55th
Dukrono of St. Athanasious Paulose (Valiya Thirumeni)
- Malankara Metropolitan, 1918-'53
** Thrikkunnathu Church
Perunnal on January 25th & 26th**
St.
Athanasious Paulose,popularly
known as 'Valiya Thirumeni', is one of the luminous stars of the
Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, who as the head of the Church in India,
successfully guided its destiny for nearly four decades. It was his firm
faith, persistent efforts and ardent prayers that helped the Malankara
Syrian community to maintain their ancient links with the Holy See of
Antioch. Because of his
strong determination to uphold the traditions and faith of the Holy
Church, he is often described in the Church history as 'Sathya
Viswasa Samrakshakan' (Defender of True Faith),
a title conferred to him by the Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem I.
Consecrated as Metropolitan for the Angamali
diocese in 1910 by Patriarch Mor Ignatius Abded `Aloho (Abdulla II), he
became the Malankara Metropolitan of the Jacobite Syrian Church in 1918
following the demise of Mor Koorilose Paulose Kochuparambil.
The historical Malankara Association of 1935 held at Karingachira
St. George church once again unanimously chose H.G. as the Malankara
Metropolitan. It was Valiya Thirumeni who sowed the seed for the
overall development of the Angamali diocese in its present form.
Under his able and determined leadership, the seminary at
thrikkunnathu became a major study centre for the upcoming clergy.
During his 34-year tenure as Malankara Metropolitan, the
Thrikkunnathu Seminary also functioned as the Jacobite Syrian Church
headquarters. In 1932 he rebuilt the nearby Thrikkunnathu St. Mary's
Church in its present form. Around that time he brought many
Syriac Christian familes from various parts of Angamali diocese and
gave them land bought by him, free of cost, near to
the Thrikkunnathu Seminary and also helped them to construct houses
by distributing his personal savings which he raised through the
selling of his inherited family properties.
St.
Athanasius Valiya Thirumeni is the founder father
of many of the spiritual organizations in the Church
like the Sunday School Association and the Marth Mariam Samajam.
'Mor Gregorios Students Association', named after his mentor St.
Gregorios Chathuruthil, happens to be
the first students organization in Malankara that adopted the name
of St. Gregorios of Parumala. The St. Antony's
brotherhood and St. Mary's sisterhood, were started under his guidance and
initiative. After serving the Church in Malankara for more than four decades, he
passed away on 25th January 1953 at the age of 84 and was entombed the
very next day in
the room on northern side of the madbho of the St. Mary's
church at Thrikkunnathu,
Alwaye, confirming to his last
wishes.
The sacred tombs of the former Angamali diocesan Metropolitans Their
Graces Mor
Athanasious Paulose Kadavil and Mor Gregorios Vayaliparambil are also
situated by the side of Valiya Thirumeni's last resting place.
Known for his piety,
integrity, sincerity and unflinching faith, the spiritual father is
remembered by the Malankara Church with great veneration. Valiya Thirumeni
loved his people and defended them until his last, leaving behind him a
magnificent legacy. He
dedicated his entire life for the cause of the Church and the society.
People
revere him asa saintlyfather; heis the pride of the
Malankara Jacobite Syrian Church. Fifty one
years after his demise, on 19th August 2004, the Church beatified Mor
Athanasius Paulose. Valiya Thirumeni is the only prelate from India, other
than St. Gregorios Geevarghese
Chathuruthil (Parumala
Thirumeni) of Malankara who
has been raised to the status of sainthood.
Recently launched website on the life of
St. Athanasious Paulose of Malankara (Valiya
Thirumeni)
Mulanthruthy Marthoman Church, known as the Jerusalem of Malankara,
completing 900 years of its founding
The historically important church of the
Jacobite Syrian Christians at Mulanthuruthy, named after Apostle Thomas,
is now on the verge of completing 900 years of its founding. The occasion
is also marked with the 1100th year anniversary of offering the first Holy
Mass at Mulanthuruthy Cross. The year long celebrations connected with
these historic occasions was inaugurated on 12th January 2008 at a grand
function held at the Church premises. Rt. Rev. Joseph Marthoma
Metropolitan the head of the sister Marthoma Syrian Church of Malabar
lighted the traditional lamp marking the inaugural function and
Metropolitan of Kochi diocese His Grace Mor Gregorios Joseph presided over
the meeting. His
Beatitude Mor Baselios Thomas I, Catholicos and head of
the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church of India who is celebrating the
sacerdotal golden jubilee was facilitated during the ceremony. A large number of
dignitaries including Metropolitans, Ministers, representatives of State
and thousands of parishioners participated in the inaugural meeting and
the subsequent programs.
Rt. Rev. Joseph Marthoma Metropolitan,
head of the Marthoma Syrian Church
inaugurating the year-long celebrations
Mulanthuruthy Mar Thoman
Church, established about 900 years before, has great historical significance for the Malankara
Syrian Orthodox Church. The church in its long history has hosted many
prominent fathers of the Church and was also the venue of many important
meetings. At least three prelates from Antiochean Syrian Orthodox Church
is entombed here, besides being the mother parish of many past and present
metropolitans including St. Gregorios of Malankara. The relic of Apostle
St. Thomas is interred in this church. Because of its historic importance,
the church is known in Malankara as '2nd Jerusalem'.
In
1675, Mor Anthrayos arrived at this church and lived here for several
years. Mor Ivanius Hidayatullah who accompanied
Maphryono Mor Baselius Yaldo resided at
this church for a few years, entered into eternal rest on August 16, 1693
and was buried on the south side of the sanctuary of this church. The
Patriarch of Jerusalem, Mor Gregorius Yuhanon took residence at this
church in 1751, entered into eternal rest on July 10, 1773 and was buried
on the north side of the sanctuary. On Tuesday, September 2, 1874, Mor
Qurillos Yuyakim from Tur `Abdin consecrated and sent to Malankara by
Patriarch Ya`qub II in 1846 as Reesh Episcopa of Malankara was buried on
the north side of the church.
Patriarch Peter IV presided over the
famous Mulanthuruthy Synod at
this church from Mithunam 15 to 17, 1876. The Malankara Association was
formed at this Synod. On August 17, 1876 the Mulanthuruthy padiyola
was registered. On Chingam 15, 1876 Patriarch Peter IV consecrated Holy Chrism (Mooron). On August 6, 1911,
Patriarch `Abded Aloho II consecrated
Holy Chrism at this church.
Patriarch Ya`qub III visited this church
on June 15, 1964 and
Patriarch Zakka I on March 11, 1982,
April 9, 2000, and September 27, 2004. On September 27, 2004, the second
Mulanthuruthy Synod was held here presided by Patriarch Mor Ignatius Zakka
I Iwas. This Synod reiterated the Malankara Church is an integral part of
the Syrian Orthodox Church and under the spiritual authority of the
Patriarch of Antioch. The Synod marked the formal separation of the
Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church from the erstwhile 'Metran Faction' now
known as Malankara Orthodox Church or the Indian Orthodox Church.
On December 20, 1987, the
historic
Patriarchal Encyclical permitting the
inclusion of the names of
Mor Baselius Yaldo,
Patriarch Elias III and
Mor Gregorius of Parumala in the fifth
diptych in Malankara Churches was first read here. On July 3, 1994, a
relic of St. Thomas
given to the church by Patriarch Mor Zakka I, who as Archbishop of Mosul
had discovered the relics in the Church of St. Thomas at Mosul, was
installed in this church. This church is also the home parish of the
famous bishops of the Malankara Church known popularly as
Kattumangattu Bavamar, the lone saint of the Malankara Church,
Mor Gregorius and Malankara Metropolitan
Kochuparambil Paulose Mor Koorilose. Qasheesho Shrambikkal
Pallathittayil Gheevarghese, the spiritual master of Mor Gregorius of
Parumala was laid to rest in this church on December 23, 1863.
18th All Malankara
Gospel Convention held at Puthencuriz from 26th to 31st December
Inauguration
of the All Malankara convention by His Beatitude the Catholicos
Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas I, primate of the Syriac Church in India, on 26th December 2007
Convention news of each day from Mathrubhumi newsdesk: (in Malayalam)
Grand beginning to the
Sacerdotal Golden
jubilee celebrations of Catholicos Mor Baselios Thomas I
Kothamangalam:
The golden jubilee celebrations of the priestly ordination of
Catholicos Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas I, head of the Jacobite Syriac
Christian Church of India, got to a grand start at Kothamangalam on
Sunday 16th December. The celebrations started with Holy Qurbono led
by the Catholica Bava at the Kothamangalam MarthMariam Cathedral (Valiya
Pally) followed by prayers at the sacred tomb of Maphryono St.
Baselios Yeldho Bava at the nearby Mar Thoma Church (Cheriapally).
Later in the evening a massive rally, attended by thousands of
faithful, was taken out from Mar Thoma Cheriapally premises to
converge on the Mar Athanasius College indoor stadium where a
mammoth public meeting was inaugurated by Chief Minister V.S.
Achuthanadan.
The greeting message from His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I
Iwas, the Patriarch of Antioch & all the East and the supreme head
of the Holy Church, addressed to the Catholicos Aboon Mor Baselios
Thomas I on His Beatitude's 50th year of priestly ordination was
read out by Metropolitan Mor Ivanios Mathews of Kandanad diocese.
The Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanadan while inaugurating the meeting,
described the Catholicos as an asset to the social and cultural
spheres of the State and the Christian Church and called noted his
exemplary interventions in social issues.
Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi gave away
the keys of the 10 completed houses out of the 100 houses to be
built for poor in the next one year period of the jubilee
celebrations. Kothamangalam bishop of Roman Catholic Church, Mar
George Punnakkotil delivered the keynote address.
Minister of State for fisheries, S Sharma dedicated the pain and
palliative cancer care centre at Perumbavur, built in memory of the
Golden jubilee celebrations of Catholica Bava. Assistant
Metropolitan of the Angamali diocese, H.G Mor Severios Abraham
presided over the meeting which was attended by 19 Metropolitans of
the Church. Members of Parliament P.C.Thomas and Francis George,
Members of Kerala legislative Assembly T.U.Kurivilla and Saju Paul,
UDF convener P P Thankachen, Mar Athanasius College association
secretary M P Varghese, Chairpersons of Kothamangalam and
Muvattupuzha municipalities, the trustee, secretary and other key
office bearers of the Church also spoke on the occasion.
Mor Abded Aloho
II, Patriarch of Antioch & all the East
(Dec 9, 1915
- St.Mark Monastery, Jerusalem)
Patriarch
Mor `Abded-Aloho II Sattuf (Abd'Allah II in
Arabic) was born in Sadad in the year
1883. He became a
monk at an early age, and later was ordained priest. In 1870, he
toured the area of Tur `Abdin and
recorded the names of villages, monasteries, churches, clergy
and the families living in the area. He was consecrated bishop
of Jerusalem in 1872 by Patriarch Peter IV and accompanied the
Patriarch to England and India from 1874 to 1877. After the
return of the Patriarch from India, he stayed for two more years
before going back to London where he secured a printing press
for Deir al-Za`faran. After his return, `Abded-Aloho served as
the bishop of Syria and then of Amid. He paid a second visit to
London, during which he attended sessions of the 1888 Lambeth
Conference, and secured a second printing press. After the
deposition of Patriarch `Abded-Mshiho II
(`Abdul Masih) in 1903, `Abded-Aloho was
elected and consecrated Patriarch in 1906. Shortly after, he
visited London for the third time en route to India in 1908-12.
In London, he met King Edward VII twice. In India, he
established the Knanaya diocese. After his return from India in
1912, he stayed at Dayro d-Mor Marqos in Jerusalem till his death in 1915 and
was buried there.
Moshe Gurgan, a
former Monk Priest in the Syriac Orthodox Church Archdiocese of Europe was
officially excommunicated by His Holiness the Patriarch, following his
anti-Church activities.
The concerned Patriarchal bull can be
accessed here .....
Akaparambu Mor Sabor Mor Afroth
Church - Estd. 825
*
declared Cathedral on 1st December
*
[Feast of Mor Sabor & Mor Aphrot - Nov 30 to Dec 2]
Established
in 825, Akaparambu Mor Sabor Mor Afroth
Church is one of the ancient churches of the
Angamaly Diocese of
the Malankara Jacobite Syrian
Church. It is believed to have been founded by
Mor Sabor and Mor Afroth,
two saintly men who came to
Malankara along with a group of Syrian Christian
immigrants lead by a merchant named Sapor Esho
to preach the Gospel in 822..Thischurch
was named after the martyr saints of the early church, Mor Sabor
and Mor Aphroth, after whom the two were also named. The church
they established in Kayamkulam was also in the same name of
these two saints. Both churches were popularly known as the
'Church of the Qadishangal'. The main feast of
the church is held for 3 days every year from November 30th
November to December 2nd.
KIDNAPPED SYRIAC ORTHODOX PRIEST
WAS RELEASED UNHARMED - Reuters
DIYARBAKIR,
Turkey (Reuters) - Syriac Christian priest kidnapped this week in
southeast Turkey was released unharmed on Friday.
"The priest was released in good
condition...," Batman province Deputy Governor Aziz Mercan told
Reuters. Television images showed the bearded man wiping tears from
his eyes and embracing security personnel.
Unknown assailants ambushed Daniel
Savci's car on Wednesday as the 55-year-old priest was traveling to
the Mor Yakup monastery near the town of Midyat. The kidnappers were
reported to have sought a ransom of 300,000 euros ($442,400).
St.
Yacoub Burd’ono (James or Jacob) was born at Tella Mouzalat, as the son of Theophilus (Theophilus
Bar-Manu) who was a priest of the Syrian Orthodox Church. At the
age of 2 years, Yacoub was
entrusted to the care of Eustathius, the chief of the Monastery (Reesh Dayro),
at Phaselita, near Nisbis. He learnt Greek, Syriac and the basics of asceticism
at the monastery.....The Syrian Orthodox Church gratefully
remember Yacoub Burd’ono for he is responsible for restoring the Church from
extinction by his indomitable zeal and untiring activity..... Yacoub Burd’ono died at the monastery of Romanus
or Cassianus on July 30, 578. His
episcopate is said to have extended over 37 years, and his life, according to Renaudot to 73 years. The feast of Mor Yacoub Burd’ono, the protector of faith,
is celebrated mainly on two days, viz; November 28 and July 31st..
Mor
Michael Rabo, a renowned scholar and famous historian, is
considered one of the greatest Patriarchs of Antioch. He. was
born in Melitine in the year 1126 and became monk at Mor
Barsawmo Monastery. He mastered Literature, Linguistics,
Declension, History, Theology and all sorts of literature. On
18th October 1166 Mor Michael Rabo was installed the 79th
Patriarch of Antioch. He reigned the Holy See for a period of
thirty three years and departed this earthy life to the heavenly
chamber on 7th November 1199.
ST.
GREGORIOS CENTRE, the new headquarters of the Niranam diocese,
located near to Thiruvalla town was consecrated by His Beatitude
the Catholicos Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas I Bava on 2nd November
2007. A nuumber of Syriac Christian Metropolitans and
clergy were also present during the consecration ceremony.
The centre, consecrated on the 105th feast day of the
great Saint of Malankara, Chathuruthil Mor Gregorios, was named
after the holy father who was the first Metropolitan of the
diocese.
105 years have
passed
since the great Saint of Malankara MOR GREGORIOS
BAVA (Parumala Thirumeni),
departed to his heavenly abode. But his memories are still
afresh in the minds of Malankara people, passed through
generations. He was born
in the distinguished priestly family of 'Pallithatta Thanagattu'
in the village of Mulunthuruthy near Cochin on 15th June 1848.
From
childhood days he followed a very disciplined life which was
enriched by prayer and fasting.His
Grace was a man of prayer and made it clear to the world that
Prayer and devotion is mightier than any worldly possession.
The
new HQ of the Kandanad diocese named after Maphryono Shakralla
Mor Baselios and located near to the ancient Kanadand Morth
Mariam church was consecrated on 21st October 2007. The
holy ceremony was led by His Beatitude Catholicos Mor Baselios
Thomas I.
Kothamangalam:
The golden jubilee celebrations of the priestly ordination of
Catholicos Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas I, head of the Jacobite Syriac
Christian Church of India, got to a grand start at Kothamangalam on
Sunday 16th December. The celebrations started with Holy Qurbono led
by the Catholica Bava at the Kothamangalam MarthMariam Cathedral (Valiya
Pally) followed by prayers at the sacred tomb of Maphryono St.
Baselios Yeldho Bava at the nearby Mar Thoma Church (Cheriapally).
PHOTOS FROM THE CEREMONY
Patriarch
Mor `Abded-Aloho II Sa
Established
in 825, Akaparambu Mor Sabor Mor Afroth 
southeast Turkey was released unharmed on Friday.
St.
Yacoub Burd’ono (James or Jacob) was born at Tella Mouzalat, as the son of Theophilus (Theophilus
Bar-Manu) who was a priest of the Syrian Orthodox Church. At the
age of 2 years, Yacoub was
entrusted to the care of Eustathius, the chief of the Monastery (Reesh Dayro),
at Phaselita, near Nisbis. He learnt Greek, Syriac and the basics of asceticism
at the monastery.....The Syrian Orthodox Church gratefully
remember Yacoub Burd’ono for he is responsible for restoring the Church from
extinction by his indomitable zeal and untiring activity..... Yacoub Burd’ono died at the monastery of Romanus
or Cassianus on July 30, 578. His
episcopate is said to have extended over 37 years, and his life, according to Renaudot to 73 years. The feast of Mor Yacoub Burd’ono, the protector of faith,
is celebrated mainly on two days, viz; November 28 and July 31st..
Mor
Michael Rabo, a renowned scholar and famous historian, is
considered one of the greatest Patriarchs of Antioch. He. was
born in Melitine in the year 1126 and became monk at Mor
Barsawmo Monastery. He mastered Literature, Linguistics,
Declension, History, Theology and all sorts of literature. On
18th October 1166 Mor Michael Rabo was installed the 79th
Patriarch of Antioch. He reigned the Holy See for a period of
thirty three years and departed this earthy life to the heavenly
chamber on 7th November 1199.
ST.
GREGORIOS CENTRE, the new headquarters of the Niranam diocese,
located near to Thiruvalla town was consecrated by His Beatitude
the Catholicos Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas I Bava on 2nd November
2007. A nuumber of Syriac Christian Metropolitans and
clergy were also present during the consecration ceremony.
The centre, consecrated on the 105th feast day of the
great Saint of Malankara, Chathuruthil Mor Gregorios, was named
after the holy father who was the first Metropolitan of the
diocese.
]
