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The sudden demise of H.G. Dr. Stephanus Mar Theodosius is a blow to the Malankara Orthodox Church in general and for the Diaspora in particular. Everybody knew that Thirumeni was old and that was the only reason which was unfavorable against his candidature (he himself considered never a candidate for this) for the post of the Catholicos designate. He wanted to retire and has recently asked for a follower for his diocese. In spite of all these factors nobody thought that his eternal rest would happen in this year.
Usually Thirumeni had two starting points for his speech; the first would be the arrival of St. Thomas in 52 A.D; and the second was always 1952, the year in which he was appointed by God as the “Apostle of Malankara for North India”. The date of his arrival at Jabalpur was April 1, the day of all Fools; may be it was the divine will that he should become a Fool for God in North India. However, the central message was the mission in India. Really speaking, he was not an eloquent speaker and a prolific writer, in both ways he claimed nothing. Then what was his contribution? The mere presence. It changed everything. His long innings of 55 years in North India started in Jabalpur and never did he think about shifting his residence, either with administrative ambitions or for medical reasons, to Kerala. Bhilai was his dream land. The thirty four acre campus around the Bhilai Aramana is a tourist spot for the future missionaries of Malankara. A miniature of Kerala is cultivated there; the tapioca and all kinds of vegetables attract people there: but when you reach there you can not be back without at least two sentences about mission.
Thirumeni was consecrated in 1975 (Feb.16) along with Late Paulose Gregorios and Joseph Pchomius and with Mar Osthathios and Mar Makarios. At first he was the bishop of Madras diocese and later on it was divided in to two: Madras and Calcutta and eventually he became the bishop of the latter. There was virtually nothing in the new diocese other than the scattered congregations with in nine Indian states. But today almost all parishes have got schools, which not only pays for the salary of the priest but also steers the development of the places where they stand. The engineering college and arts and science college of Bhilai are exemplary in their academic standards as well as for their reputation as educational institutions, which do not demand capitation fee for professional courses and appointment of teachers.
Calcutta Diocese was inaugurated in 1979 but the bishop’s residence was consecrated only in 1985. St.Thomas Mission of Bhilai was started in 1972 as part of the 19th centenary celebrations of the Martyrdom of St. Thomas. Mar Theodosius was humble enough to remind his students that the Mission was started by H.G.Mar Osthathios and that he got the torch handed over. When the Macaudia Mission was started in 1986 Mar Theodosius was paving a new path in the history of the mission of the Malankara Orthodox Church. For many in the Church mission means “charity” now; Running orphanages and shelters for the disabled are the main activities for these. But for Mar Theodosius mission means the development of Indian villages. Just as mahatma Gandhi taught Thirumeni believed that “the future of India lies in its remote villages”. Therefore what he tried to do was educating the illiterate, empowering the women and children of the villages etc. About more than 100 villages of Macaudia got a “theodosian” touch by this new venture.
Thirumeni’s presence in North India itself was incredible. He came to north in the early fifties and has become a North Indian in many ways. No bishop of our Church has spent that much time in this part of our country. Thirumeni is almost unknown to many youngsters of Kerala, because he visited the mother land only for some unavoidable programs. Neither his picture nor his message might be popular among those who think that Orthodox bishops are consecrated for sacramental leadership in places between Thiruvithamcode and Coimbatore. Thirumeni liked to be in the north and it is based on his conviction that God called him for the mission of North India. That itself gave a message of our Church; we are concerned not only about Orthodox Diaspora but also for the people outside. The youth of our Church in the Diaspora was delighted when Thirumeni led a conference; this was not based on a speech, but its reason was the mere presence of Thirumeni.
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