printing and book binding industry. It is the chief centre of the Orthodox Christians in the Kerala state. In the past the town was called Kunankulangara and references can be seen in lot of British Archives about a neat and prosperous town which was predominantly Christian. Over the years Kunnamkulam has become a meeting point for all religions.

The word Kunnamkulam means kunnu (mountain) and kulam (ponds). The terrain condition and geomorphology of the area itself lead to the name. There are several hills there namely Aduputty,Cherukunnu, Kizhoor, Kakkad etc. while the same is interspersed with ponds namely Eeenjakulam, Iyyankulam, Madurakulam etc. Kunnamkulam town has its remote antiquity and evident from the history and it was a part of Mahodayapattanam, the capital of Chera Dynasty. It is written in history about the crossinstalled by Thomas the Apostle, at Chattukulangara (a part of Arthat in Kunnamkulam). During the invasion of Tippu Sultan the Christians from Chattakulangara migrated to Kunnamkulam town.

“Most of the oldest and wealthiest Christian families are to be found in Kunnamkulam”.Panakkal, Paramel, Tholath and Kakkassery were prominent among them.

The ascendancy competition between these wealthy families, its contexture to literary activities opened new dimensions in the development of printing. Panakkal Chakku, Cheru and Koothur Paramel Iyyu Uttoop were arbitrators of some of these families. It is said that the Christian families were settled earlier at Chattukulangare shifted to Kunnamkulam after the invasion of Tippu in 1789. They were invited by the Thalappilli Rajas, provided residences and places of worship. They resided on both sides of the street. This may have helped to avoid threat from Tippu against Thalappilli Rajas. Those settled on both sides of the street started trade and business, began a new era of transaction.

Origin of Kunnamkulam Town

            It is said that Kunnamkulam started to acquire its present form after the encounter with the army of Tipu Sultan. The old church dedicated to St Mary was the center of the Town of Chattukulangara which lies around the church and the Christian population here were said to be members of the Chattukulangara parish. The people of Chattukulangara who were  scattered about by the attack of Tipu settled down in the regions of Kottapadi ,Kunnamkulam, Pazhanji, Chelakkara,  Angamaly, Kuravilangadu etc. The feudal lords of Kunnamkulam welcomed the traders from Chattukulangara. They Participated in the development of Kunnamkulam town in all means. The trade links between Tamil and Kunnamkulam brought the influence of Tamil on the region Kunnamkulam is said to be derived from the tamil form  Knnamkulagarai   which means a place having Kunnu(Hills) and Kulam(ponds).  The name seems appropriate because  on the limits of the town lie Aduputty hills on the east ; Kizhoor hills on the west; mission hills on the south and Prokulam hills on the north. The several ponds are Eenjakulam, Ayyamkulam, Padinjarekulam ( Western pond)  and Thorakulam. Some of this ponds have been filled up to construct new buildings.

               The town built by the settlers from Chattukulangara is in the shape of a cross. The base of the cross is the Eastern Bazar and the other arms of the cross are constituted by the West, North and South Bazars.  In each arm of the cross there is a church. St Thomas New church on the Eastern arm. St Lazarus old church in the west, St Mathias Church in the south and St Lazarus church ( Chiralayam Church) in the north. These four arms were the hub of commercial activities. The place was dined with godowns  and full of traders.Hundreds of bull carts lined the roads to load goods.  Today these places are quieter.  Better facilities became available in the parayil region which has now become the trading center of Kunnamkulam. Francis Buchanan in his Travalogue refers to Kunnamkulam as ‘Nazranigoor’ A city of the Christians in 1800 A.D

Present Glory of Kunnamkulam

            One of the old institutions of the place is the present Govt. Model Boys high school which was originally in Wadakkanchery but was shifted to Kunnamkulam on 02/04/1878 by the decree of the Maharaja.  Associated with this school, an institution for the blind, deaf and dumb was also setup, this was quite rare in those days.  The Govt Model Girls high school is said to have been established by Parumala Thirumeni.  He called it Mar Ignatius High School for girls. It was later leased to the Govt.

            The Y.M.C.A and the Govt.Hospital were both started in 1888.  The hospital used to be the biggest of its kind in Cochin.

            In 1948, Kunnamkulam became a municipal town. Sri. P.I. Mathew was the first chairman.

            The Manakulam and Chiralayam royal families played important roles in the development of arts and sports. The Manakulam Palace held Kathakalli performance every evening and the place filled with sound of drums and songs. The Manakulam King became the karuavar of the Kakkad family and he spend all his time in composing song for Kathakalli.  His son-in-law Mukunda Raja of Manakulam set up the Kalamandalam with the encouragement of his friend poet Vallathol( Great poet of Malayalam). The scholar Kaikulangara Rama Warrier, the master poets Vallathol and Nalappattu  Narayana Menon, the critic Kuttikrishna Marrar had all been permanent visitors the  Manakulam court. It was the Manakulam Royal household which literally obeyed Gandhiji’s call for boycott of foreign goods . A great  many silk cloths were burned in the  central courtyard of the palace.  The music of the charka and the rhythm of the loom could be heard on the palace.  Thus Manakulam earned a place in the history of  Kerala.

              To add the glory name and fame of Kunnamkulam it gave birth to three eminent Prelates of the Malankara Church. Pulikkottil Joseph Mar Dionysius I, Pulikkottil Joseph Mar Dionysius II, and H.B. Paulose mar Milithios, the present Catholicos Designate and the successor to the Apostolic throne of St. Thomas and  the Malankara Metropolitan.

Emergence of the name Arthat

          There are two beliefs associated with the emergence of the name Arthat.

1. As seen earlier, all the Malankara Parishes from the kingdom of Cochin, except that of Arthat attended the Synod of Diampher. This Ancient Church at Arthat, of true believers, dared to boycott the Council and challenge the Portuguese Roman Catholic Authority. Thus, this is the only parish church that remained unpoluted in faith in spite of the Portuguese intrigues. After the Synod of Diampher , the Arch Bishop Menesis tried in vein to capture the church by force with the help of the Portuguese army, He paid a visit to Chattukulangare Church in a Royal Chariot, accompanied by Portuguese soldiers but forced to retreat. The brave Nazrani Lions of Arthat defended the church great heroically. This historic and heroic defence paved the way for the emergence of the name Arthat.  It is the edge or boundary (attom) which resisted ( etirtha) or ( ayartha)  Bishop Menezis. Ayartha – Attom later evolved into the word Arthat. Thus Arthat is the condenced for of Ayartha Attom.

  2. The Mysorean invasion of the last decade of 18 th century caused much havoc to the Christians of the region. The army of Tipu did not face much resistance from the Kingdom of Cochin. But at Chattukulangara, the people in and around Arthat tried to stop the advance of the army. This was an unsuccessful attempt and Tipu destroyed the Chattukungara Bazar. The panic-stricken people took refuge in the church of St Mary. Tipu burnt the church down. It is recorded that Saktan Thampuran, King of Cochin later helped to rebuild the church. The name Arthat itself is originated from this incident that, it is the edge or boundary (attom) which resisted ( etirtha) or ( ayaartha) Tippu’s  army. Ayartha – Attom later evolved into the word Arthat. Thus Arthat is the condenced for of Ayartha Attom.

Emergence of the name 'Chattukulangara'

             There is an histiric legend behind the origin of the name Chattukulangara to the ancient Paloor. Palai-ur or Paloor was the ancient name of this region. When the apostle St. Thomas reached Arthat the people were reeling under the onslaught of a drought. They had tried to dig a pond. But though they dug a deep and wide area they could not get a drop of water. St Thoma understood their frustration and anxiety. He walked down to the center of the site and with his whip (Chatta) he struck the ground, water gushed out and the place has always had abundant water since then. The words Chatta + Kulam that is whip + pond later became the name of the town - Chattukulangara.

            Due to various reasons like religious persecution, changes in the politcal and econoic policies of the ruling authority, business and commercial purposes, numerical growth of the Christian community etc., there took place a number of domestic migrations from the Chattukulangare Angadi (Baazar). This domestic migration caused the growth of the church to the neighbouring provinces.