Stories – Chathoth family, Vallamkulam, Kerala, India

Fathers’ Day Story

The Right Question Once upon a time, very long ago, in the land of South India, there was a father and son. Victor and Vicky were their names. Victor, the father, wanted to teach Vicky how to be a very wise person. So for demonstration they go on a walk. Soon they came across NanuContinue reading “Fathers’ Day Story”

Bleeding Cross of St. Thomas at Chennai- Origin of Mar Thoma Sleeba

Near Guindy, Chennai, South India, is the hilltop church famously known after St. Thomas, but actually dedicated to Holy Mary. The hillock itself is named after St.Thomas and the nearby railway station is called St.Thomas Mount Railway Station. Legend has it that St. Thomas used to live here and was martyred in AD 72 whileContinue reading “Bleeding Cross of St. Thomas at Chennai- Origin of Mar Thoma Sleeba”

The symbol of Syrian Christians and how the Kaviyoor Sleeba Church was named

Here is a Syriac- Malayalam-English statement. “Mar Thoma Sleeha brought Mar Thoma Sleeba.” Here is what Mar Thoma purportedly brought – small stone cross of the design in the pictures below. Probably he also brought a small picture of Holy Mary and a copy of the bible. The picture is an actual photograph of the bleeding crossContinue reading “The symbol of Syrian Christians and how the Kaviyoor Sleeba Church was named”

Ettumanoor axe (1918) and the blacksmith of Vallamkulam (1970)

Let us start with courtesy of Blacksmith Narayanankutty of Ettumanoor. I googled ‘Ettumanoor blacksmiths’ and this is the video I found. Those who don’t know about the dying art of black smithy in rural Kerala villages may take a look at this one. It doesn’t explain everything, but tells something about a bygone era thanksContinue reading “Ettumanoor axe (1918) and the blacksmith of Vallamkulam (1970)”

Remembering Caps

Year – 2006 Venue – Mathaichen’s (Levi in the ‘family tree simplified’ chart) house in Bangalore Occasion – on the sidelines of the burial of his wife Kunjamma Time – a few days before Mathaichen’s demise His age – 91 His only sister Baby, aged 85 years, lives in Thiruvalla, Kerala. His nephew Alex isContinue reading “Remembering Caps”

Tree house student in the forest saved us from tigers

“This house saved us! From this one!” It IS ONE SUMMER NIGHT IN 1940 AND THE LOCATION IS THE FOREST NEAR PALLIVASAL, MOONNAR. The tropical forest is thick and full of dangerous animals. There is no one inhabiting the place anywhere in eye sight. There is a mud track that takes traffic passing through theContinue reading “Tree house student in the forest saved us from tigers”

Family tree simplified – Abrahamic Comparison

In this age and time, we don’t go by Abrahamic (males only) organization of family tree, we go by all the men and women. I get it, but this is easy to remember and fun, so let us do it. I hope you guys like this post. Let me know, okay? It is interesting toContinue reading “Family tree simplified – Abrahamic Comparison”