PARUMALA THIRUMENI
(Geevarghese
Mar Gregorios)
Saint Parumala Thirumeni,Geevarghese Mar Gregorios, (15 June
1848 -2 November 1902) of Parumala was a bishop of the Malankara Jacobite
Syrian Orthodox Church. He is the first canonized Christian saint from India.
He is popularly known as Parumala Thirumeni (Bishop of Parumala) or Kochu
Thirumeni. He was born in the priestly family of 'Pallithatta Thanagattu' in
the village of Mulunthuruthy near Cochin on 15 June 1848, and baptized
Geevarghese at the Mulanthuruthy MarThoman Church. He had a thorough knowledge
of Theology and Syriac, which he learned from his teachers, Pallithatta Fr.
Geevarghese Malpan (uncle), Konatt Malpan of Pambakkuda and Yuyakim Mor
Kurillos Bava, the Patriarchal delegate. He became a deacon at the age of 10, a
priest at the age of 18, a bishop at the young age of 28 (the reason for
calling him 'Kochu Thirumeni'); he died November 2, 1902.Gregorios was born as Kochu Ipeora Gheevarghese[1] into the
Chathuruthy family in Mulanthuruthy, Kerala. His parents, Kochu Mathai and
Mariam, had three sons and two daughters. After the birth of the fifth child,
Ipeora, Mariam died. Gregorios was taught by a man named Malpan. He was
ordained as a deacon on 14 September 1858 at the age of ten by Palakkunnathu Mar
Athanasius.
St.
Gregorios received the order of Korooyo at the tender age of ten by Palakunnath
Mathews Mor Athanasius at the Karingachira St.George Jacobite Syrian Church. At
the age of 18, he was ordained Shamshono by Yuyakim Mor Kurillos, the
Patriarchal delegate of the Holy See of Antioch. Soon after, Geevarghese was
ordained Kassisso and later as Corepiscopa, again at the hands of Yuyakim Mor
Kurillos Bava. Later he settled at the Vettikkal Dayro near Mulunthuruthy where
he led a monastic life. In 1872 he was ordained Ramban (Monk-Priest) by
Pulikottil Mor Dionysius.Protestant missionary activities, aided by the British
government, were at their height; many of the Syrian Orthodox moved to the new
churches. The Syrian Orthodox of Malankara wished to stop this, under the
chairmanship of Ramban Geevarghese in September 1872. They asked the help of
the supreme head of the Church, the Patriarch of Antioch, who lived in the
monastery of Deir ez-Za`faran (Kurkumo Dayro) in Turkey. Mor Ignatius Peter
III, the Patriarch of Antioch & all the East, arrived in Malankara in 1875.
Ramban Geevarghese, who spoke Syriac, was appointed as the interpreter to the
Patriarch, and became his private secretary. Ramban Geevarghese assisted at the
historic Mulunthuruthy Synod convened in June/July 1876.
On 10 December 1876 the Patriarch ordained Ramban
Geevarghese as Metropolitan Gregorios at the St.Thomas church in North Paravur.
When in Malankara, the Patriarch had consecrated six Metropolitans of whom Mor
Gregorios was the youngest, at 28, and hence came to be known as Kochu
Thirumeni. The ancestral house where Mor Gregorios was born and brought up was
called 'CHATHURUTHY' and for that reason he is also often referred to as
Chathuruthy Thirumeni.
Gregorios
was involve in the activities and development of the Malankara Jacobite Syrian
Church. Following the demise of Metropolitans, the administration of Thumpamon
and Kollam dioceses also fell under him. In 1887 the first block of the
'Parumala Seminary' was consecrated.While staying at Parumala Seminary, Mor
Gregorios taught Syriac to deacons. He used to rise at 4 am for prayer., and
prayed seven times a day as taught by the Holy Fathers of the Church. He
observed lent by fasting, particularly on Fridays and Wednesdays.He visited
Jerusalem in 1895, staying at the "Sehion Malika" (Monastery of
St.Mark), the diocesan headquarters of the Syrian Orthodox Metropolitan. During
his stay he visited most of the important places of Christendom, and led the
Passion Week services at the altars of the Syrian church in Jerusalem. On his
return Geevarghese collected money from all the parishes in Malankara and sent
a silver cross as offering to the Jerusalem Church.At the age of 54 Thirumeni
became seriously sick and died.
PARUMALA PALLY
Parumala is a small town in
Pathanamthitta district, bordering Alappuzha district. This is an island in
PampaRiver.The parumala church is dedicated in the names of the Apostles St.
Peter and St. Paul. The saintly Metropolitan Geevarghese Mar Gregorios is
buried in the northern corner of the church were the octagonal altar and the
rectangular ‘Haikla’ of the church join together (the saintly Metropolitan was
taken to his heavenly abode on 2nd November 1902. The Holy Episcopal Synod
Canonized him as a saint in 1947).Geevarghese Mar Gregorios is the first declared saint of The Malankara
Orthodox Syrian Church is entombed. The commemoration ormapperunnal celebrated
on the first and second of every November, a large number of people flock to
this place for worship. People prefer to get here at that time by walking from
all over the Nation. The government recognised Parumala Church is known as the
International Pilgrim Center.
St.Gregorios,
popularly known as PARUMALA THIRUMENI" was born on 15th of June
1848, into a the priestly family of 'Pallathattu Thanagattu' in the village of
Mulunthuruthy near Cochin, India. He was baptized by name Geevarghese (George) at the
Mulanthurthy Mar Thoman Church. After he lost his mother when he was a small boy, he was brought up
under the loving care of his elder sister Mariam. From his early childhood, he
had been leading a very disciplined life, enriched by prayer and fasting. Even
as a boy, he had a deep fascination towards Syriac, the liturgical language of
the Syriac Orthodox Church.His uncle, (father's brother) Malpan Kassisso
Geevarghese, who was himself an authority in Syriac, and a celibate priest,
noticed his nephew’s extraordinary ability to sing,gave him proper guidance.Two
other personalities who had great influence on young Geevarghese were Malpan
Kassisso Geevarghese Konattu and St.Yuyakkim Mor Koorilos Bava, the Syrian
Metropolitan who was Reesh Episcopa to Malankara.During the years that
followed, the church witnessed the emergence of this great Saint. Through his
continuous prayers, he made it clear to the world, that Prayer and devotion is
mightier than any other worldly possession.
After leading a saintly life of prayer and fasting, he
become one of the brightest jewels of the Universal Syrian Church.At such a young age of 10, Palakunnath
Mathews Mor Athanasius initiated Geevarghese to the order of Korooyo at the
Karingachira St.George Jacobite Church. At the age of 18, he was ordained
Shamshono by Yuyakim Mor Koorilos, The very next month Shamshono Geevarghese
was ordained a Kassisso (full priest) and later as Corepiscopa, by Yuyakim Mor
Koorilos Bava.He settled at the Vettickal Dayro near Mulunthuruthy, where he
led a very strict monastic life. In 1872
Mor Dionysius V Pulikottil professed him a Ramban (Monk-Priest)During this
period, the activities of the Protestant Missionaries, supported by the British
Government, were at its peak. These
missionary groups and their supporters created a great deal of trouble and
caused untold hardships to the Syrian Church. They not only deported the
Patriarchal Delegates from the states of Travancore and Kochi, they also
prevented Indian metropolitans from entering the churches. Those who opposed
these missionaries were arrested and put in jail (Church history by E M
Philip). A number of Syrian Christian
churches were either closed or taken over by the government.Under the leadership of Ramban Geevarghese Chathuruthy, the
faithful organized a general body of Malankara Church on 8 th. September 1873
at Parumala. They decided to seek the help of the Church Supreme, the Patriarch
of Antioch, to find a solution to the prevailing problems.Following the
request, His Holiness Ignatius Peter IV -
the Patriarch of the Apostolic See
of Antioch & All the East and the Supreme Pontiff of the Universal
Syrian Orthodox Church, came to Malankara in June 1875. Ramban Geevarghese who was well versed in
Syriac was appointed as the interpreter to the Patriarch. The Patriarch was so impressed by the young
Ramban, that he chose him as his private secretary. When the historic
Mulanthuruthy Synod was convened during the month of June 1876, the assistance
of Ramban Geevarghese was of great help to His Holiness. The Patriarch came to
regard the Ramban in such high esteem, that His Holiness decided to elevate him
to the order of Metropolitan.H.H. the Patriarch ordained Ramban Geevarghese as
a Metropolitan on 10th December 1876 at the North Paravur St.Thomas Church. He
was named Gregorios.Of the six Metropolitans ordained by His Holiness the
Patriarch during his stay in Malankara, Mor Gregorios was the youngest. He was
only 28. He therefore came to be known affectionately as ‘KOCHU
THIRUMENI’.
As the ancestral house where Mor Gregorios grew up as a boy
was known by name 'CHATHURUTH’, he was also known as ‘CHATHURUTHY THIRUMENI’
After the Patriarch left in 1877, Kochu Thirumeni, along
with the other newly ordained Metropolitans, stayed at Vettickal Dayro, and
observed a 40-day fast before assuming the responsibilities of their respective
dioceses. After his ordination as a Metropolitan, he established a number of
churches and was instrumental in establishing a number of schools in different
parts of Malankara. Mor Gregorios was a person who fully understood the value
of education, and its importance for the progress of the Church and the society
as a whole.During late 1890's, under the initiative and guidance of Parumala Kochu Thirumeni and theMalankara
Metropolitan Pulikottil Joseph Mor Dionysius, The Malankara Jacobite Syrian
Church started a number of educational institutions.
The St. Thomas School at Mulanthuruthy, St. Ignatius School
at Kunnamkulam (named after his mentor the Patriarch PatrosIV) and the Syrian
English School at Thiruvalla (now known as 'MGM High School'), are some of the
well known schools established through the initiative of Parumala Thirumeni.Thirumeni
was very closely associated with various activities connected with the
development of the Malankara Jacobite Syrian Church. He was highly admired for his organizing
capacity and was very popular among the people. After the demise of the
Metropolitans of Thumpamon and Kollam dioceses (in 1884 and 1891), the
administration of these dioceses also came under him. During 1887, the first block of the Parumala
Seminary was opened.Even during the midst of all his busy schedules, he gave
utmost priority to prayers and fasting.
He used to get up at 4 am for prayer, and strictly observe the church
practice of prayers seven times a day. From his early child-hood, he had been
observing all the Lents prescribed by the church. Mor Gregorios was extremely
keen on maintaining a cordial relationship with all section of people,
irrespective of their caste or community. He always loved and cared for the
poor and suffering. He was very particular about truthfulness and helping the poor. His took
special interest in preaching the Holy Gospel among the backward communities,
and as a result many accepted our faith.
He also worked hard for the upliftment of the socially downtrodden
people.
Thirumeni’s long desire to visit the Holy Land was fulfilled
in 1895. During his pilgrimage, he stayed at the "Sehion Malika"
(Monastery of St. Mark), which was the diocesan headquarters of the Syrian
Orthodox Metropolitan. He had the opportunity to visit almost all the important
places of Christendom and even led the Passion Week services at the altars.The
St. Mark's Syrian Orthodox Monastery of Jerusalem, where Parumala Thirumeni
stayed and celebrated the Holy Mass in AD.1895
Thirumeni became seriously ill at the age of 54. He knew that his end was near. On November 2 nd., while the Metropolitans
and priests and others around him were praying, Kochu Thirumeni uttered,
"MY LORD" and closed his eyes. (There is an opinion that Kochu Thirumeni passed away on Monday, the
3rd November, 1902 and his mortal remains were laid to rest the next day - 4th
November - at St. Peter’s Church, Parumala) The Sacred Tomb of St. Gregorios
Geevarghese Chathuruthy at the Parumala St. Peter's church.Conferring sainthood
and Remembering MOR GREGORIOS in
the 5th TUBDEN
The Holy Episcopal Synod of Malankara Jacobite Syrian
Church, held on the 22 nd. August 1987, requested the Patriarch, to permit the
name of Mor Gregorios to be included in the 5th 'TUBDEN', along with the other
saints and Martyrs. Accepting the request, His Holiness the Patriarch Ignatius
Zakka-I Iwas issued the historical Bull dated 20th December 1987,
authorizing the recitation of the name of Mor Gregorios of Malankara in
the Fifth 'TUBDEN' (diptych) in all the Malankara churches worldwide.
This Bull was first read at the home parish of the Holy
Father, at the Mulanthuruthy Mar Thoman Church. Thereafter the name of the Holy
Father was recited in the 5th TUBDEN,
along with the names of late Patriarch of Antioch Moran Mor Ignatius
Elias III (Manjinikkara, 1932) and Maphryono Mor Baselios Yeldo (Kothamangalam,
1685) whose names were also included. Quite
a number of churches were built in the name of the Holy Father all over the
world. Perhaps the churches and shrines , built by the Malankara Syrian
Christians in recent times and named after ST. GREGORIOS, are next in number only to those bearing the names of Mother Mary and Geevarghese Sahdo.
Mor Gregorios who was a scholar in the Syriac language, was
greatly fascinated by its beauty, melody; its glorious past and spiritual
history. To him, the prayers forming the integral part of the Holy Qurbono had
a real significance and relevance. This helped him remain steadfast in his loyalty to the
Apostolic See of Antioch founded by St. Peter.
He was firm in his convictions about the traditions and history built up
by the Holy Fathers listed in the 5th TUBDEN.He had no doubts about the
hierarchy of the Church as spelt out in the 1st Tubden, which gives a place of
importance to Mor Ignatius, our Patriarch. His SALMUSA bears ample testimony to
his unflinching loyalty to the Holy Throne. There can be no doubt as to what
Thirumeni considered to be the essentials of the Syrian Christian belief,
faith, tradition and culture.Mor Gregorios is a saint who set the moral tone
for his people during his time . He loved
everyone, specially the poor and needy. If we consider a saint to be one
who was totally dedicated to God, then Mor Gregorios Bava was one who
faithfully followed his master, Lord Jesus Christ.Let us Pray for the
Intercession of this illustrious Saint of Malankara who passed away at the age
of 54 on 2 nd. of November 1902.
No comments:
Post a Comment