Saturday, October 8, 2011


History

A bird’s eye view:

His Holiness Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Mathews II strode like a colossus in the Malankara Church. He found a place in the heart of his people as a holy father by his spotless purity and nobility of character. He was a role model for even other denominations especially because of his quest for the divine spirit and close adherence to strict ethical values. He won the heart of his people by his infectious smile and alluring overtures.

“For I am already being poured out like a drink offering and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” II Timothy. 4: 6-8.

A flame has died down eternally but he lives in the heart of his people forever. The burial site is now a pilgrim centre. People of all faiths visit the holy place for his blessings and intercession incessantly.


His Holiness Moran Mar Baselios MarThoma Mathews II was born on 3oth January 1915 as the eldest son of Shri Iduculla and Smt. Annamma, Puthen Veettil, Perinad., in Kollam Distric of Kerala. He had his early education in a local school and High School education in Prakkulam N.S.S.High School. After his High School education he had his training at Old Seminary, Kottayam and also at Basil Dayara, Pathanamthitta. Later he joined Bishop’s College, Calcutta for his B.D. Degree. He had his higher education in Theology at General Theological Seminary, New York.


He was ordained as sub-deacon on 17th April 1938 and as Deacon on 6th May 1941 and he was made a Priest in the same year. It was during his stay at St.George Dayara, Othara as a celibate Priest that Father Mathews made a mark as a devoted and a pious Priest of the Orthodox Church. He was noted for his spiritual leadership and loving nature and could endear himself to everyone who came in contact with him. He was known as “Father Angel” at that time.


The then Catholicos, His Holiness Baselios Geevarghese II took special interest to see to it that the services of Father Mathews are utilized in a still better way for the Church and the Community. On 15th May, 1953 he was ordained as a Bishop of the Orthodox Church. He was only thirty eight at that time.

The young Bishop grew in stature very soon. As the Metropolitan of the Diocese of Kollam he was fully responsible for its growth and progress and the number of parishes almost doubled within a short period. Several monasteries and convents were started. A large number of educational institutions and hospitals were begun.

His services in the fields of education and social service are all very well known. Several Schools from Primary level to Higher Secondary level, Degree and Post Graduate colleges and also Professional Colleges were started under his initiative. Three Engineering Colleges, at Bhilai, Peermade and Sasthamcotta and one Medical College at Kolencherry were established during his time. There are many Schools, Colleges, Hospitals and other service institutions which were established and successfully administered under his direct control and leadership.







He had traveled wide in various countries such as, United States of America, Canada, Australia, U.K., Europe, Malaya, Singapore, Gulf countries etc. and has attended various international meetings and conferences. In October, 2002 he attended the 10th International Christian – Muslim Conference at Manama in Baharin and was the Chief Guest of honour there.

On 30th April 1991 he could consecrate five Bishops, on 16th August 1993 two Bishops and on 5th March 2005 four Bishops at Parumala Seminary for the Malankara Orthodox Church.

Holy Mooron was consecrated on 26th March 1999 at Catholicate Araman Chapel, Evalokam.

His Holiness Vattasseril Geevarghese Mar Dionysius was declared by him as a Saint on 24th Feburary 2003 at Old Seminary, Kottayam.

The New Archway and Gate for Catholicate Aramana, Devalokam and Central Secretariat for the Church are new additions made in his time

Some of the new schemes started under his directions are found to be of much help and benefit for the community at large.


Being the President of the Ecumenical Committee in Kerala and also of various other Inter Church Committee he had shown excellent leadership. He kept in touch with the Heads of other Churches constantly and was keenly interested in promoting Ecumenism.

His contribution in the establishment and maintenance of communal harmony and peace among the people of our country and also his style of functioning were well appreciated especially in Nilackal case where he could bring about a clear understanding and reconciliation and avoid violence and hatred between the religious communities.

Nilackal in Pathanamthitta District is a place where St.Thomas, one of the Disciples of Jesus Christ had founded one of the Seven Churches in Kerala. Later, due to various adverse conditions had migrated from that area. In nineteen eighties a cross was unearthed from that area and Christians wanted to build a Church there. That area being close to Sabarimala the Hindu Pilgrim Centre, communal tension arose between Hindus and Christians which could have resulted in nasty clashes and bloodshed. The problem could not even be solved by the then Government of Kerala. Day by day the situation worsened, and became rather explosive.

His Holiness as Catholicos Designate at that time, took up the leadership of the various Christian communities in Kerala and with clever handling of the situation and honest negotiations and discussions with Hindu religious leaders could bring about an amicable settlement in the matter in the interest of communal harmony and peace in Kerala which is remembered with gratitude by everyone.

He had very friendly relations with leaders of other religions as well and had fully demonstrated by his activities the role as the Head of a Christian Church to play in the Secular, Socialist, Democratic, Republic of India. He encouraged all activities which aim for the progress and development of the Nation and promotion of communal harmony and maintenance of peace in the country.

He could always keep the Church in the main stream of activities in our country especially in the fields of Education and Social Service. Keeping in view the importance of Christian Service in our Country, concerted efforts were made to spread the activities with more vigour and concentration in states outside Kerala especially in northern parts of the country. The new St. Thomas Theological Seminary at Nagpur is now able to give proper training to members of the Church to work in states outside Kerala for the benefit of the community at large mainly for the poor, needy, underprivileged and marginalized without difficulty of language problem.

The Church has always been in the forefront and could extend its valuable services to various states in the country wherever there was any Natural Calamity like Flood, Cyclone, Earthquake and Tsunami has won the appreciation of one and all by its dedication.

A Good orator, an eminent scholar, renowned theologian, an able administrator and a man of the Word of God, he had all the qualities needed for a spiritual leader and a Good Shepherd. With his intelligence, wisdom, love and vision and his vast experience in various fields he had proved himself successful as a skillful ecclesiastical head of an ancient Church. With his devotion and dedication in life and sincerity of purpose, no doubt the community at large is benefited by his true Christian life as a servant of God

He was the Supreme Head of the Malankara Orthodox Church, which is an Autocephalous, Autonomous, Independent, Indigenous, National Church of India with an Apostolic foundation and established by St. Thomas one of the Disciples of Jesus Christ who came to India in A.D. 52, he was the Spiritual Head of 2.5 million Faithful of the Church. The church is now spread all over the world in 1662 Parishes in 25 Dioceses, Nineteen of them in Kerala and six outside, namely,I Madras, Bombay, Calcutta, Delhi, America and Canada. Parishes outside India other than those in the Diocese of America and Canada – U.K. Europe are included in the Dioceses of Madras, Bombay, Calcutta and Delhi.

As the Head of an ancient Church of India, His Holiness Baselios MarThoma II had a unique position among the Heads of Churches not only in India but in the whole world.

By Devine will, His Holiness was laid to rest within the beautiful chapel at the coastal resort of Sasthamcottah.

Sasthamcotta Lake had taken place in the History as the “Pure Water Lake”. His Holiness’ name will emit its never dying brilliance as a bright star in the galaxy of saints “ANGEL BAVA’.



Friday, October 7, 2011

parumala


INTRODUCTION


It's almost a century since the great Saint of Malankara ‘MOR GREGORIOS BAVA’ (Parumala Thirumeni), departed to his heavenly abode. But the memories of holy father are still afresh in the minds of Malankara faithful, passed through generations. Through this web site, the life history of this great Saint is once again being reproduced. A lot have already been written about him and lot is yet to be written and our aim is to compile and publish as much details as possible through this medium of internet. While unfolding Parumala Thirumeni’s life history through these pages, a brief narration of events in the Malankara Church of the 19th century is also revealed to some extent. It is a fact that the Malankara Syrian Church history of the time is inseparable from the life of Parumala Thirumeni. His Salmusa itself is an historical record.

The relevant details included in the web site are compiled from the biographies and articles written by Very Rev (Dr.) Curien Corepiscopa Kaniamparambil, Very Rev (Dr.) Kuriakose Corepiscopa Moolayil, late Prof. P N Chacko ('Vissudha Edayan' a biography of Parumala Bava), George Arapurayil, Varghese John Thottapuzha, Zacharia George (Mulund), Stephen John Panakkal and various others. Of all these, the most historically important book that helped to understand some of the unsaid facts of the time is the biography of Pulikottil Joseph Mor Dionysius (the Malankara Metropolitan during Parumala Thirumeni’s time), written by M P Varkey and published by K I Varugis Mappillay of Malayala Manorama Co. Ltd. in 1901. The book was published in connection with the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the sacerdotal ordination of Pulikottil Thirumeni. A brief history of the Church in the 19th century and its fundamental faith is clearly unfolded in this book. Another book which was of great help for us was the biography of our holy father St. Gregorios, published by the same author & publishers in 1903, just a year after his demise. An equally important book that helped us to compile our work, with much more details on the life and times of St. Gregorios Chathuruthy, was the one authored by the great Syriac scholar & historian of our times, Malankara Malpan Very Rev. (Dr.) Curien Corepiscopa Kaniamparambil. This book was first published by him in October 2001 during the centenary year of the Saint's dukrono.

Some of the encyclicals of our holy father, relevant extracts from his travelogue, declaration of faith at the historical Mulanthuruthy Synod and such are included as links in other pages. Most of them are in Malayalam; the translations will be published at later stages. In certain pages there are some repetitions, but that was necessary for keeping the continuity.

The legendary portrait of St. Grergorios sketched by one of the most celebrative painters of India, Raja Ravi Varma, is reproduced in this website. The full size photo of our holy father taken by a photographer named Decruz for the 'Travancore State Manual', just a few months before his passing away, is also included here. Information's regarding the year-long centenary celebrations of the feast of Saint Gregorios can be accessed through the link in the opening page.

This web site, 'ParumalaThirumeni.org' has been inaugurated by His Grace Mor Philoxenos Yuhanon, the Metropolitan Trustee, on 2nd November 2001 at the Mulunthuruthy Mar Thoman church in a public function organised in connection with the beginning of the year-long Centenary celebrations of Chathuruthy Mor Gregorios Bava's 100th dukrono. The then Catholicos-designate & the President of the Malankara Episcopal Synod H.E. Mor Dionysius Thomas (present Catholicos Mor Baselios Thomas-I) and all other prelates of the Malankara Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church were present to grace the occasion.

There is no claim from my side that this is a perfect and complete site on the life of St. Gregorios, but I have tried my best and is ready to incorporate whatever related be available in future.. Your suggestions are always welcome so that changes to the extent necessary are made to this exclusive web site.