In the seventeenth century, a member of the Panamkuzhy house of Kuruvalingadu, Kuruvilla, came and settled in Kozhencherry on the banks of the Pampa river in Kerala.

Mathen’s daughter married into the Mallapally Pavoothikunnel family and had five sons; one of them, Sanyasi Achen, was a celibate priest.

As was the custom, the youngest son Mathew lived at the Palakunnathu family house and married Pandanattu Mullasseril Mariamma.

He was ordained as deacon of the Mar Thoma Church on 29 June 1957, and kasseessa (priest) on 18 October 1957.

On 8 February 1975, Juhanon Mar Thoma, Metropolitan, assisted by the other bishops of the church ordained the Rev.

For this purpose, a special chair was made and Mar Thoma I was enthroned as the first bishop of Malankara Church.

[5] His activities included sanctions of building many socio-spiritual centers with monuments, including Tharangam Mission Action Centre, which can also be used as the secondary venue for diocese activities that were previously held adjacent to the spacious building near the Bishop House.

[6] He introduced music and new styles of worship to target the younger generation (via the DSMC studio, blogs, and camps).

He has warned that atrocities to nature are suicidal and has urged people to take remedial measures by adopting responsible green conservatism.

[7] On his 80th birthday in 2011, the Church inaugurated 'Snehakaram', a project for critically ill patients with cancer, kidney and heart disorders.