The day started at the St. Athanasius Cathedral with the morning worship commencing at 7.30 am. The Catholicos of the East and Metropolitan Trustee, Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas-I, was the chief celebrant at the consecration ceremony which began with a holy Qurbono at 8.30 a.m. Twenty One metropolitans were present on the occasion assisting His Beatitude the Catholicos during the consecration ceremony.

Earlier the four-hour-long ordination process got under way with the ceremonial procession carrying the bishops designate to the Madbho. This was followed by the reading of the Patriarchal Bull, declaring the elevation of bishop-designate, for the spiritual organisations.

The ‘Ramban’, Rev. Geevarghese Thengumtharayil, passed through the consecration process which came to a formal conclusion with the priests chanting ‘oxios,’ holding the bishops high in their chairs by around 12 pm. Following the age-old traditions of the Syrian Church, the new metropolitan was named Mor Barnabas Geevarghese by the chief celebrant Catholicos Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas-I. The religious ceremonies were followed by a public reception.

Thrikkunnath, Aluva - 24th January 2010: Fulfilling the long standing wishes of the multitude of faithful, the Thrikkunnath St. Mary’s Church where the remains of three Syrian Church fathers are entombed and was remaining closed for more than 3 decades, was reopened for two days following a historic High Court verdict on 21st. It was a moment of great delight for the entire Jacobite Syrian Christians for whom this was of a very sentimental nature particularly considering that this church was once the nave centre of the Malankara Jacobite Syrian church at a time when the Church headquarters as well as the Angamali diocesan centre functioned from the Thirkkunnath Seminary located at the adjacent property.

Though it was Ambattu Mor Koorilos Geevarghese and Kadavil Mor Athanasious Paulose who laid the foundation for the seminary and the Church at Thrikkunnath, it was their famous successor Saint Athanasious Paulose, the former Malankara Metropolitan and the regional head of the Syriacs in India who was the key person behind the development of this Church and the nearby seminary. The Holy father passed away on January 25th 1953 and was entombed by the side of the tomb of Kadavil Mor Athanasious Paulose, the first Metropolitan of the Angamali diocese.  From that period until mid 1960’s it was the seat of Vayaliparambil Mor Gregorios Geevarghese, the then head of the Angamali diocese of the Jacobite Syrian Church. It was during this period, that the unity with a group in Malankara who separated from the Syrian Church five decades earlier occurred. However this brief period of unity did not lasted for long and a further separation happened in a decade’s time.

The Thrikkunnath St. Mary’s church first swelled into disputes in the late 1970’s following fresh dissident activities of the erstwhile Metropolitan faction who subsequently claimed ownership of both the church and the nearby seminary. Since then the premises was experiencing serious law and order problems following which the church remained closed as per the instruction of the Government authorities.  These disputes were continuing all through and continuous tensions were prevailing here.

Considering the longevity of the litigations in the various Courts between both the parties, the prelates and faithful of the Jacobite Syrian Church were demanding the reopening of the church for regular services so that it can be used by both the Churches until a final verdict from the Judicial courts comes. Though the entire Syrian Christians extended full support for any such moves, it was been regularly obstructed by some in the leadership of Metropolitan faction. The High Court verdict which came now at an unexpected time became a great moment of relief and joy for thousand of believers of the Church.

As per the special instruction of the High Court the Church prelates of both the Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church and the rival Malankara Orthodox church were allotted separate timings for offering prayers at the church and the tombs.  A large police force was present at the church premises there to keep law and order. On Saturday 22nd January, the feast day of Saintly Metropolitans, thousands of Jacobite Syrian Christian faithful had taken out a prayerful procession from various churches in Angamali diocese viz, Akaparambu, Paravoor, Pallikkara and Kothamangalam areas and reached the Thrikkunnath St. Mary’s chruch at 3.15 p.m. Metropolitans their Graces Joseph Mar Gregorios, Abraham Mar Severios, Elias Mar Athanasios and Yacob Mar Anthonios offered ‘Kauma’ and ‘Kukliyon’ prayers on the occassion. Later Catholicos Mor Baselios Thomas I who arrived in the church by 4.40 pm, accompanied by metropolitans, Vicar Fr Jacob Kochuparambil and other Church officials offered prayers in the Madbho of the reopened Church and at the sacred tombs of the departed Metropolitans. Scores of faithful who came from different parts of Malankara participated in the perunnal functions.

On Sunday the 23rd January Memorial Mass led by His Beatitude the Catholicos was celebrated at the nearby chapel and the year’s feast ended with prayers at the Thrikkunnath St. Mary’s Church and the sacred tombs of Metropolitans.

Special ViswasaSamrakshakan Supplement  

On Saturday the 23rd, the pilgrims who comes from various parts of Malankara by foot, will converge at Aluva town and will reach Thrikkunath St. Mary’s church by evening where the sacred tombs of Holy Father St. Athanasious Paulose, Metropolitans Mor Athanasious Paulose kadavil and Mor Gregorios Geevarghese Vayaliparambil of the Angamali diocese rests. Special intercessory payers by the Church prelates will be held at the sacred tombs on the occasion. On Sunday the 24th at 8.30 am, a Holy tri-Mass in memory of the Holy Fathers will be celebrated in the nearby chapel by His Beatitude Mor Baselios Thomas I, the Catholicos and the reigning head of the Syriacs in India. Their Graces the Metropolitans Mor Severious Abraham (diocesan bishop) and Mor Athanasious Elias (Vicar of the St. Athanasious Cathedral, Puthencuriz) will be the co-celebrants.

This year’s Thrikkunnathu Church feast bears special significance as it is the first dukrono that is being celebrated after the name of our Holy Father, St. Athanasious Paulose, is included in the 5th Tubden.  St. Athanasious Paulose, an ardent disciple of St. Gregorios Geevarghese of Parumala, is only the second Indian after St. Gregorios, whose name is recited universally in the Holy Mass. (It was way back in 1987 the name of St. Gregorios Chathuruthy was included in the 5th Tubden to be remembered worldwide along with the names of Patriarch St. Ignatius Elias III and Maphryono St. Baselios Yeldho, which was incidentally the first addition after more than 12 centuries in the history of the Malankara Syrian Church). Also this is the centenary year (2009-'10) of the Metropolitan consecration of our Holy Father, St. Athanasious Paulose.

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 Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem I, the supreme pontiff of the Syrian Church. 

It was 99 years before on 9th June 1910, St. Athanasious Paulose, was elevated to the high-priesthood by the Supreme head of the Universal Syrian Church, Patriarch H.H. Mor Ignatius Abded `Aloho (Abdulla II) of the Apostolic See of Antioch in a divine ceremony held at the Mor Sabor Mor Aphroth Jacobite Syrian Church at Akaparambu.  Initially he was given the responsibility of administering all the three northern dioceses including Angamali which was the largest of all the dioceses. The pious & saintly Mor Koorilose Paulose Kochuparambil was the Malankara Metropolitan at that time.  Following the demise of Mor Koorilose in 1917, St. Athanasious Paulose was unanimously chosen to the high post of Malankara Metropolitan by the Malankara Jacobite Syrian Christian Association which was later endorsed by the Patriarch.  Thus St. Athanasious became the fourth Primate of the Indian church who adorned the title of 'Malankara Metropolitan' since the inception of this title in the Mulanthuruthy Synod held in 1876. The historical Malankara Association of 1935 held at Karingachira St. George church once again unanimously chose His Eminence as the Malankara Metropolitan.

 

'SUSTHATHIKON'

http://www.syrianchurch.org/StAt/pdf/Susthathikon.pdf

The digital copy of the  'SUSTHATHIKON' linked here is the statement of empowerment given in writing to ST ATHANASIOUS PAULOSE (Valiya Thirumeni), after his ordination as a Metropolitan of the Angamali diocese of the Jacobite Syrian Church by the Chief Primate of the Church, H.H. Ignatius Abded'Aloho II, the Patriarch of Antioch & All the East in 1910. The original document is about 10 ft (3 meters) long and 1.5 ft wide.

 

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 Thrikkunnath became a major study centre for the upcoming clergy. During his 34-year tenure as Malankara Metropolitan, the Thrikkunnath Seminary also functioned as the Jacobite Syrian Church headquarters. In 1932 he rebuilt the nearby Thrikkunnath St. Mary's Church in its present form. Around that time he brought many Syriac Christian families from various parts of Angamali diocese and gave them land, free of cost, near to the Thrikkunnath 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. Athanasious 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.

 

The 'Mor Gregorios Syrian 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 on 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 his predecessor as well his successor in the Angamali diocese, Their Graces  Mor Athanasious Paulose Kadavil and Mor Gregorios Geevarghese 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 as a saintly father; he is the pride of the Malankara Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church. Fifty one years after his demise, on 19th August 2004, the Church canonized Mor Athanasius Paulose and on 18th September 2009, the historical Patriarchal bull permitting to recite the name of the holy father  in the 5th Tubden has been issued.

APOSTOLIC BULL   No.152/2009    dt. 18th September 2009

 

The first church dedicated in the name of St. Athanasious Paulose is situated in the premises of the Church headquarters at Puthencuriz.