The history of Christians in Kerala begins with the landing of Saint Thomas in AD 52 at Maliyankara near Kodungaloor. Saint Thomas was one of the loyal disciples of Jesus Christ, the saviour of Jews and mankind at large. It is believed that Saint Thomas was one of the twin brothers of Tax collector Mathai. Saint Thomas by birth had no formal education in his early life. He was a fisherman; he became interested in social work in his teens.In those days Palestine was part of the Roman Empire, where anarchy and corruption ran riot in its prime. Thomas was fascinated by the teachings of Jesus Christ and the lot finally fell on Thomas to preach Christianity in Kerala. Thomas began his mission work in Kerala. His teachings and miracles attracted the Brahmins and other Hindus in Kerala and they were converted to Christianity. He built seven churches in Kerala at Kodungaloor (Maliyankara), Palayoor, Kottakkav (Paravoor) Kokkamangalam, Kollam, Niranam and Nilakkal (Chayal).
He bestowed priesthood upon the priestly converts of Brahmins called Namboothiris and other Hindus. After his missionary work in Kerala, he shifted to Cholamandalam. Finally, he reached Mylapore and converted Hindus to Christianity. At Mylapore, he was stabbed to death by an orthodox Hindu. He was buried at Santhom Church at Mylapore in Tamil Nadu. Life of Saint Thomas in different parts of South India is confirmed by historians on the basis of the historic songs like Margamkalipatt, Rambanpatt and Veeradiyanpatt.
The early Christians were usually called Nasranis and they had deep faith in Jesus Christ and his salvation of mankind. Most of the early Christians belonged to very Noble Brahmin families. The Olassa family has its beginning in one of the noble converted Brahmin families in Udayamperoor, where the famous Synod took place in the year 1599. Udayamperoor was the centre of the famous “ Villarvattom “ Royal family. There was nobody to object “King Thomas of Villarvattom” in his dexterity in archery. The Villarvattom King was buried in the famous Udayamperoor church which now comes under the Ernakulam Archdiocese.
Here the Goan Archbishop Menezes made the famous Udayamperoor Synod which condemned Nestorian Faith.Archbishop Menezes saved the early Nasranis from Nestorians Faith and Hindu traditions. This caused split among the Syrian Christians which resulted in the birth of the Jacobite church in Kerala in the year 1653 when the “KOONAMKURISHU OATH” took place. This led to the formation of two sections of faith called Puthenkuttu and Pazhyakuttu. The Jacobite church was formed from this Puthenkuttu.Pazhyakuttu remained in the fold of the Catholic church.
Our great grandfather was Mathai and his son was Chandy. Chandy’s sons Pothen, Mathai their wives and daughter Anna shifted from Udayamperoor to Kaduthuruthy. Kaduthuruthy was under the Vadakkankur dynasty.This place was a military centre of Vadakkankur. In AD 500 a Christian church was built at Kaduthuruthy. The first Bishop was Mar Parambil Chandy. Now this church is under Knanaya diocese of Kottayam.
Our ancestors could not stay long at Kaduthuruthy for various reasons. From Kaduthuruthy Chandy and his sons, Pothen and Mathai shifted to Thazathangady at Kottayam.Their parish was the famous Cheriyapally of Kottayam. Thazathangady was under the rule of Thekkumkur dynasty.They settled in Thaliyil Kotta.
Kottayam and neighbouring places like Aymanam, Olassa, Chengalam, Kumarakom and Parippu were under the rule of Thekkumkur dynasty. Olassa kara was at a higher sea level(Ularcha) than the other neighbouring places like Aymanam.That may be the reason for knowing this kara as Olassa. Olassa was the sub-kingdom under Thekkumkur dynasty and its capital Olassa was known as “ EDAM” in those days and it was the capital of Olassa King.
In those days low castes were untouchable and unapproachable to Brahmins and Hindu subdivisions(Theedalum-Thodeelum). There was an ancient belief that impure oil(Thylam) can be made pure if touched by a Christian like Paulose. The Olassa Edam King requested Thekkumkur King to lend the service of two eminent Christians to purify oil for using in the temple and managing the affairs of the Royal Family. It was at his request that the services of Pothen and Mathai of Olassa family were sent to the Olassa King. Pothen and Mathai with their unmarried sister Anna were sent to Olassa king.He received them in AD 1700 and allotted them land at Koonanikal.Pothen and Mathai were appointed managers of Olassa Royal Family. Later he shifted them to a place very near to King’s palace in Elanjimoottil. Thereby their family name was known as Elanjimoottil. Their sister Anna at the age of 28 was married to Essahaack of Pala Cherpumkal Kalpurakkal family. Again they shifted their residence to a place called Thattaram.Later this place was known as Thattoram and still later That tram. Mathai expired during this time. As the brothers shifted their residence their house names were known to be Elanajaimoottil That tram, Elanjimoottil Olassa and Elanjimoottil Nalathra etc.
During these days Pothen with his true faith in Catholic church became a parishioner of Kumarakom Karippally. He stayed in Elanjimoottil Thattram with his wife, son Pothen Kuruvilla and daughter Anna. Pothen expired at a young age. Karippally parish was mainly controlled by the Kattakayam family who never cared for the opinion of parishioners. This was an insult to Pothen Kuruvilla who shifted later to Changanacherry where his sister was married to Pullukatttu family of Changanacherry. Change of Pothen Kuruvilla’s residence was really a blessing in disguise. Pothen Kuruvilla was interested in business and this encouraged him to find a suitable place at Changanacherry Chanda (Market ). He built a two-storied house at Changanacherry which occupies a prominent place at Changanacherry market. This is a heritage site for our family members.
There was a reason for changing our house name from Elanajimoottil Olassa to Olassa. King of Changanacherry dynasty proclaimed that whoever owns land at Changanacherry is to be known with their previous place name. Hence we were known as Olassa Elanjimoottil. In due course our house name became Olassa ( refer Changanacherry pally history).
Mathai, our forefather, whose death was untimely belongs to the first generation of the Olassa family. His son Chandy is in the second generation. Chandy had two sons namely Pothen and Mathai who come in the third generation. Mathai had only one son namely Chandy who is in the fourth generation. Mathai’s descendants are in Jacobite faith and they stayed at Elanajimoottil. Presently there is no direct relation with Changanacherry Olassa family. The other son of Pothen, Pothen Kuruvilla who belongs to the fourth generation settled at Changanacherry Chande Veedu. From here Changancherry Olassa family generates.( For further reading refer our family history book which was published in Malayalam in the year 2003).
