Geevarghese Mar Gregorios Of Parumala
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Geevarghese Mar Gregorios of Parumala (15 June 1848 – 2 November 1902), also known as Parumala Thirumeni, was a Metropolitan of the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church. Parumala Thirumeni became the first person of Indian origin to be canonised as saint. In 1947, the
Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (MOSC) also known as the Indian Orthodox Church (IOC) or simply as the Malankara Church, is an Autocephaly, autocephalous Oriental Orthodox Churches, Oriental Orthodox church headquartered in #Catholicate ...
declared Mar Gregorios as a saint, making him the first saint from India canonized by that church. Also, in November 1987, the
Syriac Orthodox Church The Syriac Orthodox Church (), also informally known as the Jacobite Church, is an Oriental Orthodox Christian denomination, denomination that originates from the Church of Antioch. The church currently has around 4-5 million followers. The ch ...
canonized him as a saint.


Early life

Geevarghese was born in the Pallathetta family of Chathuruthy house at Mulanthuruthy near
Cochin Kochi ( , ), formerly known as Cochin ( ), is a major port city along the Malabar Coast of India bordering the Laccadive Sea. It is part of the district of Ernakulam in the state of Kerala. The city is also commonly referred to as Ernaku ...
,
India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
on 15 June 1848. His parents were Mathai Geevarghese and Mariam Geevarghese. He was called by the name ‘Kochaippora’ and was given the baptismal name ‘Geevarghese’. Geevarghese had two brothers and two sisters; Kurian, Eli, Mariam and Varkey. Geevarghese was the youngest. Geevarghese's mother died when he was a small boy and since then he was under the loving care of his elder sister Mariam. At a very young age, Geevarghese had shown interest in spiritual matters. His devotion, humility and above all, his ability to sing the traditional Syriac hymns beautifully and perfectly, came to the notice of his uncle Geevarghese Malpan. The uncle wanted to raise his nephew to be a priest and his family members, who knew Geevarghese's character, agreed to the Malpan's request.


Priesthood

Geevarghese Mar Gregorios was born into a well-known family of Malankara Christians, with a lineage that can be traced back to the brotherhood of Mor Anthrayos, a bishop of the
Syriac Orthodox Church The Syriac Orthodox Church (), also informally known as the Jacobite Church, is an Oriental Orthodox Christian denomination, denomination that originates from the Church of Antioch. The church currently has around 4-5 million followers. The ch ...
in Jerusalem. He was taught by his uncle Geevarghese Malpan and was ordained the 9-year-old Geevarghese, a ''qoruyo'' ( sub-deacon) on the
Feast of the Cross The Feast of the Holy Cross, or Feast of the Cross, commemorates True Cross, the cross used in the crucifixion of Jesus. In the Christianity, Christian liturgical calendar, there are several different celebrations which honor and celebrate the ...
(Kanni 14, M.E.1033 / 26 September 1857) at the age of ten by Malankara Metropolitan
Mathews Mar Athanasius Mathews Mar Athanasius Mar Thoma XIII (25 April 1818 – 16 July 1877) was the undisputed Malankara Metropolitan of the Malankara Church from 1852 until 1865, and the Reformist claimant to the Metropolitanate from 1865 until his death in 1877 ...
at St. George Syrian Cathedral, Karingachira. He continued his training with Malpan until the latter died from
smallpox Smallpox was an infectious disease caused by Variola virus (often called Smallpox virus), which belongs to the genus '' Orthopoxvirus''. The last naturally occurring case was diagnosed in October 1977, and the World Health Organization (W ...
. Gregorios was also infected with smallpox but survived. He was ordained as a Mshamshono (Deacon) by Yuyakim Mor Koorilos ''Reesh-Episcopa of Malankara'' ( Patriarchal Delegate of Malankara) then after one month Priest at the age of 18 in 1865 also Cor-Episcopa (Monk-Archpriest) again by Yuyakim Mor Koorilos ''Reesh-Episcopa of Malankara'' ( Patriarchal Delegate of Malankara) and as a Ramban (monk-priest) at the age of 22 by Malankara Metropolitan Joseph Mar Dionysios in 1872. On 10 December 1876, the Ignatius Peter IV
Patriarch of Antioch The Patriarch of Antioch is a traditional title held by the bishop of Antioch (modern-day Antakya, Turkey). As the traditional "overseer" (, , from which the word ''bishop'' is derived) of the first gentile Christian community, the position has ...
, promoted the 28-year old Gregorios to be a Metropolitan at St. Thomas Syrian Church, Vadakkan Paravoor, at which point his official name became Geevarghese Mar Gregorios. He was the youngest of who all were elevated as bishops and was called ''Kochu Thirumeni'' (''Young Bishop''). Gregorios was given the charge of Niranam Diocese.


Metropolitan

In his bishopric, in the Niranam Diocese, Gregorios established various churches and was the motivator to establish schools in different parts of Malankara. In the late 1890s, many educational institutions were started by the Malankara Church under the initiative and guidance of him and Joseph Mar Dionysius. Examples of these include St. Thomas School at Mulanthuruthy, St. Ignatius School at
Kunnamkulam Kunnamkulam is a municipal town located in the Thrissur District of Kerala, India, with historical origins tracing back to the Paleolithic age. Renowned for its deep-rooted cultural heritage, vibrant printing industry, and religious diversity, ...
, and the Syrian English School (now known as MGM High School) at
Thiruvalla Thiruvalla, () also spelled Tiruvalla, is a Municipalities of Kerala, municipality in Pathanamthitta district, Kerala, India. The town is spread over an area of and has a population of 52,883 people, down from 56,837 in 2001. It is also the H ...
. Following the death of fellow metropolitans (bishops), the administration of Thumpamon and Kollam dioceses was also passed down to him. In 1887, the first block of the Parumala Seminary was consecrated. By 1895, Gregorios had made Parumala his main spiritual centre. The church that he founded there in that year was consecrated to Saint Peter and Saint Paul. He would wake at 4 am to pray the
Shehimo Shehimo (, ; English language, English: Book of Common Prayer, also spelled Sh'himo) is the West Syriac Rite, West Syriac Christian breviary of the Syriac Orthodox Church and the West Syriac Rite, West Syriac Saint Thomas Christians of India (S ...
prayers and he fasted on Wednesday and Fridays, as well as during
Lent Lent (, 'Fortieth') is the solemn Christianity, Christian religious moveable feast#Lent, observance in the liturgical year in preparation for Easter. It echoes the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the desert and enduring Temptation of Christ, t ...
. Geevarghese visited Jerusalem in 1895. He visited almost all the important places of Christendom and led the Passion Week services at
Syrian Orthodox Church The Syriac Orthodox Church (), also informally known as the Jacobite Church, is an Oriental Orthodox Christian denomination, denomination that originates from the Church of Antioch. The church currently has around 4-5 million followers. The ch ...
in the
Holy City A holy city is a city important to the history or faith of a specific religion. Such cities may also contain at least one headquarters complex (often containing a religious edifice, seminary, shrine, residence of the leading cleric of the religi ...
with accompanied members Geevarghese Mar Dionysius of Vattasseril, Kochuparambil Paulose Mar Koorilos and Sleeba Mar Osthatheos (Later Patriarchal Delegate of Malankara) led as guide. On his return, he collected a certain amount from all the Parishes in Malankara and sent a Silver Cross as offering to the Holy church in
Jerusalem Jerusalem is a city in the Southern Levant, on a plateau in the Judaean Mountains between the Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean and the Dead Sea. It is one of the List of oldest continuously inhabited cities, oldest cities in the world, and ...
.


Disciples

Among the many disciples of Gregorios, five deserve special notice #Vattasseril Geevarghese (later, Malankara Metropolitan Geevarghese Mar Dionysius of Vattasseril) ( served as the Private Secretary of Mar Gregorios) #Pampady Paulose (later, Paulose Mar Coorilose ). #Kuttikattu Paulose (later, Paulose Mar Athanasios) #Kallasseril Geevarghese (later, Catholicos of Malankara Church and Malankara Metropolitan Baselios Geevarghese II) #Rev Fr. V.I.Zachariah of Vadakkethalackal Mahakudumbam, Mavelikkara, the priest who involved himself in rebuilding Sabarimala Temple after the fire and on the death of his father in law , Kochummen Muthalali of Polachirackal family who had contracted and funded the construction.


Death

The Saint had been subjected to a stomach ulcer and it became chronic in 1902. Treatment proved futile and he grew weaker and weaker. On 2 November 1902, Thirumeni left for his heavenly abode. The funeral was conducted at Saint Peter's and Saint Paul's Orthodox Church, Parumala, on 3 November 1902. Thousands of people and hundreds of priests were present at the funeral who gave testimony of the saintly Gregorios. The mausoleum which Gregorios was interred in, has become a popular pilgrimage site.


Canonization


Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church

On the occasion of 45th death anniversary of Geevarghese Mar Gregorios, based on the decision of the episcopal synod held in 1947, Baselios Geevarghese II,
Catholicos of the East Catholicos of the East may refer to: * Patriarch of the Church of the East * Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan * Catholicos of India * Maphrian See also * List of patriarchs of the Church of the East {{OrientalOrthodoxy-st ...
and Malankara Metropolitan declared Mar Gregorios as a saint for the
Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (MOSC) also known as the Indian Orthodox Church (IOC) or simply as the Malankara Church, is an Autocephaly, autocephalous Oriental Orthodox Churches, Oriental Orthodox church headquartered in #Catholicate ...
on 2 November 1947.


Syriac Orthodox Church

According to the recommendation of the local synod of Church in India, held on 22 August 1987 Ignatius Zakka I, Patriarch of Antioch, head of
Syriac Orthodox Church The Syriac Orthodox Church (), also informally known as the Jacobite Church, is an Oriental Orthodox Christian denomination, denomination that originates from the Church of Antioch. The church currently has around 4-5 million followers. The ch ...
declared Mar Gregorios as canonized saint for
Jacobite Syrian Christian Church The Jacobite Syrian Christian Church, also known as the Malankara Syriac Orthodox Church, Malankara Jacobite Syrian Church, or the Syriac Orthodox Church in India is an autonomous maphrianate of the Syriac Orthodox Church, Syriac Orthodo ...
on 20 October 1987.


Major Shrines

* Mulanthuruthy Church - St. Thomas Orthodox Syrian Cathedral, Mulanthuruthy is one of the major shrines of Parumala Mar Gregorios known as the baptized church. * St. Peter and St. Paul's Church, Parumala- It is a major pilgrim site for all Christians in kerala. The tomb of the late bishop is located in the Parumala church, administer by the
Indian Orthodox Church The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (MOSC) also known as the Indian Orthodox Church (IOC) or simply as the Malankara Church, is an autocephalous Oriental Orthodox church headquartered in Devalokam, near Kottayam, India. It serves India's ...
.


References


External links


About thirumeni on the Official site of Malankara ChurchOfficial Site for Parumala Church
{{DEFAULTSORT:Geevarghese Mar Gregorios of Parumala Indian Christian saints Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church saints 1848 births 1902 deaths 19th-century Oriental Orthodox bishops People from Ernakulam district Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church bishops Saint Thomas Christians Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Christians