The Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church, founded by St. Thomas, one of the Apostles of Jesus Christ in AD 52, is part of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. The Mar Thoma Church emphasizes in preserving its unique identity while witnessing and sharing the gospel with all people. Even though the foreign missionaries had left their mark on the Christ-centered lifestyle of the Malankara Mar Thoma Christians, the spiritual renewal within the Malankara Church during the 19th century transformed many members into frontline evangelists. The church became a proclaimer of the gospel, reaching all sectors of society.
The Mar Thoma Evangelistic Association (MTEA), the missionary movement of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church was founded on September 5th, 1888, at Kallissery Kadavil Malika near Chengannur. Currently, MTEA operates across 15 states and 3 Union Territories of India, extending from the Tibetan border & Jammu in the North to Kanyakumari in the south. The 72 missionary priests and 191 evangelists serve in 68 mission centers, leading evangelistic activities across more than 2,890 villages in India.
MTEA is the oldest and first national indigenous missionary movement in India. Its vision is to reach the unreached with the gospel of Jesus Christ. The sharing of God’s love, given to humanity through Jesus Christ, culminates in evangelization by sharing Jesus Christ Himself. For a church that bears the evangelistic light, it cannot remain hidden. The light of the gospel does not fade over time; instead, it continues to shine brightly across the land of India.
“The Church exists by mission, just as a fire exists by burning.”- Emil Brunner
On the banks of the Pamba River, near the Erapuzha Bridge in Kallissery a small hamlet in Chengannur, stands a historic stone pier at the Attukadavu landing. Above it sits a sturdy, two-story wooden mansion known as the Kallissery Kadavil Kulipura Malika. This iconic building is the birthplace of the Mar Thoma Gospel Preaching Group.
**Roots of the Reformation**
The lineage of this house traces back to the aftermath of the Koonan Kurish Satyagraha (the Coonan Cross Oath). Following that event, members of the Malankara Syrian Church migrated from Kaduthuruthy and Kochi to the shores of the Pamba. Among them was the Chembakasseril family, which included Rev. Abraham Kassissa, the vicar of St. Mary’s Knanaya Church.
Father Abraham’s friendship with CMS missionaries and Mathews Mar Athanasios Thirumeni drew him toward the ideals of the Reformation. The Kadavil mansion became his sanctuary—a place dedicated to prayer, rest, and reflection.
**A Community Forged in Faith**
During the Reformation of the Malankara Church, the reformist community was small and materially poor, having lost significant legal battles regarding church properties. However, their spirit remained unbroken. Their deep prayer life, devotion to the Word of God, and commitment to holiness sparked a spiritual awakening. Inspired by the charismatic meetings of foreign missionaries, they felt a divine urge to share the Gospel.
**The Dawn of Reformation**
In the second half of the 19th century, the Malankara Church, which had existed in Kerala for centuries, received a “new light” with the arrival of the Church Missionary Society (CMS) missionaries in Travancore. With the permission of the Metropolitan, these missionaries visited parishes to preach the Gospel.
In 1826, Benjamin Bayley established the CMS Press in Kottayam and began publishing the Holy Scriptures in Malayalam. This accessibility to the Word of God inspired many priests to seek a spiritual revival. This movement led to a formal Reformation within the church, led primarily by two seminary teachers: Abraham Malpan of Palakkunnath, Maramon, and Geevarghese Malpan of Kaithayil, Puthuppally.
**Resilience Amidst Legal Challenges**
In 1889, following the Royal Court verdict regarding the “Old Seminary” in Kottayam, the Reformist community faced significant losses. While the churches of Kozhenchery, Maramon, and Mallappally were awarded in full, the properties in Chengannur, Thalavady, and Kurthamala were granted only in part.
Although the Mar Thoma community had become a minority and lost much of its material wealth, they did not despair. Their interest in the Word of God, their fervent prayer lives, and their commitment to a life of holiness sparked a spiritual awakening. People were led away from superstition and immorality toward a renewed life through faith in Jesus Christ. This transformation attracted others, and as believers began reading the Bible for themselves, they understood the essence of the Gospel more deeply. It was in this environment that the Gospel preaching group was born.
**The Historic Meeting at Kadavil Malika**
Valuchirayil Avirachan Adhikathi (son of Kallissery Abraham Achan and a disciple of Abraham Malpan) was a young man of great spiritual zeal. After hearing a sermon by the missionary Baring-Gould in Mavelikkara, Avirachan dedicated his life completely to God. He shared his experience with those close to him, and it became a blessing to many.
Realizing that personal testimony alone was not enough, Avirachan sought a more organized mission. After praying, he shared his vision with:
• Yohannachan of Kottureth, Chengannur
• Cherian Adhikathi of Chakkalayil, Puthenkavu
They informed Thomas Kassissa of their interest in meeting at the mansion. They also visited Mathaichan of Edavammelil, Eraviperoor, to discuss appointing and educating full-time Gospel workers. Under the leadership of Valuchirayil Avirachan, a small group began praying together and sent invitations to 30 people to discuss the future of their mission.
**The Historic Meeting: September 5, 1888**
On the 22nd of Chingam, 1064 (September 5, 1888), 12 dedicated men gathered at the Kallissery Kadavil mansion under the leadership of Rev. K. T. Thomas Kassissa. The 12 founding members were:
1. Rev. K. T. Thomas Kassissa
2. Valuchirayil Avirachan
3. Ottaplamoottil Kunjumman Mathu
4. Arangattu Philippose
5. Chakkalayil Cherian Upadesi
6. Idayaranmula Kochumannil Scaria
7. Chengannur Kottureth Yohannan
8. Kallooppara Azhakanal Thommi
9. Chengannur Nathaniel Upadesi
10. Kallissery Chembakasseril Mathu
11. Eraviperoor Edavammelil Varkey Mathai
12. (A dedicated soldier/lay leader among the 11 spiritual leaders)
They sang hymns, read the Bible, and prayed together. By 4:00 PM, they resolved to form a group for evangelism. It was decided that the group would meet six times a year, with members contributing toward expenses. They also requested the Supreme Head of the Church, Thomas Mar Athanasios Metropolitan, to officially approve and name the group.
**Formal Recognition and Growth**
The second meeting was held on November 1, 1888 (1st Vrischikam, 1064 M.E.), at the Eraviperoor Library under the chairmanship of Yakob Kassissa. During this meeting, the Metropolitan’s decree was read, officially naming the group the “Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Christian Gospel Preaching Society” and granting it his blessing.
Edavammelil Mathaichan was elected as the first Secretary, and a constitution was drafted. The group was later registered as a limited company on February 11, 1904, under the Travancore Regulation Act. What began as a small gathering of 12 men in a wooden attic has since grown into one of the most influential missionary movements in India.
Of the six parish priests of Chengannur Church during the reform period in the Malankara Church, three parish priests, namely Kottureth Achan, Vaidyar Thamalu Achan and Kottarathil Achan, adhered to the reformist ideals and joined the Marthoma Church. Kottarathil Achan served as the first vicar of the parishes of Arattupuzha, Kaviyoor Salem, Kaviyoor Padinjarrussery, Koorthamala, Arthatta and Kunnukulam, and as the vicar of the old Chengannur Church. In the first mission field of the Gospel preaching group, Othara, on June 15, 1892, the priest baptized 85 people and admitted them to the membership of the church.
In the Kayamkulam Ponvanibhathil, Achiyamma was wife. The priest had 5 sons and a daughter. K.T. Abraham, who played an important role in the establishment of the Marthoma Church in Bangalore, and the grandson of the eminent late Advocate K.T. Thomas, buried the physical body of the priest, who had passed away within the time, in the old Syrian church at Chengannur on July 7, 1931.
While he was the vicar of the Kunnamkulam parish, When his father opposed the assumption of the title of Mr.M.N. Abraham (Metropolitan Abraham Marthoma), he went to live with M.N. Abraham, which inspired him to accept God’s call.
Mathu was the second son of Kallissery Kadavilacchan and was a person who, along with his father and brothers, was a person who was ardent in spiritual zeal. He was a minister of the Kallissery Knanaya Church. One day, while returning home after closing the church after his services, he had an accident and was unconscious for three days. He was admitted to the presence of the Lord at the age of 36. He had two sons and two daughters. The family still lives in Kallissery today. Miss. Mariyamma John (Kochu Mariyamma Kochamma), who was an evangelist, preacher and Sevika Sanghom worker, was his granddaughter.
The parents of Sree. Cherian Adhikathi were converts to Christianity from the Brahmin community. They settled in Puthan Kavu Street and established a churn for pouring oil in temples and other purposes, hence the name Chakkalayil. Sree. Cherian Adhikathi was very interested in evangelism. Following the reformation, Chakkalayil Cherian was the main speaker at the meeting held at Palakkunnath Bhavan under the leadership of Titus II Thirumeni.“He was not only one of the founders of the Gospel Preaching Group but also prepared to go as the first itinerant evangelist. He traveled from Perumbavoor to Kalluvathukal. He was a prolific preacher who worked hard in his field of activity and was called the Paul of the Marthoma Church.“His wife’s name was Eliamma. God blessed him with three sons and five daughters. He remained faithful to the gospel until his last breath and is buried in the cemetery of St. Thomas Marthoma Church, Mulakkuzha. His then home in Mulakkuzha is still inhabited by people of this generation.“In difficult times for the church, Metropolitan Thathirumeni and other leaders would come to this house to discuss and make decisions.
Idayarammula Kochumanni Skaria, who lived in Idayarammula Kochumanni, had no children. Therefore, the eldest brother adopted the eldest son of Potha in Thekkedath and named him Skariya. Later, he was known as Skariya Upadesi in Kochumannil. He married Annamma, the daughter of Abraham in Kallummpurath in Mezhuvel. They had three sons and four daughters. This generation lives in Idayarammula today. Skariya was a leading evangelist of that period. The Upadeshi is buried in St. Thomas’ Church in Idayarammula.
Krishna Pillai, born in the Arakkal family of Niranthulla, converted to Christianity and took the name Nathaniel. Because he converted to Christianity, he was expelled from his home and often spent his last night on the steps of the Chengannur church.
But he read and studied the Bible well. He would tell others about the joy of salvation he was experiencing through his experience. The love he had with Father Kottureth led to his participation in the evangelistic activities of the Marthoma Church. His eldest son Samuel did farming and bought land in Thekkedath, Kallam Varambil and they settled down. His wife was Rahelamma, a native of Chengannur. They had 3 children, one daughter and two sons. The preacher, who was a tall, stout man with a bald head, would always visit houses with a Bible in his hand and tell the gospel through his experience. He was taken to the presence of the Lord at the age of 78 and his physical body was buried in the old Surisani Church in Chengannur. His descendants now live in Chengannur and Malaysia.
He was a person who stood with Pattamukkil Valyachan in the reformation movement at a time when Niranath Jerusalem parish or St. Thomas parish had not yet been formed. He was a devout believer and had personally met many people and led them to the faith of Jesus Christ. He died in 1935 at the age of 78. His body was buried in the Niranath Jerusalem parish cemetery.
After completing his general education, he took up farming. He was on good terms with the late Shri. Mathyas Mar Athanasios Metropolitan. He was a landowner and a popular figure. The influence of his grandfather and father in the royal court benefited him. He saved many who were being persecuted for their religious beliefs and practices. He fought bravely for the religious freedom and advancement of the Syrian Christians. He was able to settle many cases among the villagers at that time under his mediation. When he traveled alone, he rode a white horse, and when he traveled with his family, he used to ride in a bow cart with his brothers. He was one of the founding leaders of the Iraviperoor Marthoma parish and was interested in church affairs. He was the founder of the Gospel Preaching Group and later the first treasurer. He married Aymanam Kollangeril Saramma. They had 6 children.
The ancestor of the Ottaplamoottil family, Mathu, along with his family, left Kaduthuruthy and settled in Kallissery. Kunjam Mathu was born in the year 1031 as the eldest son of Mathu’s son Mathukutty and received only primary education. However, from a young age, Kunjam Mathu was extremely devout and interested in the work of the gospel. Therefore, Kunjam Mathu was known as a teacher from a young age. He was a member of the Knanaya church and bore a lively testimony to the gospel from that church throughout his life. The friendship of Kadavilachan, Avirachan and others and the spiritual awakening that spread in the Kallissery area helped him a lot in making him a spiritualist and evangelist. Whenever he had time for prayer and fellowship, he would gather in Kadavilachan’s mansion. His activities included visiting homes, speaking one-on-one, preaching in prayer groups and churches, and traveling as a volunteer evangelist to spread the gospel. The advisor was a man who thought that it would be difficult to live without evangelism. He was attracted by the evangelistic activities of the Marthoma Church and traveled and worked as a volunteer evangelist in the mission fields on the coasts.
He was seen in spiritual scenes with a little beard, a long bag hanging from his shoulder, and a stick as his companion. His wife is Kochu Pappi from Kilirur Thommi. This couple had 5 children, four boys and one girl. Since his life was focused solely on spreading the gospel, he could not work hard for his family. He left the great title of a rich father in the matter of God to his successors. Even after being ill for a long time, he did not lose faith and with perfect hope, he attained eternal rest in the year 1114, at the age of 83. His body was cremated in the cemetery of St. Mary’s Knanaya Jacobite Church, Kallissery.
Thommi was born and raised in an ordinary family in Kallooppara. Along with his parents, he participated enthusiastically not only in agricultural matters but also in parish activities, taking the glory of labor seriously and doing agricultural work faithfully, and helping the hungry and poor. By participating in parish activities, he was able to establish relationships with many servants of God. This helped him advance in the work of the gospel. He led worship and prayer groups in the parish and visited individuals to preach the gospel. Thus, Azhaginal Thommi was a hardworking person who lived in the land and maintained loyalty and testimony.
He was born in 1028 as the son of Arangattuveetil Tharyan in Thottapuzhasseril, a member of the Matolil family. The boy, who was naturally pious, helped his father in agricultural work and gained strength day by day in the company of the children of God, and was seen as a good witness in the country. His wife, Idayarammula Anjilimoottil Annamma, was a worthy supporter of her husband in his Christian witness.
At that time, when the Aayitham was ruling, children from the backward community were denied admission to regular schools. With the financial help of Kochukoshi in Kannamvel, Pularikkattu bought a piece of land and established a place of worship and primary schools, and managed them himself. After that, with the support of Mathayichan at Edavamvel, he took the initiative to establish a church and a school at Thevarkatti in Eraviperoor.
After retiring from school work, he continued his evangelistic work in the areas of Mepral, Karakkal, Vengal and Thiruvalla. He entered eternal rest with hope on the 26th of 1095 Chingam at the age of 72. He had a son and a daughter. The present generation lives in the old house of Maramon.
Born on 14th November 1857 in the Kottureth family. Yohannan Upadesi is the younger brother of Kottureth Valyachan. Since he had been doing business in Chengannur, he was known as Yohannan the Teacher in Pare Peedika. He not only put the interest in the gospel received through his family and others into practice through his field of work, trade, but also was careful to get to know everyone and spread the gospel. He took the initiative in building the Chengannur Ebenezer (big church). His youngest son, Bishop John Varghese of the E.T.K. Church, was added to the presence of the Lord he loved at the age of 72. His physical body was buried in the old Syrian church cemetery in Chengannur.
Born in 1035 as the son of Valyachan at Kallissery Kadavil. He studied English at the Kottayam C.M.S. High School and acquired knowledge in the language. His association with English missionaries transformed his life.“In a special experience, Kadavil Valyachan (a priest from Thrissur in a temple near Kadavil Mallika) said that the priest had entrusted his earnings to the priest to keep; when the priest returned to Thrissur, the priest returned all these savings, but after they said that they did not want to share, they both took half each, and the priest bought 300 paras of land and the adjoining farm in Mannar with the intention of providing employment and livelihood for several people. Avirachan was in charge of the property. Later, he married the upper land from Valuchira and transferred his rights. Avirachan in Kadavil Chembakasseri and so in Valuchira He became a priest.
In 1889, he taught the Bible to the elderly and taught the Gospel stories to children in his own home. In about 1811, he started studying the Bible with a Bible containing only 4 Gospels printed at the Courier Office in Bombay. This book is still preserved. He was a Sunday school teacher from the age of 30 to 93. Even when he was old and could not see, he would come to the Sunday school with a stick and talk to the children and teach. This Sunday school in Melpadam was conducted in Avirachan’s house in Valyachira for 24 years. In 1913, a separate building was established in the name of the Gospel Preaching Group. Melpadam Marthoma Parish Sunday He leads the school activities. Many eminent persons were able to be molded in various church groups. Even today, children of different castes and religions are studying here.
He would also go to places like Thrikkunnapuzha, Thottappally, Prakkad, South Travancore, Ochira and Parumala to spread the gospel. This evangelist was blessed with the ability to establish women’s societies and community meetings in his own parish and lead them, speak with humor and tell appropriate examples. His enthusiasm for the gospel did not give him rest. Therefore, he was always busy with work.
Avirachan was a man full of kindness. Infectious diseases, smallpox and cholera He showed his enthusiasm by fearlessly entering the affected homes, ministering and helping them. In the month of Panja Karkkadaka, he used to sit on a small boat with his friend Vattadi Kochukunju and take rice, cotton, kappa, etc. to the homes of the poor. Thus, he was beloved by many non-Christians. He was loyal to the church, lived for the gospel, and led many to salvation. He was a spiritual leader of the past generation.
He entered eternal rest in the month of Makara in 1128. His body was buried in the Marthoma Church in Melpadam.
