Kadamattathu Kathanar

Kadamattathu Kathanar ( a Syrian Orthodox priest of Kadamattom church) also known as Kadamattathachan (Father Kadamattom) is a priest (Kathanar) who is believed to have possessed supernatural powers and whose legends are closely related to the beginning of the Kadamattom Church, one of the oldest church buildings that still exists in Kerala the land of Saint Thomas Christians. The church belongs to the Syrian Orthodox Church which stands on a hill about 30 km from Ernakulam on the Moovattupuzha road. The history of this church was not written down, but lives through legends. The stories about Kadamattathu Kathanar embody the exaggerated experience of the people in that area giving expression through magic and sorcery. The stories relating to him tells that he had supernatural powers and being a Christian priest used his magic for the common good.

In medieval legends, history and fables were combined inextricably. The story of Kadamattathu Kathanar might be a mixture of history and fables. Currently there is no certain proof that he really existed, but the fact that a real priest lived in that area in the ninth century cannot be excluded. Tradition points out the existence of Christians in the area from 5th century of the Christian Era.

Poulose was born in a very poor Syrian Christian family in Kadamattom, a small village in North Travancore (now part of Kerala). People fondly called him Kochu Poulose. He had no siblings and his parents died when he was a child. He was taken care of by his mother for a short period before her death after which he came under the patronage of the Persian priest Mar Abo. Living in a small cottage with no one to look after, he felt depressed, left his home and went to a nearby church. The parish priest who passed that way saw this boy crying and praying on the doorsteps of his church. He took him to his house gave him shelter and food and cared for him like his own child.

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