In the early 17th century, the Portuguese dominated the Kochi and the Malabar coasts. At that time, the kings of Kochi, subject to the influence of Portuguese rulers, passed orders against the Archdeacons of Malankara especially the 1st Marthoma, to show leniency to the Roman Catholic church and threatened to confiscate the properties of opposing churches. The King of Kochi gave assistance to the Goa Archbishop of Roman Catholic church Menesis to enter the churches of Malankara under police protection and establish Roman supremacy over the Malankara church. It was surviving this situation that the Marthoma Christians made the historic oath of ‘Koonan Kurishu’ and vowed that they will not remain under the Roman yoke, as long as their descendants existed.
Geevarghese Archdeacon who was a member of Pakalomattom family, was later crowned as Marthoma I. He had to endure many persecutions while trying to preserve the freedom of his own church. He is described as ‘The Great Marthoma’. But Kaduthuruthy Kadavilaaya Parambil Chandy Kathanar, who was also from the Pakalomattom family, under the influence and temptation of the Roman church and joined hands with them and opposed Marthoma I. Chandy Kathanar was consecrated as Bishop Alexander in the Roman Catholic church. As he was respected by the people as a member of the Pakalomattom family, he was able to convert a large section of Marthoma Christians in Kaduthuruthy and Kuravilangadu into the Roman church. That is how Kuravilangadu became a major centre of Roman church today.