In Muvattupuzha – Kothamangalam road, about three kilometers from Muvattupuzha, there is a Church standing at the top of a hill called Karakkunnam. Once that place was known by the name of Perumattom. The place was ridden with throny herbs (like wild kara) and so the name. The Syrian Christians who lived there in those days led simple lives, engaged in agriculture and trade. They hoped for a Church to satisfy their spiritual needs. To accomplish this, they invited Church fathers from Kadamattom Church and installed a cross there, fashioned out of laterite. Those priests from Kadamattom who were invited to Karakunnam were propitiated with “Thamukku.’’ From that day onwards the ritual of Thamukku offering is associated with the annual celebration of the installing of the first cross of Karakkunnam, and this day falls on Vrischikam tenth of Malayalam Calender. On this same day in the Malayalam year of 475, a Church dedicated to Holy Virgin Mary was built to the east of the original laterite cross. A seminary (Malpan Bhavanam) was also started along with the Church, to the south of the structure. A Priest called Paulinus who published a book in 1794 named “India Orientalis Christian’’ has mentioned this Church with some importance. This is an important historical record that throws light on the fame and heritage of this Church.