CHRISTIAN NEWS MAGAZINE FOR KERALA MALAYALEE CHRISTIANS FROM INDIA AROUND THE WORLD
THOSE WHO LED US : SHORT BIOGRAPHIES - ARCHEIVE
ST. GEEVARGHESE MAR GREGORIOS OF PARUMALA
By: Jose Kurien Puliyeril, Abudhabi
St.Geevarghese Mar Gregorios known as the Saint of Parumala is the first declared Saint of Malankara Orthodox Church. He is popularly and affectionately known as 'Parumala Thirumeni' Or 'Kochu Thirumeni'. He was born on 15th June 1848 and breathed his last on 2nd November 1902. In 1947 Malankara Orthodox Church canonized him as a Saint. November 2 is celebrated as the memorial feast of this Saint by Malankara Orthodox Church.
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SAINT TERESA OF THE CALCUTTA [1910-1997]
By: Editor Dr. Rajan Mathew
On October 19, 2003 Catholic Church Prelate, John Paul II had beautified Mother Teresa as 'Saint Teresa of Kolkata' in witness of a huge crowd of around 300,000. 83 year old, ailing Holy Pope had described her as the 'Icon of Good Samaritan' and said of her 'I am personally grateful to this courageous woman, who I always felt was at my side.'
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H.G. PATHROS MAR OSTHATHIOS METROPOLITAN
By: Editor Dr. Rajan Mathew Philadelphia
H. G. Pathros Mar Osthathios Metropolitan was a true champion of the poor, herald of Gospel and glitter of Malankara. He enriched his life committing himself to self negation and compassion to poor and dalits. Pathros Mar Osthathios was the first missionary Bishop of Malankara. By mission and charitable activities of Mar Osthathios Metropolitan among low caste and downtrodden people, he is exemplified as Malankara Gandhi, because of the similarities of the characteristics of his mission with ideologies of Mahatma Gandhi.
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H.G. GEEVARGHESE MAR OSTHATHIOS METROPOLITAN [9 December 1918 – 16 February 2012]
By: Editor Dr. Rajan Mathew Philadelphia
Sabharatnam H. G. Dr. Geevarghese Mar Osthathios Metropolitan was widely known as a prophet of social justice and as a propagator of the Universal Religion of Love. His enriched life taught the world, the way a Church should look like, and in what mode the Church should act in this world. He achieved everything out from a thorny surface, by hard work, purity of vision and the real love sprout from God, the Almighty.
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ST. ALFONSA - SAINT OF UNUSUAL HOLINESS [1910-1946]
By: Editor Dr. Rajan Mathew Philadelphia
A simple village girl without any title or honor, Sr. Alfonsa was neither a martyr/confessor nor an illustrated minister. She could boast no ecclesiastical or evangelistic achievements or any oratory excellence. No establishment of any Society or Order is there to her credit. Her identity was basically only as a Franciscan Clarist nun. Yet she became a spokeswoman of the benevolence of Christ in the history of Indian Christianity. She revealed the simple Christian mystical truth by her Christ relation and the portrayal of Christ experience in her life, to the world, more powerful than any theological deliberations. Generations to come will learn through her life, what is the key of fundamental reality and truth of Christianity and Christian faith and to discover the mystery of the grace of sanctity at each vocation.
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EASOW MAR TIMOTHEOS EPISCOPA [1932-1998]
By: John Joseph Nalloor
Life of Easow Mar Timotheos was characterized by prayer and deep spiritual experiences. Mar Timotheos was a simple and humble man with a great concern for the downtrodden people. He worked tirelessly for the upliftment of the people spiritually and socially. The main theme of his exhortation was the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Mar Thoma Church started a School for the deaf and dumb children at Kasargod, under the initiative of Easow Mar Timotheos Episcopa. Rajiv Gandhi greatly appreciated Thirumeni because of their common interest in the development of rural India.
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SADHU KOCHOONJU UPADESHI [1883-1945]
By: John Joseph Nalloor
Sadhu Kochoonju Upadeshi was a lived legend of true Christian Spirituality. Leaving everything to Lord while living in this world as foreigner and sojourner on earth was the song of the life of Kochoonju Upadeshi. According to him the Bible is not a book to be read but an instruction book, which should be followed, in day-to-day life. God had used him as an instrument in His hand to share the Word of God to millions as St. Paul was used. His hymns were inspired by Holy Spirit and will stay immortal and eternal in the mind of Malayalee Christians of all denominations.
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H.H. BASALIOS MARTHOMA MATHEWS II - SIXTH CATHOLICOSE
By Editor Dr. Rajan Mathew, Philadelphia
H.H. Basalios Marthoma Mathews was the Sixth Catholicose of Malankara Orthodox Church and 89th Apostolic Successor of St. Thomas. The life of His Holiness was a well-celebrated one and he lived his life to the full, the richness of which touched the hearts of millions and made an indelible mark on the history of Malankara. He was well respected by religious and community leaders.
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MOST REV. ARCH BISHOP GEEVARGHESE MAR IVANIOS
By Editor Dr. Rajan Mathew, Philadelphia
Arch Bishop Most Rev. Geevarghese Mar Ivanios, who had committed himself for self-negation and total submission to Lord was a man of reverence for his distinctive personality, rare genius and prayer life. He had reformed the hermitage of the Indian Church on the footsteps of the rishis of ancient Indian culture. His life of sacrifice and prayer had been beacon for many souls.
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MOST REV. ALEXANDER MARTHOMA METROPOLITAN
By Prof. Dr. Zac Varghese & Mathew Kallumpram
Alexander Marthoma was a great teacher, who took the task of teaching as very serious role. Throughout his ministry, he taught how foolish and unnecessary it is for God's love on the wrong side of the mirror of life. The greatest we can pay to Alexander Mar Thoma is to take those things seriously for which he lived: his causes and concerns, a 'middle way' in facing problems, a simple lifestyle, Bible study, edavaka mission, and evangelization.
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H.H. BASALIOS GEEVARGHESE II - THIRD CATHOLICOSE
By Editor Dr. Rajan Mathew, Philadelphia
The third Catholicos, Mar Basalios Geevarghese II succeeded the Second Catholicos in 1929. Bestowed with a fascinating grace on his face and with an exceptionally brilliant personality, Mar Geevarghes II outshined every one and guided the Church with undaunted courage. He could achieve an unprecedented rate of progress for the Church and expanded her frontiers beyond the limit of Malankara. Basalios II remained as head of the Church for thirty-five years.
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H.G. PAMPADY KURIAKOSE MAR GREGORIOS
By Editor Dr. Rajan Mathew, Philadelphia
Pampadi Kuriakose Mar Gregorios was effectively an uncanonised saint of Malankara Church who had been a simple and humble priest of the Most High Lord of Heaven and a man of great faith who possessed the spiritual gift of love. He shared his spiritual gifts of love and kindness to countless numbers of people around him from all religious and social sects.
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MOST REV. JUHANON MARTHOMA METROPOLITAN
By Prof. Dr. Zac Varghese & Mathew Kallumpram
Metropolitan Juhanon was the exemplar of many noble virtues and a social reformer. Simplicity was part of his nature. Juhanon Mar Thoma was reputed for his deep concern for social justice and he gave emphasis on individual relationship to God and personal holiness. He deliberated his identification with the national aspirations and encouraged those who took part in the political and social struggles under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi for freedom from foreign rule.
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H.G. ALVARES MAR JULIUS
By Prof. Joseph K. Alexander
Alvares Mar Julius started the Brahmawar Mission at Karnataka in 1888. The peripatetic missionary work of Brahmawar Mission slowly and steadily spread to many places in Karnataka, Andhra and Maharashtra. Currently there is one Degree College, one Junior College, two U.P School, one English Medium School functioning here. The liturgical services conducted here are in Malayalam, Konkani and Kannada.
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H.H. BASALIOS MARTHOMA MATHEWS I - FIFTH CATHOLICOSE
By Editor Dr. Rajan Mathew, Philadelphia
Basaios Mar Thoma Mathews I, fifth Catholicose was attributed for his eminent leadership in the crisis situations of the Church. He was Bar Ebraya of the Malankara Orthodox Church considering his contributions towards literary works. He was the powerful architect of the modern Church. He was the prelate of the Church for sixteen years.
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MOST REV. MATHEWS MAR ATHANASIOS
By Prof. Dr. Zac Varghese & Mathew Kallumpram
Mathews Mar Athanasius, Metropolitan, was an outstanding religious leader deserving a proud place among the great men of Kerala and beyond. Metropolitan Mathews Mar Athanasios worked unceasingly for the upliftment of the Christian community in Kerala. He ordered the abolition of the practice of forced labour imposed by Hindu Temple authorities on Christian women of pounding and cleaning rice for temples, inflicting degrading punishment for non-compliance. He enhanced the prestige and status of the Christian community without fear and favour.
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H.H. BASALIOS AUGEN I - FORTH CATHOLICOSE
By Editor Dr. Rajan Mathew, Philadelphia
Moran Mar Basalios Augen I succeeded Basalios Geevarghese II as the fourth Catholicose in 1964. He was Catholicose and Malankara Metropolitan of Malankara Orthodox Church for more than eleven years. The fourth Catholicose was a scholar in Syriac and translated a number of works from Syriac to Malayalam. He had a deep knowledge in theology and was very versatile in conversing same. His exceptional humility was the most exemplary mark of his character.
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MOST. REV. ABRAHAM MARTHOMA METROPOLITAN
By Prof. Dr. Zac Varghese & Mathew Kallumpram
Abraham Mar Thoma led a disciplined life. Abraham Mar Thoma used his intimate personal testimonies in introducing Jesus Christ to young people and to encourage and prepare them for Christian service and evangelical work. His personal testimonies became a paradigm for evangelical ministry in Kerala. This has become part and parcel of life in parishes. Abraham Mar Thoma was particularly concerned about the social attitudes and behavior of his people. A sharp observer of manners and morals, he gave special instructions on how to correct them.
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H.H. BASALIOS GEEVARGHESE I - SECOND CATHOLICOSE
By Editor Dr. Rajan Mathew, Philadelphia
Vaakathanam Karuchira Geevarghese Mar Philoxenos, Metropolitan of Kottayam Diocese, succeeded Basalios Paulose in 1925 as the second Catholicose and remained in position for a brief period of three years before succumbing to death in 1928. Metropolitan Geevarghese Mar Dionysius along with Metropolitans Kallacheril Geevarghese Mar Gregorios and Karot Yuachim Mar Ivanios elevated him as the Second Catholicose of the Malankara Church with the title of Basalios Geevarghese I at St. Mary's Church Niranam.
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MOST REV. THOMAS MAR ATHANASIOS
By Prof. Dr. Zac Varghese & Mathew Kallumpram
Metropolitan Thomas Mar Athanasios was the second son of Abraham Malpan born in 1837, the year in which the reformation began. He was consecrated as a Bishop on 1st June 1868. Bishop Thomas was Suffragan for nine years and Metropolitan for 16 years. He was a good revivalist speaker and he gave the ministry of the Word due importance in the Holy Communion Service. Metropolitan Thomas Mar Athanasios contributed to the economic development of the Maramon area by helping to organize a market in Kozhenchery, which is still flourishing.
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MOST REV. TITUS I MARTHOMA METROPOLITAN
By Prof. Dr. Zac Varghese & Mathew Kallumpram
Metropolitan Titus was concerned about the spiritual growth and health of the Church as much as he cared for institutional development in the form of schools and Church buildings. He started many spiritual rejuvenation programs including organization of retreats and semi-fasting. He was well versed in theology with a good command of language, and delivered inspiring sermons. He encouraged the work of the Evangelistic Association in starting the Maramon Convention in 1896 on the extensive and pleasant sands of the Pampa River near Maramon church. With the Metropolitan's encouragement, the Evangelistic Association decided to extend its work outside Kerala.
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H.H. BASALIOS PAULOSE - FIRST CATHOLICOSE
By Editor Dr. Rajan Mathew, Philadelphia
On Sunday, 17 th September 1912, Patriarch Moran Mar Abdul Messiah assisted by Malankara Metropolitan Vattasseril Geevarghese Mar Dionysius and the Metropolitan Mar Gregorios Kallacheril consecrated Murimattoth Paulos Mar Ivanios as the first Catholicose of Malankara with the title of Moran Mar Basalios Paulos, at St. Mary's Church Niranam.
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MOST REV. TITUS II MARTHOMA METROPOLITAN
By Prof. Dr. Zac Varghese & Mathew Kallumpram
Titus II Marthoma Metropolitan was the prelate of Mar Thoma Church for about 35 years. For the first eight years of his tenure as Marthoma Metropolitan, he was the only bishop of the Mar Thoma Church. Titus II Mar Thoma, through an Episcopal letter, authorized Sadhu Kochukunju Upadesi, a lay evangelist to preach in the parishes of the Church. Sadhu Kochukunju Upadesi was an acknowledged poet and a literary figure and wrote hundreds of evocative hymns for the Comfort of the Soul which remain popular even today. In his messages he emphasized apocalyptic eschatology and fostered a fervent expectation among the people concerning the Second Coming of Christ.
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