Philipose Kathanar (Pothan Pothan, 5)

Pothan, the second son of Kurian Pothan, who moved from Mannaparambil to Kuzhiyadithara, was assigned to priesthood. It is his descendants that belong to the Kuzhiyadithara Valiyamannil branch. Pothan Pothan was born in 1846. He studied Malayalam, Tamil and Syriac languages. He was given priesthood of Puthuppally Valiyapally and stayed at Kottayam old seminary as a disciple of Paulose Malpanachan and studied church rituals. He performed church deeds at Puthuppally Pally and Thottackad Mar Aphrem church. He also served at Ericadu Kozhimala C.S.I. church for some period. At the age of 18, he married Ilachiamma, the daughter of Thottackad Valiyamannil Varghese Tharakan. Achan, who received half of Varghese’s property as dowry lived at Puthuppally Pallimeda, Kuzhiyadithara and Valiyamannil. He was known as a great devotee and church lover. Philipose Kathanar and his wife lived in Valiyamannil, as Varghese Tharakan had no sons. They had five sons and a daughter. Apart from a deceased son, his other sons, Varghese, Koshi, Pothan, Yohannan and daughter Mariamma (Kochupenn) grew up in Valiyamannil itself. During his stay at Valiyamannil, Philipose Kathanar was infected with fever and was taken to Kuzhiyadithara, where he passed away on 22^nd November 1879 at the age of 33. He was cremated at Puthuppally Pally, his parish church. Ilachiamma was pregnant at that time. Their child, who was born four months later, was named as Yohannan.