For a century, freedom struggles against attempts of those owing allegiance to Antioch for establishing supremacy over Malankara Church have been going on and we have in our memory those who sacrificed their lives in such struggles; among the lay persons, we have Varkey Varghese (Anappappy) who was killed while serving as a bodyguard to St Dionysius Vattasseril. Again, we have Onankunju, a native of Kadamattom who was stoned to death in the seventies. Apart from such laypersons, we have a solitary priest too, Thoppil Ponnedathu Mathai Kathanar, Vicar of Marthoman Church Mulanthuruthy who was killed much earlier than the above two.
He was born in 1872 as the grandson of Thoppil Cheriathu Cheriya Kathanar, Vicar of the historical Mulanthuruthy Church. After primary education, he commenced priestly education under St Gregoriose of Parumala, who was from his own family. Mar Gregoriose accepted him whole heartedly as he was from the same locality where Mar Gregoriose was from, most affectionately. Shortly after commencement of priestly education, Mar Gregoriose ordained him as a Korooyo. Gradually, other hierarchical ordination up to that of Kasheesho was conferred by Mar Gregoriose himself. After ordination as a Kasheesho, Mathai Kathanar took over as the Vicar of Mulanthuruthy Church.
Mar Gregoriose was the celebrant of the Holy Matrimony of Deacon Mathai; the bride, a choice of Mar Gregoriose, was from the Vayalipparambil family at Akapparambu. Some landed property was purchased using the dowry and a contribution of Mar Gregoriose for Mathai Kathanar. Mathai Kathanar was one who led a noble life as a model to all. He was blessed with four sons and a daughter.
Pulikoottil Mar Dionysius was the then Malankara Metropolitan; Mathai Kathanar held Metropolitan in high esteem and respected him greatly. Such respects and honor, he continued to Mar Vattasseril Dionysius also after he succeeded as Malankara Metropolitan.
Abdulla II Patriarch excommunicated Mar Vattasseril Metropolitan without any valid reasons thereof, as he refused to surrender all temporal authority to the Patriarch. This incident took place on 1911 Edavam 26, but had no basic justification. However, there was a group of dissidents within the Church who moved strategies to create schism within and made Kochuparambil Paulos Mar Coorilose their leader and stood for the ex communication to be implemented. Mar Coorilose was one who was ordained along with Mar Dionysius. They started creating problems for Mar Dionysius and also to Mulanthuruthy Church. They had reasonably good influence in Northern parishes.
Here, Mathai Kathanar expressed his stand very strongly. He declared his support to the canonical Malankara Metropolitan Mar Dionysius. The blood relationship he was having with Mar Coorilose was no issue for Mathai Kathanar. Moreover, Mar Coorilose was a local person, which too was not a botheration for Mathai Kathanar. Despite all these, he succeeded to retain a great majority of believers with the Malankara Church under Mar Dionysius.
While retaining his position as the Vicar of Mulanthuruthy Church, he found time to serve Vettikkal Dayro and the Kandanadu Chapel, the later set up by Vattasseril Thirumeni. Mulanthuruthy Church was very lucrative, but Mathai Kathanar took care of Vettikkal Dayro and Kandanadu Chapel, the latter having developed to Carmel Dayro, after allowing his Co Vicars to look after Mulanthuruthy Church.
The opposing faction was convinced that to take control of Mulanthuruthy Church, Mathai Kathanar had to be removed. This was not easy. So they sought help from Paulos Mar Athanasius of Aluva, considered by them as the Malankara Metropolitan to issue orders to ex communicate him. But the order of ex communication was not read in Mulanthuruthy Church because the Co Vicars refused to dance to their tune. Thus, their attempts failed totally.
Chalil Kochu Korah was a close personal friend of Mathai Kathanar as also a helping hand. He was a social reformer respected highly in the area. He stood strongly with Mathai Kathanar. He had a title Manushyam as a privilege inherited by Chalil family. This was considered a status.
On 1097 Chingam 25 (1921 AD), Mathai Kathanar and Chalil Kochu Korah were standing on the second floor of the Church building discussing some matters. Suddenly, a man, school teacher by profession, blind with piety to Antioch ran up and beat Mathai Kathanar and Kochu Korah very badly and both fell down unconscious.
Kochu Korah died two days after, on 27 Chingam, but Mathai Kathanar could not get up and was bed ridden for a few months. He passed away on December 23, 1921 and entombed at Mulanthuruthy Church. The assailant was arrested by Cochin government and imprisoned. But he lost his senses and wandered across streets as totally insane for long and died.
In the mean time, Vattasseril Mar Dionysius and Kundara Kochu Thirumeni (later, Geevarghese II Catholicose) visited Mathai Kathanar and had celebrated Katheela service.
It may be noted that L/L Paulos Mar Gregoriose was a grandson of the brother of Mathai Kathanar.
