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January Edition 2016 Volume 3(1)

Table of Contents
Message from Diocesan Episcopa................................ 3
Message from Archbishop of Canterbury .................... 4
Editorial ........................................................................ 7
Akashathilaye Bhava (Bishop of the Skies) ................ 9
A bishop with an Ecumenical Vision par excellence .. 10
Remembering Kochu Thirumeni ................................ 12

The COMPE Executive Committee

President: The Rt. Revd. Dr. Geevarghese Mar Theodosius
Vice President: Revd.Dr. Thomas Philips
Secretary: Mr.P.M.Mathew
Treasurer: Mr.Jaffey Chacko

The Humanity and Divinity of Jesus ........................... 14

O star of wonder, star of night ................................ 16
Pastoral Ministry- Some Contemporary Challenges .. 17
What Lay People Expect from a Priest in the Mar
Thoma ........................................................................ 19
Appeal for Peace in Syria ........................................... 24
Christian Concerns about benefit sanctions .............. 26

Editorial Board of the Mar Thoma Echo

Editorial Director: Dr. Zac Varghese
Chief Editor: Revd. Jose Punamadam
Mr. Sherry Mathews
Mr. Oommen Abraham
Mrs. Geena Ajay

Bishop Angaelos gives address on refugee crisis ....... 27

Global Chrisitian Forum ............................................. 28

For private circulation only

Questions submitted to the CTE Presidents at the CTE

Forum meeting in August 2015.................................. 29

Disclaimer: The views published in this journal are

When pain is pleasant ................................................ 29

endorse the contents or views expressed and they are

Christian toy retailer, Mr. Gary Grant seeks to 'honour

God' ............................................................................ 30
News & Reports ......................................................... 30

those of its authors. Editors or the COMPE do not

not liable for the contents or views in any form.
Send your articles- compe.echo@gmail.com

Episcopal Visit Report ............................................ 30

Photo Gallery ............................................................. 32

Message from Diocesan

Episcopa

Dear friends in Christ,

We are celebrating Christmas at a time when a
number of killings are taking place in various
continents of our planet earth. European
countries are flooded with refugees coming from
Syria, Afghanistan and other countries. People are
trying to get away with children from places
where poverty is on the increase and so many die
while crossing the ocean. Even in developed
nations, the number of homeless are on the
increase.
God incarnated in Jesus Christ faced difficulties
when Joseph and Mary could not find a safe and
secure place for the birth of their first born. The
life-giving Messiah encountered the life -negating
order of King Herod who ordered the slaughter of
children below the age of two. The one who was
born to die on Calvary was taken as a refugee to
Egypt from Bethlehem by His loving parents.
Think of the days the Holy Family had to wander,
though they had a place of their own in Nazareth.
Jesus is the answer to our present problems of the
world. He is the manifestation of love and He is
the Prince of Peace. He taught us to love as He
has loved us. Let us celebrate Christmas
meaningfully to bring peace on earth. Like the
shepherds and the wise men, let us bow down and
worship Him (St.Mat.2:11).
Church is the gift of God to the world. As
members of the Church we are called to incarnate
in this world to reach out to the people with the
Gospel of Jesus Christ. All the sacraments in the
Church are meant to guide and lead the members
for a sacramental living in a multi-cultural and
multi-racial setting with the spirit of service and
sacrifice.

New Year is a time for commitment. When the

Church responds to the challenges of the day, we
need the power of the Holy Spirit to transform us
to open our faith to the future, as a community
that is youthful in life and joyful in mission,
continuing the historical journey with the Lord
and Saviour Jesus Christ from generation to
generation. Though, in our parishes, there are
separate meetings for children, youth and women,
their direct participation in the common worship
with the rest of the congregation is important. The
more the children and young people are involved
in the ministry of the church, the more likely they
will stay interested in the ministry. We are not
prisoners of the past, but a community led by the
Holy Spirit, journeying with Christ, together in
Gods love, to the future through unchartered
ways. This means that the Church should happen
in human experiences. The church-life is revealed
through fellowship, solidarity, love, care,
compassion and justice. Do we long for a Church
better than the one we see today? If so, it is a call
to listen to God in all cognitive humility and be
radically obedient to Him. Let Christ in each one
of us respond to Gods voice in obedience
(Isai.6:1-8), obeying with commitment to journey
to the bright future. God has not finished with our
world yet (1Kings 19). God of Elijah is asking us to
move on.
I believe that it is the time for our Diocese to write
a new chapter in our historical journey as a
Church in the geographical space of North
America and Europe. We are no longer a potted
plant here. Our roots have gone deep in the soil
and we are now people of the land. We are lighted
to lighten. There is a prophetic ministry that is to
be carried out. In the rapidly changing landscape
of the Church, orbitshifting innovations are
possible with proper vision, mind set and
commitment. The innovative ministries will take
form when we conceptualize and strive to achieve
them by the guidance of the Holy Spirit,
continuous Bible Study, regular prayer and
worship and common witness. Our Commitment
to Christ will ward off all possible dilutions. Our
God is an awesome God. Let us trust and obey
Him.
On December 31,2015, I am completing 7 years of
ministry in the Diocese of North America and
Europe. I take this opportunity to thank God for
the gift of life, my parents for guiding me to be a
servant of God, the Church for ordaining me, and
the Diocese for giving me an opportunity to walk
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with all of you. I thank you for your love and

support in my lifes journey.
It was a challenging experience for me to minister
in this Diocese. I am grateful to all the clergy and
lay members who ministered with me from time
to time. It gives me joy that COMPE came into
existence in the UK and Europe and a publication
called ECHO has become a reality. There is
change and continuity. Let me close with the
words of St. Paul, I thank my God every time I
remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I
always pray with joy because of your partnership
in the Gospel from the first day until now, being
confident of this, that He who began a good work
in you will carry it on the completion until the day
of Christ Jesus Phil.1:3-6.
God be with you.
Mar Theodosius+

Have you had a kindness shown?

Pass it on!
It was not given for thee alone,
Pass it on!
Let it travel down the years,
Let it wipe anothers tears,
Till in Heaven the deed appears
Pass it on! Henry Burton (AD 1886)

Message from Archbishop of

Canterbury

Editorial
Call no man worthless for whom Christ
died.
It is with enormous sadness we dedicate the
January issue of the ECHO to the loving memory
of the Rt. Revd Dr. Zacharias Mar Theophilus
Suffragan Metropolitan who passed away on 27th
Dec 2015. We hastily added an obituary and two
articles to recollect great contributions of this
amazing servant of God. We offer our deepest
condolences to Thirumenis family, our
Metropolitan, brother bishops, members of the
world-wide Mar Thoma community and the
ecumenical community. We thank God for his
amazing servant ministry. Let us remember his
messages and follow his advices. Let us continue
our journeys with good memories of our beloved
Thirumeni and the assured eternal hope of
resurrection and heavenly bliss.
It is the season of Christmas and the New Year
once again; hence, it is the right moment to renew
friendships, enquire about the wellbeing of the
members of our community and share the
seasons joy and hope with everyone. Today, faced
with the tragedies of our world, feeling powerless
as we confront our complex lives, we need
inspiration! The Christmas message should lift
our eyes from the desolate rubble of everyday life
to glimpse the future and the hope that God
promises His people.
There are three contrasting realities at this
Christmas season: one of hope, festivities,
worship, nativity plays, and carol singing; there is
second reality of a world filled with crises,
terrorism, carnage in Iraq, Syria and other places,
refugee crisis, and many individual and ecological
concerns; the third reality is the mindless
consumerism
of
buying,
spending,
and
partying.The fact that there is so much conflict in
the world, within families, communities, religious
groups means that we have no peace and security.
Nations devote more and more scarce resources
to ever more intricate weaponry to fight terrorism
than to the alleviation of poverty and want in our
world. This suggests to us that for some perverse
reason our world has failed to truly embrace the
message of the angels of peace on earth. There is
no protective shield against a determined suicide
bomber. How do we present the real Christmas to
such a world?

Christmas renews our faith in the promise of

peace on earth, and calls us once again to praise
God whose glory extends over all creation and
beyond all our imagination. Jesus came to us as a
child threatened by violence, as a refugee whose
family fled to Egypt due to the selfish interests of
a king. It is a time, for offering our thanks and
praise for the gift of God's love revealed in all
human situations. Jesus Christ has given us the
great commandment to love one another and calls
us to love our enemies. He has called us to seek
solidarity with the neglected and abandoned. That
is where Jesus is at this Christmas; He is with the
homeless and in the refugee camps; He is in the
margins of the societies. Let us celebrate the hope
of peace despite continuing violence and
international terrorism, despite fear and
suspicion, hatred and greed, nationalism and
globalisation. Christmas tells us of a God who is
passionately committed to peace in this world, a
God who goes to the greatest extremes of selfgiving to break into this world, but who does so
not so much by threat as by lovingly drawing
people into His salvific work. He is not a God of
anger and vengeance; He is a God of love and
infinite compassion. It is a time to recollect that it
is Jesus who came in search of us. Christmas
season should give us every reason to relax, but
often there are pressure points because of the
circumstances we are in. some of these are of our
own making, and often in a muddled way we
forget Jesus is the reason for the season of
goodwill. Our faith, prayer, and friendship have
much to contribute for removing these difficulties.
It is good to recollect that even the very first
Christmas was not without worries and problems.
Mary and Joseph had their own unique concerns.
Joseph was unable to comprehend one so young
and beautiful, so pure and as innocent as Mary,
his one love, to be with a child of amazing
mystery. His mind must have been flooded with
head-splitting questions: How could it be? What
is the explanation? How will the birth occur?
Who will help in their journey? What will the
future bring? Therefore, Joseph had three
immediate hurdles to clear at that time:
understanding the condition of Mary who is with
child; getting to Bethlehem with a pregnant wife
for the census, as required by law, and finding a
place suitable for the birth of a child. We often do
not give enough credit to Joseph. Joseph is a
model for us all to face our day to day problems,
in becoming an answer to problems, facing others
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by doing our duties and resolving what seem to be

lifes insoluble problems. Some regard these
stresses can be relieved by throwing money at
them and the total taking charge, of doing things
ourselves with our own agenda. A problem shared
is a problem solved; at Christmas we have the
opportunity to send little packet of worries or
bundles of joy to others to share with. We can
place our worries and concerns at the feet of our
Lord. Mary and Joseph were totally open to God's
will, and that relieved their stresses in miraculous
ways, with an inner peace and serenity which all
of us crave for. It is indeed a good time for sharing
our concerns and joy.
Christmas is meant to celebrate the most spiritual
act of self-giving the world has ever known.
However, it is now substituted by the largest show
of materialism ever witnessed; it is the utter
defiance of God's gift by worshipping at temples
of materialism in the form of mindless Christmas
parties and gifts. Are we caught in the web of this
gift-giving and partying to a point where, if we
strive to opt out, we will be ostracized by society?
Are we too far diverted from the true meaning of
Christmas? Do we able to think of giving nonmaterial, spiritual, gifts at this Christmas?
Christmas is about what it could be and not what
it has become today. Be the first to start to break
the power of materialism and consumerism that
holds us by the jugular vein. We need to start at
some point; this season is a good one to start. Let
us keep thinking about the gift of our friendships
as a starting point. The real friendship is living
within the life of the other, the differentiated
unity, a perichoretic existence of copying the
Trinitarian model.
It is at Christmas that we begin to understand
Marys song, the Magnificat. Drawn from Old
Testament scriptures, the Magnificat speaks of
great change. Stanley Jones once described the
Magnificat as the most revolutionary document
on earth. To people denied hope, the Magnificat
brings hope. From our comfort zones of life we
struggle to appreciate just how much this song
means to communities in the poverty stricken
pockets of refugee camps, our neighbourhoods
and the country. Nor do we appreciate, the fear
with which the Magnificat is heard by the
tyrannies and powers that degrade and exploit.
The Magnificat challenges our perspectives, and
those
that
are
considered
often
as
unchallengeable.

A story is told of a wandering scholar and

philosopher, named Mauretus, who was without
material means. He became ill whilst travelling in
Italy and was taken to a hospital for the down and
out. The learned doctors did not recognise him;
they discussed his case in scholastic Latin, never
dreaming that Mauretus could understand what
they were saying in Latin. As one doctor
suggested that such a worthless wanderer might
be used for medical experiments, Mauretus
looked up and reproached them in the words:
call no man worthless for whom Christ
died. This should be our message at this
Christmas in the spirit of the Magnificat.

The good
news of Christmas season is hope and
reconciliation; the good news of Christmas should
remind us that God reaches out in love and calls
us to love one another. We must try to develop a
sense of unity with everyone. It is because of our
inflated ego we become restless in taking action
against
others
who
have
a
different
understanding. It is important to look for this
unity or oneness in the heart of everything.
Therefore, the simple message of Christmas is
this: if God has been the Father and creator, then
forever at the heart of this universe there has been
a giving and receiving, an exchange of love
between man and God. In the establishment of
this communion between man and God there is
no conflict. Therefore, in seeking God we find one
another in love. Therefore, there can be no
spirituality without and other-centred love. Let us
pray the prayer of St. Ambrose: "Let Mary's soul
be in us to glorify the Lord; let her spirit be in us
that we may rejoice in God our Saviour." The
Christmas story is much bigger story than what is
going on today we are bound up in the life and
vision of God. God reminded the people of Judah
of his covenant with them over and over; and we
are reminded of the saving promise fulfilled in
Jesus. God loves us. This loving all-powerful,
Shepherd-King is on our side. In him, we have
hope and a future.
Please accept our good wishes of the season and
prayers for the New Year. May Gods abundant
blessing be always with you all in the New Year.
The Editorial Board
8

Rt. Revd Dr. Zacharias Mar

Theophilus Suffragan
Metropolitan:
Akashathilaye Bhava
(Bishop of the Skies)
Dr. Zac Varghese, London
It seemed like only yesterday that I opened a
Christmas card and email from our very dear
Zachariah Thirumeni. It therefore, came as an
enormous shock to hear of his untimely and
unexpected death on 27th December 2015. He was
one of the great leaders and visionaries of our
church and of our times.
It seemed that from the start he was destined for
greatness. Thirumeni was born on 29th August
1938 in the family of Venparampil Mattackal at
Niranam. His father was Mr. VK Oommen and the
mother was Mrs. Mariamma Oommen. His
parents affectionately named him Sunny; he
maintained a sunny smiling countenance all his
life. His official name was Oommen Koruth. He
studied at the Union Christian College, Alwaye,
and at the Titus II teachers college at Thiruvalla.
He taught at various schools: the Perumbhavoor
Ashram School, St. Thomas school at Mysore, and
also at St. Thomas School at Trivandrum. While
he was teaching he had a very special divine call
for the ministry. He then studied theology at
Jabalpur and Princeton Theological Colleges. He
was ordained as a deacon and then as a priest in
1966. He was consecrated as a Ramban in April
1980 and as a bishop on 1st May 1980. Therefore,
he has been bishop of our church for the last 35
years. These were blessed years for those came in
contact with him. He was the first resident
Diocesan Bishop of the Diocese of North America
and Europe, and was mostly responsible for it is
current status and structure.
The title of this obituary is based on a loving nick
name that he earned as the Bishop of the skies
during his spell as the Diocesan bishop of North
America and Europe, and his 15 years
involvement with various committees and
commissions of the WCC. He was travelling all
over the North America and Europe, indeed the
world for establishing Mar Thoma diaspora
communities and establishing ecumenical
relationships.
In my collection I have a

photograph of Thirumeni, catching forty winks of

sleep on an airport bench, totally exhausted from
his work and travels. It is amazing that he also
spent the last few hours of his life on this earth in
the skies. Even when he was tired and when his
doctors advised him rest, he struggled on, his
ministry was important than his personal
comforts. His untimely death is an irreplaceable
loss for the Church and the humanity.
He was also greatly loved and respected by the
Focolare community, and he was affectionately
known as Metropolitan Zacharias to the fraternity
of Bishops in this movement and also in the WCC.
He was also known as Zacharias the dreamer for
dreaming of amazing projects and plans;
Santhigiri and Tharangam at Aratupuzha are
examples of his dreams becoming true or
demonstrating that his ideas have legs. He left a
wonderful
legacy
through
his
amazing
contributions. I coined the phrase: A harvest of
peace and a festival peace for writing a tribute to
him in the book, A journey by Faith, published
by the Diocese of North America and Europe in
1998. Let us thank God for this amazing humble
servant of God who cared for the poor and the
underprivileged though many charitable projects
that he started during his servant ministry
following the example of his master and saviour,
Jesus the Christ.
He was indeed a bright star and a beacon of light
to many desperate and helpless people; one of the
bright lights has now gone out. He brought
wisdom and understanding through his sermons
and writings. Zacharias Thirumeni was a man of
amazing God-given talents, he spoke with wit,
intellect and style; he wrote with ease and a
flowing style. He had a poetic imagination and
amazing creativity. He also wrote poetry and
hymns. His very short articles in the Tharaka
under the name, Mar Theo, addressed topical
issues of importance with wit, logic and
philosophical insights. He was loyal to the great
reforming traditions of our church. He tried his
best to stimulate the theological understandings,
missional, sociological, ecumenical, and ecological
responsibilities of the church. He was a great
friend of the people, a listening pastor, and a man
of strict and compassionate discipline in diocesan
administration and ministry.
The Mar Thoma Church and international
ecumenical communities are indebted to
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Thirumeni for his great contributions, and

everyone who knew him will miss him greatly.
Thirumeni had an amazing God-given presence,
which is difficult to define or explain, and it is
something that you felt in his august presence.
May God be praised for all his amazing gift and
his boundless capacity for love. Let us thank God
for this humble servant of God. May his soul rest
in peace.

Dr. Zacharias Mar

Theophilus Suffragan
Metropolitan
A bishop with an Ecumenical
Vision par excellence
Rev. Dr. M. J. Joseph, Kottayam

Dr. Zacharias Mar Theophilus Suffragan

Metropolitan has been called to his Eternal home
on Sunday the 27th December 2015.He has left a
legacy for the Church. May God Almighty help us
to translate the tenets of his legacy into living
tradition of service to the whole humanity.
In an article by a Roman Catholic Theologian, an
attempt was made to describe the identity of the
Mar Thoma Church by quoting the words of Isaac
to Jacob. The voice of the Mar Thoma Church is
of the Protestant, but the hands are the hands of
the Syrian Church.. For him, the Mar Thoma
Church has a dual identity. Church historians like
Dr. Kaag Bago had pigeon- holed Mar Thoma
Church as a strange combination of Catholicism
and Protestantism, of conservatism and

radicalism, of traditionalism in worship and

revivalism in preaching.All the churches know a
little about the tension between tradition and
reformation,
between
Catholicism
and
Protestantism. But I know of no other church in
the world where the tension is greater than the
Mar Thoma ChurchHowever in this tension or
rather in the ability to comprehend both the
Orthodox tradition and the protestant message
one may find the significance of the Mar Thomas
Church in the families of Christian Churches in
the world. In the 349- member Churches under
the umbrella of the WCC, the Mar Thoma Church
has assumed a new identity of its own through the
presence and participation of our Church leaders
like Mar Theophilus Suffragan Metropolitan who
truly represents the ethos and the identity of the
Church in a creative tension. In a festschrift
article on his 60th birthday, Justice K. T. Thomas
qualified Thirumeni as a blend of the Old and the
New. This ecumenical trait of Thirumeni is
further elaborated by Fr.Dr.K.M.George, an
orthodox theologian and an ecumenist of repute
as Theophilus- a friend of God and of the
ecumenical Movement whose gentleness and
warmth of friendship have made him a worthy
ambassador of the Mar Thoma Church.( See the
Festschrift volume under the title, A Journey by
Faith, published by the Diocese of North America
and Europe on his 60th birthday,1998).His
contributions in the Ecumenical circles at the
national and global level is indeed great. He was a
member of the Executive Committee of the WCC
for two terms, 1991-1998 and 1999-2006.His
leadership role in the several sub-committees of
the WCC and the CCA have been well recognized.
Dr. Mathews George, CCA Executive qualifies him
as an Ecumenical diplomat.
Who is an ecumenist?
I would say: those who are concerned with the
affirmation of life for all in a borderless world are
ecumenists. The Oikoumene vision for the whole
inhabited earth
makes him restless. In the
ecumenical involvement of Mar Theophilus
Suffragan Metropolitan one may notice his
passionate commitment to the pillars of wider
ecumenism. The contemporary ecumenism of
today without negating the meaning of classical
ecumenism affirms two important aspects of a
holistic ministry. They are:-inter-religious
ecumenism-searching
for
a
theological
understanding of other faiths and ecological
ecumenism-envisioning a caring attitude to Gods
10

creation. Santhigiri ashram, the brain child of

Mar Theophilus, is where all these three
dimensions of ecumenism are given visible
expressions in a humble way. Of late his a decade
of service to the Chengannur-Mavelikara Diocese,
as the Diocesan Bishop, Thirumenis secular and
diaconal ministry at large is quite visible through
the programmes and projects of Tharangaminstitutions.
The dynamic ecumenical leadership of Thirumeni
is seen in his active involvement in the Nilackal
Ecumenical TRUST as its first secretary. His
active leadership in the WCC deliberations from
Canberra(1991) to Harare(1998) and later to
Brazil(2006) as a member of the Central
Committee of the WCC have also left indelible
marks on the sands of time.
Ideas have legs:
As a practical ecumenist, the incarnation of God
in Christ has its ultimate bearing on
humanization. This ecumenical vision has found
visible expressions through his participation in
various bodies of the CCA and the WCC and the
World Vision. This concern has found a fitting
space at the establishment of Mochana at
Manganam, the founding of Asha Bhavan at
Pathanapuram and the launching of a Cancer and
Palliative care unit at Santhigiri. In a press
interview published by the Malayala Manorama
on his 70th birthday (29 August 2008),
Thirumeni has elaborated the compelling scenes
that had prompted him to start these ecumenical
forums for the suffering ones. The family trait of
Mar Theophlus, as written by a biographer
P.T.Kuruvilla, makes good sense. Mattackal
family had its dwelling near the bank of a river at
Niranam. A river is the highest form of the
ecumenical symbol. A river that flows assimilates
and absorbs everything with a high sense of
comprehension. The river has it borders, but it
always overflows. The degree of convergence
makes a delta which becomes a sacred space. This
family trait which I call ecumenical, is widely
attested in the life of the bishop by a host of his
WCC friends and others in the Festschrift volume,
A Journey by Faith (edited by Abraham
Mattackal,1998). None will dispute the fact that
Thirumeni has been the brand ambassador of
ecological Ecumenism. The ecological innovations
at Santhigiri and the various speeches he
delivered and the articles he wrote on ecoconcerns testify to this.

Scanning his Ecumenical thoughts:

Our late Metropolitan, Dr. Alexander Mar Thoma
Valiya Metropolitan, having acknowledged his
leadership and ecumenical potential wrote: We
thank God for the vision and leadership of Mar
Theophilus and for the different ways in which
God used him to serve His people in different
parts of the world. Rt. Rev. Geevarghese Mar
Athanasius Suffragan Metropolitan, who wrote
the Foreword to the volume, compares him to
Joseph the dreamer. One should recall the words
of Dr. P. J. Abdulkalam, the former President of
India in this context. The Dream is not what
you see in sleep. Dream is the thing which does
not let you sleep. The dream which Mar
Theoplius had in a hotel room at Denmark, while
attending a WCC meeting, has been realized in
the establishment of Santhigriri ashram.
In the WCC meetings, Mar Theophilus used to
remind the Churches that excellence in Christian
mission should go with ethics. While reflecting on
the wide impact of globalization, he cautioned
the churches to remain in vigilance. He added
that globalization should not be regarded as sign
of unity, but simply as an economic process where
ethical values are sidetracked. This has been
widely reported in the WCC networks. In the
ministry of the Church the pastoral and the
prophetic elements should go hand in hand. He
has exhorted the world Church for combating the
evils of violence, sexism and moral decay.
Disintegration of the family, he pointed out, is a
result of a steep decline in spiritual life. (In a
message given to the Church in Essen, West
Germany). The credibility of the Church as a
Eucharistic community rooted in the values of
the Kingdom of God should form the basic norm
for Christian praxis.
In several of the WCC negotiations, Thirumeni
has been holding the flag of peace and harmony.
In a negotiation of WCC in combating ethnic strife
at Sudan, bishop was a participant. He was quite
consistent with his message for peace and
reconciliation. The Church has to get involved in
conflictive situations. But the counter culture it
represents makes a difference in the total
situation.
In an article entitled,
Ecumenical Journey
st
towards the 21 century, Dr. Konrad Raiser, the
former general Secretary of the WCC, calls Mar
Theophilus a faithful and sensitive member of
11

the Executive Committee of the WCC and one

who is fully aware of the hopes and crises which
characterize the ecumenical journey towards the
21st Century. In another article, Dr.Geevarghse
Mar Theodosius gives credit to the ecumenical
contributions of Mar Theophilus in organizing
the Mar Thoma Diaspora communities in North
America and Africa.Dr.K.C.Abraham , an Indian
theologian of repute, speaks of the bishop as an
ecumenical leader with passionate commitment
to pastoral ministry and is one deeply rooted in
the local realities. Dr. Zac Varghese of London
adds colorful feathers in the ecumenical cap of
Mar Theophilus by describing Santhigiri as a
harvest of silence and a festival of peace.
Writing about the ecumenical involvement of Mar
Theophilus in the WCC meetings His Holinesas
Aram
I,
moderator
of
WCC,
writes:
Rt.Rev.Zacharias Mar Theophilus participates
in the ecumenical movement out of his own
conviction and not just as a respreesenative of
his Church.
I am also happy to note that
Thirumeni had the privilege to serve the
Ecumenical Christian Centre, Bangalore as its
chairman during 1993-95. I also owe a debt of
gratitude to Thirumeni not only as a clergyman of
the Church but also as one had the privilege to
serve the Mar Thoma Theological Seminary under
his care as its principal.
We cannot do all great things, but we can
do small things with great care.

The hour of departure has arrived, and

we go our waysI to die, and you to live.
Which is the better, God only knows
Socrates (469-399 BC)

Remembering Kochu
Thirumeni
Let us thank the Lord for
Theophilus Thirumeni.
Dr. P. J. Alexander, Trivandrum
In the Thubaden, Theophilus Thirumenis name
will not be mentioned from next Sunday onwards.
He now belongs to history. What remains is the
flavour of his inimitable personality, the fragrance
of his unassuming selfless service, and his unique
capacity to build friendships and keep them
strong.
The call from the Metropolitan at the
International Airport in Trivandrum during the
early hours of Saturday did not ring any alarm. In
fact, we thought that medical help was so close
and that Thirumeni, with his usual grit and
determination, would pull through but it was
not to be. The Lord wanted him there, and so he
left. Let us thank the Lord for all the services of
this Good Shepherd.
The last seven days in Muscat were indeed hectic,
and he literally died in harness. He celebrated the
Holy Qurbana in all the parishes and ministered
to the spiritual needs of his flock, reminding
himself that it was a visit after a long spell and
that he had attend to all the demands on him.
Marthomites have a way with their Bishops: they
love them and respect them, but they also overutilize them. Thirumeni did indeed pour out all
his physical energy in the distant desert land
along with the devout Marthomites. I hear now
that, in his busy schedule, he had clean forgotten
to take his medicines in time for nearly three
days. Some of the parishioners who were
travelling with him told me that he was very keen
to get back and did not want a day or two in a
hospital there or to delay his departure for
medical help. It was quite like him; he had
promises to keep.
What is it that come upper most to mind as I rue
over the cruel destiny that snatched away a
Thirumeni who was very close to me and with
whom I had planned to do many things for the
Church? It is, of course, the unfinished agenda of
introducing necessary and urgent changes in the
12

personnel management of the Church. It was one

of the themes I had introduced during my talk to
the Achens at the Annual Clergy Conference at
Charalakunne a few weeks ago. Thirumeni wanted
a note on those points on which he thought
further action could be planned after discussion
in the Synod and the Council. Thirumeni thought
that mentoring of the young clergy by select
senior retired Achens with outstanding track
records was an idea that should be pursued. He
also thought that formal evaluation of the service
of young Achens would be a good beginning for
better man-management. He flashed one of his
mischievous smiles on the conclusion of my talk
quoting John 12:20 Sir, we want to see Jesus
the irreducible minimum demand of the laity to
their clergy. Thirumeni added wryly, But that is
a quest like one for the Holy Grail. We had a
good laugh.
Years ago, Oommen Koruth Achen was the most
eligible candidate to be consecrated a Bishop of
the Mar Thoma Church. He was trained as a
teacher and had in him all that it takes to be a
good student and a good communicator. He was
so good-looking that I used to call him Kochu
Thirumeni even after many younger Achens
joined the ranks of the Bishops, and he thus
became quite senior. The three of us, including
Chandy from Kuwait, born on the last days of
August, used to meet to celebrate our birthdays
together. It was an occasion for introspection and
sharing of the Christian fellowship. The theme
that surfaced every time and on which we
concluded our brief interlude was: The Lord is
good. With Chandy leaving a few years earlier,
the celebrations became rare, and it came down to
exchanging wishes or stepping in for a cup of
coffee or a piece of cake. Now I am left alone to
think of these two friends who enriched my life so
much.
Thirumeni was very fond of me, and I of him. It
was at his insistence that Dr. Zac Varghese and I
went to the World Council of Churches meeting in
Harare, Zimbabwe. It was an exhilarating
experience to think of the Christian world coming
together on the single theme of Jesus, the answer.
While at Harare, we went on a river cruise on the
Zambezi river near Victoria Falls where
Thirumeni was the host, and, but for an alert
mind of Dr. Zac Varghese quickly dousing a flame
that caught the loose cassock of Thirumeni, we
would have a different story to tell.

Thirumeni had a dream of combining Indian

asceticism with Eastern monasticism, and he
thought that Santhigiri was to be a model where
Christianity can be inclusive and extending a
caring hand to those who are in need wherever
they are. He also had visions of Santhigiri
transforming itself into a self-sufficient unit
caring for the body, mind, and spirit. He
scrutinized every detail from the Santhi mount to
the herbal garden. He thought that bringing
together his contemporaries praying, laughing,
eating, thinking, meditating, resting together at
Santhigiri was bound to enrich the vision of
Santhigiri as well as the fullness of life for each.
All these have now to wait for someone to pick up
the threads.
Each of the Bishops who have left us has in turn
left behind a rich legacy. Theophilus Thirumeni,
too, has left behind a unique bequest a simple,
committed lifestyle in the traditional Indian style,
enriched by the teachings of the Man from Galilee
who promised to transform us in all respects,
from ordinary fishermen to those who cared for
the lives of people. It is a challenge.
I thank God for this great Thirumeni, for all his
unique gifts and sacrifices for the Church. I am
sure he is finding much needed respite in His
presence.

Do all the good you can,

By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can.
-John Wesley ( AD1703- 1791) Our
Beloved Zacharias Thirumeni
followed this advice

13

The Humanity and Divinity of

Jesus
Dr. Zac Varghese, Sinai MTC, North London
We take so many things for granted, but only at
rare moments we begin to see the meaning of
mysteries. Recently, during an early morning
mediation the question came up, when did Jesus
know that he was son of God? We often believe
that Jesus knew from his childhood that he was
son of God.

We read that Mary kept everything in her heart

(Luke 2: 51) and she might not have told Jesus
about Angel Gabriel, circumstance of his birth,
the visits of the wise men and Joseph not
being His biological Father. This careful parenting
and the resulting lack of knowledge about his
divinity might have been important to Jesus to
grow up as natural as possible with full human
emotions and understanding. But Jesus almost
revealed His divinity when He was about twelve
years old, when His parents found Him in the
temple court, sitting amongst teachers, listening
to them and asking searching and intelligent
questions which surprised everyone. In answering
to His mothers question: Son, why have you
treated us like this? Jesus answered, Didnt you
know I had to be in my Fathers house? For some
mysterious reason no one understood the far
reaching implication of this revelation, Jesus
then quietly returned to Nazareth with His
parents and was obedient to them like any twelve
year old child, but grew in wisdom and stature.
Years later, when Jesus went to Jordan and took
His place among others to seek guidance as to
what to do with His life and got baptised by His
cousin, John, that He realised that He is son of
God. John and Jesus heard the declaration from

heaven that 'He is my beloved son.' Jesus then

spent 40 days in the wilderness pondering over
this, meditating and praying. If He had that
knowledge earlier on, He could not have lived
with His family in that carpenter's shop. The early
silent 30 years of Jesus' life is equally important
in understanding the fullness of Jesus' ministry.
Dorothy L. Sayers appreciation of Jesus
humanity and divinity is of some help: If Christ
was only a man, then he is entirely irrelevant to
any thought about God; if he is only God, then he
is entirely irrelevant to any experience of human
life. It is in this reality we see through Jesus
what man can be and what God is meant to be.
In the Hindu religion there is a very interesting
story about this God realisation of an earthly
mother of Lord Krishna, Yashoda. One day when
Krishna was playing with his playmates, some of
them told Yashoda that Krishna had eaten some
dirt. She scolded Krishna by saying, Naughty
boy, why have you eaten dirt? Your friends and
your elder brother say you have. Krishna replied,
Mother, I have not eaten dirt. They are telling
fibs and pulling your legs, but if you think they
speak the truth, look into my mouth. She said to
Krishna, If that is what you want, then open your
mouth. When Yashoda looked inside, she saw the
whole universe, heaven, stars and galaxies, and
earth with its mountains, rivers and oceans. She
saw her village and herself inside his mouth.
Krishna immediately realised his mischief and felt
that his mother cannot survive in such a
heightened awareness and brought her back to
her ordinary maternal instincts and she lost the
memory of that amazing revelation and took her
son on to her lap and kissed him. She was again
an ordinary earthly mother, but her heart was full
of love and admiration for her little amazing
mischievous boy. Many others including Arjuna
had that God realisation through Lord Krishna in
different stages of his life. The spiritual meaning
of the story of Yashoda is important to us as well
to appreciate the humanity and divinity of Jesus.
It is in the ordinary living and relationships we
sense the infinite love of God; ordinary mundane
moments have the potential to become
extraordinary moments of divine presence and
vision. Mary had many such moments and she too
treasured all these things in her heart.
The divinity of Jesus can also be sensed in the
loneliness of His life. There are many hidden
tensions of this very special kind of solitariness.
14

Lofty thoughts, and expanding views of duty and

destiny must have troubled Him, but He had no
one to share those thoughts with. Even during His
ministry in Galilee, He spent times away from His
disciples in prayer. When the multitude thronged
and pressed Him Jesus identified the touch of the
woman with a bleeding disorder, by saying,
Somebody has touched me; this is as if He had
woken up from a deep sleep or meditation. Yes, it
is true that Jesus felt this divine loneliness and
even the need to keep a divine secret. He kept His
two natures in perfect harmony. He not only gave
sympathy to others, who needed it, He wanted
love and sympathy too from others; Jesus found
friendship in John and enjoyed the hospitality of
Martha and Mary and other under classes of the
society. At the very last hours of His life He
reassured Him and others by saying, I am not
alone: the Father is with me. This shows His
vulnerability, lack of self-sufficiency (humanity),
but at the same times His total confidence of His
dependency on His Father (divinity). But this
loneliness of the spirit is worth meditating upon
under divine grace; it is in such moments we
realise who we are and what we are here for?
Our understanding of God needed to be fully
revised when we learn God became man and lived
amongst us. He is not the fierce and angry God of
the covenants that we often meet in the Old
Testament narratives. Now we need to learn
through the grace of God how the divine has been
translated and transfigured into the human form
in the person of Jesus Christ; now for the first
time, through Jesus we can fully understand what
man should be. Thus in the mystery of the Christ
event man is re-made in the image and likeness
of Christ and Christ is in then in the likeness and
image of God the Father. We read this two fold
reality in Johns Gospel in number of places.
When Philip asked: Lord, show us the Father.
Jesus answered, Dont you know me Philip, even
after I have been with you for such a long time?
Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.
How can you say show us the Father? Dont you
believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in
me(John 14: 8-10)?
What is this all about? God created man in His
image for companionship; man rebelled against
God and created a world of brokenness at every
level and every relationship. Since then man is in
conflict with himself and all Gods created world.
The Bible tells the story how God has tried to heal

this fractured world though Abraham, patriarchs,

Moses, judges, prophets, kings and finally
through Jesus and the Church. Prophetic
expectations of Messiah and the real Christ event
were different; Jewish religious scholarships of
the time and hierarchies had difficulties in
coming to terms with Jesus phenomenon.
However, in all these instances we see an
unrelenting search on the part of God for reestablishing a relationship with man. We see this
reality in the stories Jesus told of the lost coin,
lost sheep and the prodigal son (Luke 15). God is
always out there searching for us and waiting
there for us to return to Him. When we do this
with a contrite heart, God is always there to
forgive us, love us and bless us. We have this
eternal promise: Never will I leave you; never
will I forsake you. (Heb 13: 5). This is an
important aspect of our faith; God came in search
of us. One of the early Church Fathers, Irenaeus,
said that God became a son of man in order that
we might become sons of God.
It is not possible to comprehend the mystery of
the incarnation. Cardinal Hume said, Mysteries
are profound truths beyond the grasps of unaided
intellects, yet yielding their riches to humble and
prayerful. When Augustine rebuked a boy on the
seashore of his foolish efforts in trying to empty
an ocean into a small hole in the sand using a
bucket, the boy replied, And youre wasting your
time writing a book about God, you will never get
God into a book. Our minds are not just capable
of comprehending God in all His glory and
majesty. St. Paul realised this when he wrote:
Now we see it in a mirror, dimly, but then we see
face to face (1Cor 13:12).
Theologians, down the ages, have tried to give
different names (Eutychiansim, Monophysitism
and Hypostatic Union, etc.) for the fact the single
person of Jesus is both God and man. Although
the early Church fathers convened seven
Ecumenical Councils to sort out various heresies
and faith formulations, the Mar Thoma Church
only accepts three Councils of Nicaea (AD 325),
Constantinople (AD 381), and Ephesus (AD 431);
we accept the Trinitarian affirmations of the
Nicene Creed. The Jehovah's Witnesses focus on
Jesus' humanity and ignore His divinity. On the
other hand, the Christian Scientists do the
opposite; they focus on the scriptures showing
Jesus' divinity to the extent of denying His true
humanity. Jesus humanity is about absolute
15

perfection, He was a man who was sinless, but

bore our sins for healing us, and He was a God of
love and compassion.
It is only in our humble meditations and prayers
we realise that in Jesus Christ we have the
privilege of standing at the meeting point of
human and divine nature. Christ showed us how
to put the interests of others before our own.
Jesus the Christ through His life and ministry
showed us the human face of God; what God
should mean to us, and what we mean to God.
Therefore, when we think of Jesus, we are
thinking of a God who speaks to our hearts and
mind in a language of love we can understand, a
God who appears to us with a human face,
wounds and scars. God pours into us His love.
Everyone who loves God abides in God and God
abides in Him (1 John 4:16). This provides a
partnership and shared responsibility; we can no
longer blame God for various malfunctions of this
world and its brokenness; we have an infinite
responsibility for others and our environment.

In the beauty of the lilies Christ was

born, across the sea, with a glory in
bosom that transfigures you and me:
As He died to make men holy, let us
die to make men free.Julia W. Howe (Ad 1819-1910)

O star of wonder, star of

night
Rev. Dr. M. J. Joseph, Devalokam*

The Magis
search for the manger in Bethlehem
Guided by the star-a large ball of burning gasin the night sky
Simeon the senior citizens vision of the star of
wonder dwelling on earth
Kindle in me a ray of hope for a better tomorrow.
The kinetic energy of the Star leading the Persian
astrologers to Bethlehem
The hazardous journey of the Gentile- seekers to
the Court of the King
The nights stay of the Magi at the Mar Saba
monastery in the Judean desert
Kindle in me a vision of the glory of God outside
the Law.
The identity of the Magi as practitioners of
occult arts
Their branded name as fortune tellers
Their boasting at the Court of the King Herod
Kindle in me an appreciation of the truth in
diverse cultures.
The enquiry of the Gentile seekers and their
interpretation of the Scriptures
Their boldness to give a testimony of their
reading of the law within their hearts
Their ardent desire to worship the King of the
Jews with their treasured gifts
Kindle in me a vision of the breaking of the
religious and cultural walls.
A voice from above whispered in my ears:
16

None has the right to monopolize the Christ Child in the Crib
He who owns the text may be ignorant of its
meaning
He who stands outside the boundary may find a
way inside.
Just as a Star is nones possession, so also Jesus,
the Universal Child.
The glory of heaven and earth finding a union at
the Cradle
The insincerity of the King urging us to disobey
the powerful
The courage of the wisemen taking a different
route
Kindle in me the spirit of obedience to God.

*Rev.Dr.M.J.Joseph,
ECC,Bangalore.

former

director

of

Pastoral Ministry- Some

Contemporary Challenges
Vicar General Very Revd. K. S. Mathew*

The great array of clergy in our church, who

ministered to the people of God in the past with
steadfastness, vision and deep commitment
involving much sacrifice and pain, is the real force
behind the growth of the Marthoma Church.
Presumably an attempt to assess the pastoral
ministry today in the light of its glorious past,
highlighting its present day challenges in simple
terms would be appropriate and pertinent. My
ministry is our church for a little over four
decades, was mainly in parishes. I have pastured
parishes ranging from big cities to rural villages.
With much satisfaction and thankfulness, I can
testify that this is a ministry which is building up
the Body of Christ, is being built up through this
ministry of equipping the saint. As has been
already pointed out, the real credit for the growth
and expansion of the church goes to the silent and
selfless services of those clergy, although their
sacrifices and services are yet to receive rightful
recognition or appreciation. Certainly the Master
whom they served with utter devotion shall finally
adorn them with due honour.
What is the most glorious experience in the
ministry of the clergy? Is it serving in big
parishes, assuming positions and popularity or
amassing worldly gains? My humble answer is a
definite No. When you visit a parish which you
once served after several years, a member
approaches you and says Achen, your consoling
presence was like that of an angel of God in that
most tragic and sorrowful moment in my life.
Another person says Achen, I became a doctor
thanks to your encouragement and motivation
yet another member says Achen it was while you
were leading the worship service in the church
17

that I felt a great change inside me. Achen on so

many occasions we as a family found strength and
sustenance as you preached the word of
God. This daughter of ours was baptized by you
and she leads a blessed life now Such
reminiscences which you have never even thought
of, form the most glorious past of pastoral
ministry. The
famous
lines
of William
Wordsworth come to mindWhat is the best portion of a good mans
life? His little, unremembered acts of
kindness and of love
Sad to say, this glorious and rewarding pastoral
ministry, due to several reasons, is fraught with so
many serious challenges today, causing deviation
and decay in the life of the church as a whole. It is
fervently hoped that such an evaluation would not
be reckoned as grumblings which usually find
articulation from persons who have retired from
active service in the church.
Generally speaking, certain common reasons
could be pointed out for this decadence
happening today. Somehow, there is a serious
dearth of role models who could be looked up to
as guiding lights for the younger generation to be
inspired and to emulate. Certainly there is no
short fall of smart and clever persons. But people
of integrity and commitment, who can by their
value-oriented life and idea appeal to and inspire
the young generation, have become a rare
commodity now. This is much evident in the area
of Christian theology and scholarship as well.
There is an unprecedented absence of stalwarts in
theology who are capable of authentically and
effectively confronting the tendencies and
outcries that rise up against Christian faith in our
times. Total absence of the prophetic stance and
voice which was perhaps unique to the Mar
Thoma Church when compared with other
churches in Kerala, is now perhaps absent
mainly due to excessive obsession with powers
and privileges; this could be pointed out as an
additional factor related to the absence of role
models.
Ours is a tragic period in human history
characterized by the cult of Mammon worship
which has thrown to the winds all the gospel
values, resulting from the complete sway of neoliberalism,
globalization,
market
culture,
individualism and consumerism. This culture
does not care for human values of sacrifice, love,
justice, truth, simplicity, honesty and the like.

Dehumanization is taking place in all areas of life.

This culture has invaded the church also,
adversely affecting its life, ministry and mission.
Prominence is being increasingly given to profit,
comforts, luxury, popularity, power and pleasure,
thus replacing the kingdom values mentioned
above. The words sharing the experience of an
active youth member comes to mind I travelled
for two hours with our Achen in his car yesterday.
All through the journey he kept on talking only
about his car A spirituality attuned to this culture
of moneytheism has become very popular.
Clearly clergy, evangelists and laity alike are
knowingly or unknowingly becoming either
victims or beneficiaries of this culture.
Certain tendencies which pose challenges before
pastoral
ministry
could be
highlighted.
Perhaps the greatest challenge before
pastoral ministry is that it has become
totally
unchallenging. This
gloriously
sacrificial ministry has become a comfortable and
attractive job. Its components comprise a
reasonably fair salary with other amenities,
security, an overseas parish assignment, a
marriage alliance with much financial gain etc.
The arches erected and flex boards displayed in
connection with the ordination services signify
some great achievement. Pastoral ministry for
many is geared to grab an overseas assignment. In
such a context, it would be worthwhile to ask
introspectively as to whether someone had to
renounce and forsake worldly gains and prospects
by entering the ministry of the church or that
person could attain undreamt of worldly gains, if
they had remained in a secular vocation. If the
answer is Yes to the second part of the question,
then it is only natural for pride and arrogance to
replace values like humility and simplicity.
Complaints regarding neglect of pastoral care
arise aplenty from several quarters today. Busy
and crowded programmes invade the important
and indispensable space for regular pastoral calls.
When this important and meaningful component
of pastoral ministry is neglected, members of the
folk go in search of para churches and sectarian
groups. This is especially poignant in our times
because there is enormous increase in the number
of divorces, of old people needing care and love, of
the terminally ill, of people battling with so much
of stress and strain and are on the verge of
committing suicide.

18

There is remarkable increase in clergys academic

qualifications. At the same time there is a
diminished interest in the teaching ministry. Even
clergy men with high theological training very
often say with a sense of pride and satisfaction
that he is not interested in theology. They avoid
challenges by adjusting themselves to the
theology of parish members however perverted it
be and thus avoid the theological confrontation
and the most important responsibility of
imparting biblical truths and basic doctrines with
cohesion, conviction and relevance. Are we in the
least disturbed by the simple fact that a major
segment of our urban youths do not go to our
churches and have found refuge in parachurches?
Ritualism and cultic observances have assumed
undue importance in the ministry of many a
clergy. There is alarming interest in performance
mania, where prominence is attached to
vestments, genuflections, chanting, and the like.
To some, liturgy has become almost an idol.
Addiction to Syriac in chanting has gripped many.
All these pose a threat to the spirit of Reformation
which gave accentuations to meaningful and
relevant worship pleasing to God and liberating
humans.
Needless to say, the above mentioned challenges
faced by pastoral ministry of our day, if not
confronted and adequately dealt with, will have
disastrous consequences for the church as a
whole. Therefore an awakening to redeem the
glory of pastoral ministry is called for. Small
groups of concerned clergy and laity, as remnants,
should come forward with prayer and
commitment to redeem the situation.
Let us once again listen to the question asked by
the risen Lord, re-instating Simon Peter, the
back-slider Do you love me more than these? Let
us also with total surrender take up that
commission feed my lambs; tend my sheep
(John 21: 15-17)
*[Retired Vicar General Very Revd KS Mathew
was the sabha secretary and he wrote this article
for the Tharaka in 2013. Since we are publishing
an article from a lay person on the expectations
of laity on clergy of the Mar Thoma Church, we
thought it would be nice to present a view form
one of the senior most priests of our church as
well.]

What Lay People Expect from

a Priest in the Mar Thoma
Parishes of North America and Europe Diocese
Attorney Lal Varghese, Dallas
[This Paper was presented by Atty. Lal
Varghese at the Clergy Conference held at
Mar Thoma Church of Dallas, Farmers
Branch, Dallas, in 2002; it was also
published in the Mar Thoma Messenger
Volume XX1 No: 3 July 2002 issue from
page 29-31. He was a member of the
editorial board of the Mar Thoma
Messenger and currently he is the legal
counsel of the Diocese and member of
Legal Affairs Committee of the Diocese.]
At some point in life, almost everyone
needs a priest. Even today, in an ever moresecular world where people live as though God
does not exist or believe that
God does not play any
significant part the way they
live their lives, people often
find that there are times
when they need a priest. No
matter how much church
ministry changes,
some
elements remain the same.
For many years, our priests have performed
baptisms, dedications, confirmations, weddings,
funerals, and holy sacraments. Today, that role
remains constant, but todays context should force
our priests to continually re-examine their roles in
the lives of the parishioners they serve especially
in this diocese to make their ministry more
meaningful and a blessing to others.
Our priests are ordained to serve as the
pastoral minister of Word and Sacraments in the
parishes assigned to them. They should exercise
pastoral care and have to bear the responsibility
for the discipline of the Congregation. Part II
Clause 11 Mar Thoma Sabha Constitution defines
the term Priest as follows:
While being a steward in the Church of
Christ, the priest has the special responsibility to
shepherd the flock in this world;
To participate ardently in the work of the
Kingdom of God through the ministry of the
Word and administration of sacraments;
19

To witness in the Church, which is the

body of Christ and in the name of Christ, involve
in the temporal & spiritual growth of the
Kingdom of God;
He has the responsibility to shepherd the
flock of God, to render sacrificial service to the
community according to the will of God, to be
fervent in the proclamation of the Gospel, to be
consistent in the ministry of teaching; and to
manifest the dignity of the Christian ministry in
the congregation and society.
1.

Priests should render sacrificial

service to the parishioners: Our
Priests enter and embrace the totality of
human life, convinced there is no detail,
however unpromising, in peoples lives in
which Christ may not work his will. Priests
should be willing to stay with people of
their parishes week in and week out, year
in and year out, in the meandering and
disturbingly
inconsistent
lives
of
parishioners who compose our parishes
and congregations. Priests should make
his home amongst his people in each
parish. He needs to immerse himself in
the community of believers whom he came
to shepherd, and not standby as an
outsider. If priests have made goals or
objectives for themselves other than
serving their parishioners, their ministries
will be failures in this diocese.

The events of people lives which

deserve our priests strong and
continuing attention: There are certain
interruptions in a priests work; these
ordinary interruptions become occasions
of ceremony and celebration: weddings,
baptisms,
dedications,
anniversaries,
graduations, and events at which human
achievements are honored. These public
occasions become milestones in peoples
lives, and it should be milestones in our
priests ministry also. Each time of joy or
grief opens people to priests and to the
divine realities they represent.

3.

Maintaining communication with

parishioners: It is a noble idea to visit
the family when there is a birthday, or
wedding anniversary, or the anniversary of
death of dear ones in the family. If it is not
possible to make a visit to the family, our

priests should at least make a telephone

call and share the occasion with the
concerned person or persons. There can be
no excuse for priests for ignoring this task,
since communication is an important part
of the ministry in an individualistic
society. Always be receptive to people,
especially when someone leaves a
message; please try to return the call
within a reasonable period of time. There
is no excuse for not returning telephone
calls. If you do not return telephone calls,
you are loosing the fellowship of one more
parishioner in your ministry in that
parish. Take advantage of the Internet & email for communicating and interacting
with younger generations.
4.

Acknowledging the presence of

parishioners in the Parish: A Priest
cannot ignore people. If you ignore them,
they will ignore you and your ministry too.
People need your attention, just a smile,
when they meet clergy in person, and most
people, when they attend the worship
service on Sundays. Priests should not
pretend that they are busy too many
meetings after the church; spare at least
30 minutes with people after the service.

5.

People expect good, rich in content,

sermons from our priests: It is not the
old times; we are living in a
technologically advanced world. We can
download lot of sermons from the
television and Internet, but we need to
hear from our priests good sermons, so
that no one should think that they wasted
their time on Sunday mornings. Priests
need to prepare their sermons, and should
do it prayerfully, so that the Holy Spirit
can talk to us through them. Make sure
that the sermons are brief and concise.
Especially avoid criticizing people who
struggle hard to earn their living and bring
up their kids in a multicultural society.
While preparing sermons, special events
celebrated in this Diocese like Fathers
day, Mothers Day, Valentines Day, World
Day of Prayer, Independence Day,
Memorial
Day
etc.should
be
acknowledgedand greetings should be
made at the end or beginning of sermons.

20

6.

Importance of teaching the Bible

and our faith and practices: Priests
should actively think about having adult
Bible

classes, especially to teach the doctrine,

faith and practices of Mar Thoma Church.
They should also give emphasis to the
liturgical worship of Mar Thoma Church
and to the sacraments we observe
traditionally in our Church and its
meaning during these Bible classes. Most
of adults left their native places and
parishes in Kerala, at very early age, and
probably never had any chance to learn in
depth about our doctrine, faith and
practices. Such teaching will prevent our
parishioners moving to other faiths
especially to Pentecostal churches.
7.

More Importance should be given to

younger generation: Priests should
visit Sunday school classes frequently, and
talk to kids. Teens and young couples
should be given equal importance, and
they should feel that there is a priest who
cares for them, which will prompt them to
attend church regularly instead of
wandering after television ministers, or so
called
nondenominational
churches,
which do not follow any pattern of liturgy
or faith or practices. They should make an
effort to know the names of parishioners.
The young generation should be taught the
importance and meaning of the liturgical
corporate worship of the Mar Thoma
Church. Successful interaction with youths
will be possible only if the priests can
speak English fluently when they arrive in
this Diocese; not to try and learn it during
their time here. Do not try to introduce
Malayalam classes for making parents
guilty of not teaching them Malayalam. It
is imperative that a new a priest should be
able to converse with all of his
parishioners, especially the youth.

8.

Priests should actively take part in

the area prayer meetings: Priests
should pay careful attention of conducting
weekly area prayer meetings. Prayer
groups should be divided if necessary, for
not having more than 20-25 families in an
area, as wished by our late Yuhannon Mar
Thoma Metropolitan. Individuals in small
prayer groups can interact more freely
with each other than large prayer groups
with more than 50 families. Combined
meeting of the prayer groups and leaders
should be convened at least once every
month or at least once in three months in
the parish. Discussions about parish issues
or problems or gossips should not be
allowed in the area prayer meetings.

9.

Do not show favouritism or

nepotism: Priests should not pay special
attention or do favours to those people
who helped them learn driving, to find
apartment to settle down, and other little
favours; please be mindful that others are
watching you when you are a newly
assigned priest to a parish; whether you
are interacting with everyone equally
without any favouritism or only giving
importance to those who helped you when
you were new has the potential to make or
break ones ministry.
When new assignments are given, always
try to avoid a parish where priests have
close relatives, especially when close
relatives attending churches of different
faiths. It is important not to stay with
relatives, if permanent accommodation is
not available on arrival in a parish, stay at
a temporary accommodation provided by
that parish.

10.

Should have Orientation before

being assigned to a parish: Our priests
when assigned to a new parish in this
diocese should have orientation with the
previous priest at least for one week to
learn about the particularities of the
parish, its members, and other special
adaptability issues. They also should have
orientation on issues of culture, language,
and other special local issues, and customs
followed in each parish.

21

11.

12.

13.

Need to pay special attention to

temporal and ecclesiastical matters:
Our parishes and communities assign
great responsibilities to priests in
temporal and ecclesiastical matters. There
are no defined right ways to act and speak
or ceremonies and celebrations. It is
always good to enquire about traditions
and practices. No detail is insignificant:
gesture conveys grace, tone of words
inculcates awe, demeanour defines
atmosphere, and preparation deepens
wonder. Priests should be diligently skilful
in all of these, especially to suit the needs
of our younger generation.
Try to avoid conflicts or resolve
conflicts in parishes: When conflict
arises in parishes regarding anything, do
not join with any groups, be impartial, and
be receptive to everyone.
Ask the
aggrieved parties to give in writing their
concerns or complaints, and if needed do
an impartial inquiry, make a wise decision,
and close the matter. No further
comments or criticisms or after effects
should be allowed thereafter in the parish.
Strictly prohibit rumormongering or
anonymous letters to the parishioners
regarding anything in the parish. Be open
to criticisms and be receptive to all people;
do not answer to their needs on the phone,
but tell them, I have heard you, let me
hear the other side also, and I will
definitely make a just decision for the best
interest of the parish. Be polite; our
priests need to learn how to talk politely to
people especially those who criticize them
without any reason, or without knowing
the real facts. It is good to learn to say,
thank you.
Mar Thoma church is a global
church: Our church is no longer a church
of Syrian Christians in central Kerala
alone. It has become a global church, and
our priests should accept that fact in their
ministry while serving in this diocese.
There will be whites, blacks, Hispanics,
and other Asians being joined to our
families through marriages. They should
be encouraged to attend church services,
and should be treat respectfully when they
attend our services. God does not have any

distinction between colour and ethnic

origin. Our priests should not deal with
other ethnic origin people in a prejudicial
way. The community around us should see
that our church is different from others
through our mission and other evangelical
works for which Priests should take the
leadership.
14.

Pastoral counselling and premarital

counselling
should
be
given
importance: It should not be taken as

routine things. People need help from

clergy, they need to talk to them, and they
need someone to listen to their problems,
which they cannot share with anyone else,
even in the family or in the church. Priests
should be able to gain their confidence,
and their pastoral counselling will be
successful. How else can clergy attain the
confidence of each individual in their
parish? It is very simple; interact with
them with empathy. Most importantly,
confidentiality must be kept on personal
issues.
15.

Priests should have prior experience

in handling a large, diverse parish.
They must be able to bridge the cultural
gap that exists between generations of
Marthomites in this Diocese. They should
also have prior experience in dealing with
youth and their problems. This is very
important. Priest should know how to
relate well with youth, and provide
spiritual
and
mental
counselling,
according to their needs. Too often,
youths are left neglected and uncared for
by clergy. This might due to priests
feeling intimidated of the need to
understand youths in their culture and
value systems. Prior experience of similar
situations would help them to handle
22

these types of situations. Priests should

have experience in churches outside
Kerala before assigned to this Diocese.
16.

Adaptability to new culture and

environment: The effective ministry in
this land depends solely on how well our
priests can adapt to his new environment
and cater to the needs of the people in this
land. Priests must be able to adapt to a
new culture, value system, and way of life
easily and immediately. Too often weve
seen priests assigned to this diocese and
not able to adapt to their new
surroundings. This causes their dealings
with the parish and its members to suffer.
It will suffocate their ministry. Priests
must be able to adapt to the culture of
people in this Diocese, and despite ones
opinions/feelings, and provide for the
spiritual growth of the people they come to
serve.
Priest should not have
preconceived biases or apprehensions
against the culture in this Diocese, and its
people. If so, he is not a suitable candidate
to serve here. His ministry will be a failure
before he even begins. He must be openminded and be able to work with us. He
cannot be judgmental. Youth should not
be dismissed so easily (like the current
practice), but taken seriously. Priests
should be the main driver for increased
youth participation in all aspects of the
parish. By being able to adapt to any
surroundings, priest will become a more
capable counsellor, administrator, teacher,
and friend.
17. Priests should be at the forefront of
cross-cultural relationships: They should
facilitate forums, meetings, and discussions
with different denominations by building
relationships with them. Doing this will help
the Mar Thoma Church to build a stronger
foundation in this Diocese. Priests also can
help to host inter-faith dialogue meetings.
Can we say that we are taking advantage of all
that the country has to offer in this Diocese?
In this land of endless opportunities, we can
learn so much about others, but it is up to our
priests to initiate this cross-cultural
relationship building. We cannot simply take
benefits from this country, and not to give
anything back. If we start by opening up

avenues of communication in the church, the

MTC will start to see growth outside its
homogeneous Malayalee community. We will
then become a true evangelical church in our
mission and hold true to our motto of lighted
to lighten.
18.

Priests should be well educated in

our faith, practices and theology:
Increasingly, more and more young people
are asking questions that are harder to
answer by our priests.
Questions
regarding theology, other religions, and
their own spirituality are being left
unanswered. Young generation also may
ask clergys opinion about same sex
relationships, and role of women in
services. Be prepared to answer their
questions, do not take them as silly and
laugh it out. Also, many priests are found
preaching and practicing new brand of
theology that is inconsistent with our faith
and practices. Priests should have a
comprehensive view about eternity,
salvation through Christ, the validity of
the Bible, the Trinity, and other
theological issues.

19.

Continuing education and new

technology skills: Our priests should
be asked to attend at least one to two
weeks orientation classes in Kerala,
where they should be taught about the
adaptability issues to the western culture.
There should be some kind of training
and education so that it is mandatory for
our priests to attend such classes and
retrain themselves to the new issues
facing the Church as a whole. They should
be
prepared
through
theological
education and training to meet the needs
of the people in this new age. Whatever
education or training, which met the
needs of the people in the past, will not
meet their needs today, especially in this
diocese. They should be equipped to meet
new challenges in the ministry, both
temporal and ecclesiastical, and be able
to use new technology. Our priests should
learn both driving and obtain minimum
computer skills before they are assigned
to parishes in this diocese.

23

20.

Code of conduct and dress for

parishioners
while
attending
services: Priests should have an eye on
the behavior of parishioners both inside
and outside the sanctuary while worship
service is in progress. The importance
should
be pointed
out
to
the
parishioners of the way they dress while
attending worship service, especially
when taking part in Holy Qurbana.
Discipline is important for the successful
ministry and also to keep the traditions of
our faith and practices. When a priest
sees behavior or conduct among
parishioners, which is not expected in a
parish, strict action should be taken.
General body and committee meetings
should be conducted in such a way that it
is not a platform for wrongly criticizing
the Church, its bishops, and priests.

At a wedding, Jesus rejoiced; at a friends

graveside, Jesus wept. At both occasions, Jesus
worked miracles. Jesus sensed these moments as
dramas that held peoples rapt attention. Through
Jesus ministry at these occasions, God became
the leading actor. That should be our priests role
as well, by involving both in the temporal and
ecclesiastical matters of the parishioners in this
multicultural society. While being stewards in the
Church of Christ, priests have the special
responsibility to shepherd the flock in this world,
to participate ardently in the work of the kingdom
of God through the ministry of the Word and
administration of sacraments, to be true
witnesses in the church; they involve in the
temporal & spiritual growth of the kingdom of
God. Priests have the responsibility to shepherd
the flock of God, to render sacrificial service to the
community according to the will of God, to be
fervent in the proclamation of the Gospel, to be
consistent in the ministry of teaching, and to
manifest the dignity of the Christian ministry in
parishes and society.

Appeal for Peace in Syria

Appeal from Patriarch Gregorios III for Peace in
Syria, Iraq, Palestine and the Whole Middle East
[The following article is copied from the
CTE Newsletter for October 2015]
St. Paul describes Jesus as he who hath made
both one, and hath broken down the middle wall
of partition between us, having abolished in his
flesh the enmity[He] came and preached peace
to you which were afar off, and to them that
were nigh. (Ephesians 2: 14, 17) This description
corresponds to the desire of all people in the
Middle East. Our appeal responds to the
injunction of St. Ignatius of Antioch in his Epistle
to
the
Romans,
Remember
in
your prayers the Church in Syria. (Romans 9)

Every day brings more news of atrocities and

horrific, inhuman crimes, carried out by the
variously-named godless groups, while the world
remains divided on how to combat this
apocalyptic terrorism and criminality, which are
sowing terror and causing the global scourge of
continual migration, displacement and dispersal
in different directions. Pope Francis referred, in
his 2015 Lenten Message, to the problem of a
globalization of indifference. Today we are
facing a kind of third world war: let us now
therefore work together towards global solidarity.
The present crisis, which has been building up
over the last five years, has now spread beyond
Syrias distress and tragedy to become a regional
disaster, with repercussions all over Europe and
indeed all over the world.
Through this situation each and every human
being in the Arab Middle East is threatened:
1. Co-existence between the peoples of the
region is threatened!

24

2. Prospects for future generations and their

faith values are currently threatened!
3. The future of the whole region is in
danger:
religiously,
culturally,
educationally and economically all are
threatened!
The International Community has to date proved
incapable of defeating takfiris, those barbarous
and inhumane extremists - no doubt because
some of its members continue arming and
supporting them. Yet the whole International
Community loudly proclaims that it is
impermissible for these criminals to continue
terrorising law-abiding citizens and making our
God-created world a world of heartbreak,
slaughter and mayhem.
Since these current overwhelming tragedies and
dangers are crushing our people and their morale,
paralysing their Christian spirituality and even
shaking their Christian faith, and the faith of
every human being of every confession, we have
to sound an alarm call to historic and global
action. It is the role of Christian leaders to set out
clearly the urgency of the situation and to call for
peace in the region, and the cessation of violence,
terrorism, political chaos, universal radicalization
and the exploitation of Arabs and Easterners in
the name of a global policy of manipulating the
fate of the regions peoples.
Therefore, in the face of these atrocities, we
express our deep pain, and appeal to the Arab
world and the whole world, especially the Great
Powers, (including the United States, the Russian
Federation and the European Union) and other
countries of the Americas, Asia, Australasia and
elsewhere, and confide to them with great trust
our most earnest plea, and the cherished
expectation and hope of millions, that they will
stop the wars that have flared up in our Middle
East, particularly the wars in Syria and Iraq.

The influx of weapons to all sides must be

stopped.
Syrians of all parties and confessions must
be in the vanguard of the peace process.
Human rights, dignity and religious
freedom ought to be guaranteed according
to international standards.
Support the governments of those
countries that have been fighting
terrorism and fight alongside them to

achieve victory together, and after that,

the peace and security of the whole region.
Only peace can stem the flow of emigration which
is sapping all our communities. Otherwise, the
fire of violence and terrorism will consume the
world, East and West, and unparalleled religious
conflicts will erupt, heralding a world war.
We are grateful to members of the International
Community for welcoming tens of thousands of
Syrian citizens and other asylum seekers arriving
in their countries. Pope Francis emphasized
during his visit to the Holy Land in May 2014,
that there are two keys for peace in the region and
in the world:

A comprehensive peace agreement to end

the war on Syria.
Justice for Palestinians (i.e. a resolution of
the Palestinian Arab-Israeli conflict.)

It has been sixty-seven years and more since the

conflict began, since when it has caused many
wars and crises (more than twenty) and has
constituted one of the most important reasons for
the emigration of Christians and others. At
present neither Israel nor any Arab country can
enjoy safety and stability. Since therefore peace in
Syria and Palestine is key to peace in the whole
region, we need a kick-start towards resolving the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict. There is an urgent
need for greater stability to enable us to create a
forum for dialogue and reconciliation.
In conclusion we must emphasize that no bombs
or weapons can defeat ISIL and make peace but
only a common voice of the Church and a
common voice from a coalition of the
International Community, without excluding any
country. The Churches of the Middle East in their
different denominations need encouragement
from their fellow Christians in Europe and the
whole world to continue to fulfil, by their
presence and witness, their role, vocation and
mission in the Middle East. In making this appeal,
we, as a pastor and spiritual leader, are fulfilling
Pope Francis call to be workers for peace! With
this conviction we want to go out into the world
and down in the annals of history and so fulfil the
Beatitude of Jesus, "Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they shall be called the children of God."
+Gregorios III
Patriarch of Antioch and All the East of Alexandra
and of Jerusalem
25

Christian Concerns about

benefit sanctions
[The following is copied from the CTE
monthly newsletter; it is time our
community also thought of social and
political issues affecting millions of people
in this country, and our talented children
should join in debating societies in
schools and universities and think of the
infinite responsibilities as citizens of the
United Kingdom. It is credit worthy to
note that one of our members, Mr. V. M.
Abraham, got involved in the local council
politics and became a Mayor of Chesham.
Some of you might have seen Miss Tanya
Abraham on Television talking about
voting trends and intentions of various
groups of people during the general
election. They are good role models to
follow. It is time that we encourage and
value such involvement.]

A coalition of national Churches and charities has

criticised the Department for Work and Pensions
(DWP) over its refusal to undertake a full review
of the benefit sanctions system. The DWP has
issued its overdue response to the Work and
Pensions Select Committee inquiry into benefit
sanctions, but has failed to commit to a review as
recommended.
The Select Committee, the Governments own
advisors, the Social Security Advisory Committee,
charities and Churches have all called for a full
independent review of the regime. These groups
have highlighted the extreme hardship caused,
the inconsistent and unjust application of
sanctions and the lack of evidence that they
encourage people into work.
The Baptist Union, Church in Wales, Church of
Scotland, Methodist Church, United Reformed

Church and charity Church Action on Poverty

have called for an immediate suspension of
sanctions against families with children and
people with mental ill-health. They say the DWPs
response does not go far enough and have called
again for a review.
In refusing to undertake a full review, the DWP
is stubbornly ignoring the calls of parliament,
expert advisers, Churches and charities. Most
importantly, it is condemning people, many of
whom have also spoken out eloquently against the
inhumanity of the current practice, to unjust and
pointless punishment, said Paul Morrison,
Public Issues Policy Adviser for the Methodist
Church.
Responding to the DWPs announcement that
they will trial a yellow card system, Mr Morrison
added: If a court is working to a bad set of laws
for a bad set of reasons and making bad and
unreliable decisions, its not the sentencing policy
you look at. Yellow cards will reduce the number
of sanctions, which is welcome, but wont address
the fundamental problems that occur long before
the decision to sanction has been made. Thats
why we need a full independent review
Even if a benefits claimant is able to demonstrate
that they cannot afford food due to being
sanctioned, most people will still not become
eligible for a hardship payment or loan for a
further two weeks and, once eligible, it will take a
further three days before payment actually
arrives.
Dr Richard Vautrey, a GP in Leeds and deputy
chair of the BMA's General Practitioners
Committee, said: GPs are increasingly seeing
people who are suffering serious consequences as
a result of the current benefit sanctions system.
Vulnerable people can be left with no money to
pay for essentials such as food and heating and
this can then have a damaging impact not only on
their physical and mental health but also the
health of family members, including children,
who depend upon them. Government policy
directly puts the health of patients we care for at
risk. Immediate action should be taken to end
these punitive actions.

In March this year, the Churches published a

report showing that nearly 100,000 children had
been affected by sanctions in 2014 alone and that
26

people with mental health problems were being

sanctioned at a rate of more than 100 per day. As
a result of their campaign more than 2,000
people wrote to their MPs asking them to support
a review of the system.
The report told stories like that of Martin*(not the
real name), aged 60, who missed an appointment
with the job centre because his wife died
suddenly. He was sanctioned for six weeks,
leaving him with nothing to live on and in a state
of confusion as his wife had previously handled
most of their joint paperwork. He came to the
local church for help and charity Acts435 helped
him with his living expenses until he could come
to terms with the new shape his life had taken.

Bishop Angaelos gives

address on refugee crisis
at World Council of Churches
Church Leaders Consultation in
Munich
29 October 2015
His Grace Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of the
Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom,
spoke of the challenges and opportunities of the

The Government claims that sanctions help

people into work, but the evidence for this claim
is practically non-existent, added Mr Morrison.
However, there is plenty of evidence that
sanctions cause hardship, suffering and hunger.
Any system that seeks to change peoples
behaviour by using hunger as a weapon is
immoral.

current refugee crisis at a World Council of

Churches Consultation in Munich, Germany,
jointly hosted by the Evangelical Lutheran Church
in Bavaria (ELKB), the Evangelical Church in
Germany (EKD) and the World Council of
Churches (WCC).
During his address, Bishop Angaelos said:
We are not only witnessing the immense
displacement of vulnerable people fleeing
war-torn countries, but a dehumanisation
and a loss of dignity of those peoplethey
do not leave their countries unless they
feel that they no longer have a viable
presence there. We need to look with a
new heart, to encourage our states and
governments, and all who make decisions,
to look at these people as more than mere
statistics.
Speaking of ways to address the crisis, he
went on to say:
This epidemic that we are seeing needs to
be addressed collaboratively, across the
Church and across religions, nation states,
organisations, and international bodies.
This crisis is larger than any one person,
state, religion, or organisation, and so we
need to encourage one another to move on
27

in active collaboration. Without a

streamlining of our efforts, we will see a
wastage of both human and material
resources.
In conclusion, Bishop Angaelos gave a
message of hope:
As Christians we believe that there is
always hope; this is a great opportunity for
us all to be light in an abject darkness, and
a light that can and will make a
difference.
In speaking about the consultation shortly
after his address, Bishop Angaelos said:
This is a welcomed initiative of WCC and
its member Churches to bring Church
leaders together from across Europe and
discuss the implications both, in the
Middle East and in Europe, of what we see
unfolding at the moment.
It is widely agreed here that there is a
major and complex situation in the Middle
East, and that Christians and others are
facing immense pressures, living in great
risk because of the conflict that is
occurring around them.
As I have been saying all along, the
complexity of the unfolding situation in
the Middle East necessitates a coordinated
and collaborative response encompassing
nation states, as well as religious and nongovernmental organisations and bodies.
While this is a great challenge, it is not one
that cannot be met if we work together to
safeguard those most vulnerable.
Taking part in the consultation were 35 bishops
and Church leaders from 20 countries, and
representatives from a variety of Churches across
Europe.
The programme included presentations and
discussions surrounding values and perspectives
in the public sphere, along with discussions of
possible future strategies and steps for action to
assist those affected by the crisis.

Global Chrisitian Forum

An historic consultation of church leaders, drawn
from 56 nations, to focus on intensifying
"discrimination, persecution and violence"
against Christian communities around the world
has called on churches globally to pray, support
and be in solidarity with those suffering
persecution due to their faith. The consultation,
themed
"Discrimination,
Persecution,
Martyrdom: Following Christ Together. The
consultation was an initiative of the Global
Christian Forum and supported by the Pontifical
Council for Promoting Christin Unity (Vatican),
the World Evangelical Alliance, the Pentecostal
World Fellowship, and the World Council of
Churches. It was held in Tirana, Albania, 2-4
November. The historic gathering was the first
time in modern history that every stream of global
Christianity had joined together to listen and
learn
from
Christians
who
experience
discrimination, persecution and violence. In a two
pronged response the leaders:
offered repentance for times when
churches had persecuted each other and
other religious communities in history;
and,
urged churches to urgently strengthen the
solidarity of all Christians in the face of
discrimination,
persecution
and
martyrdom in the 21st century.
In a greeting from the Vatican, Pope Francis said,
I think with great sadness of the escalating
discrimination,
and
persecution
against
Christians in the Middle East, Africa and Asia and
elsewhere throughout the world. In various parts
of the world, the witness to Christ, even to the
shedding of blood, has become a shared
experience of Catholics, Orthodox, Anglicans,
Protestants, Evangelicals and Pentecostals, he
said. The consultation also called on governments
to respect and protect the freedom of religion
and belief of all people as a fundamental human
right. In a public message from the consultation
participants called on:

Christians to pray for those who are

discriminated against and persecuted;
Christian organisations at regional, national
and local levels from all traditions to learn,
pray and work together for the persecuted;
Churches to engage in dialogue and cooperation with other faith communities, and
be watchful and fearless in the face of
discrimination and persecution.

28

Questions submitted to the

CTE Presidents at the CTE
Forum meeting in August
2015
Forum delegates were invited to submit questions
for the Presidents. From these, eight were chosen
(where possible we combined similar questions)
and the Presidents at Forum chose one each.

1. What is the relationship between the work

that we do together locally (eg in foodbanks
and night shelters) and the higher level
discussions between denominations? How do
you think mission and unity relate to each
other?
2. Is Eucharistic sharing part of your ecumenical
vision, and if so, what would you do to achieve
it?
3. How can you encourage your regional leaders
both to commit fully to building strategic
relationships with partner churches at
county/Intermediate level, and to providing
resources for that to happen?
4. What should the prophetic voice of the
churches be in a world of refugees, asylum
seekers and war?
5. Should we seeking full, visible Christian unity,
or is it more important to preserve the
diversity of traditions within the Body of
Christ?
6. How can we deepen ecumenical spirituality?
7. How would you encourage your local
congregations to engage with other
denominations and traditions?
8. If you could change one thing about the
Church, what would it be?

When pain is pleasant

Ashwin Abraham remembered by Geena Ajay
This time when I
touched his chubby
cheeks there were no
giggles or laugh. I
knew this was not a
pretend sleep, which
he did usually to
trick me. His hands
were cold as ice and
his face was bright as
a sun. He went to a
place where there is no pain. While I mourn his
loss today and miss him dearly, I know that
Heavenly Father called him home because he had
a greater work waiting at heaven.
Ashwin (7years) was the elder son of Jenu and
Linda, his brother is Aron (4years). We were
planning for his birthday to be celebrated on
January 2nd. But now I understand that our Lord
has a better plan to celebrate his birthday in a
painless place.
On February 1st 2014 we found out he was
suffering from advanced brain tumour, treatment
commenced with a surgery, where doctor
predicted he may lose his vision or hearing. But
Gods amazing grace was with him. His surgery
was a success. Throughout the troublesome
hospital stays and chemotherapy treatment, he
never lost his hope. This year in September, his
cancer spread into the spine and that made things
very difficult to manage.
Ashwin led an amazing life right up until the very
end, accomplishing things that made a huge
impact on everyone around him. For some of us
losing him like this is hard because we felt so
strongly that if anyone could beat cancer it would
be him, he may not have beaten cancer in the
sense that most of us could see it, but he did.
Ashwin beat cancer because of the way he
handled living with cancer. He was pleasant even
during difficult times. He was a polite young boy
who enjoyed everything life offered. Life and all
that goes with it can be over before we know it. He
was an amazing boy, but our loss has been
heavens gainhis body is gone, but his spirit
remains with us all. In his short life he taught us
through his journey many things: unconditional
loving, facing things positively, and many more.
My dearest Ashwin, I bid you farewell for now,
but I am sure in Jesus Christ that I will see you
again in the shore of Canaan.

29

Christian toy retailer, Mr.

Gary Grant seeks to 'honour
God'
Mr. Grant is one of the speakers for the
34th Mar Thoma Family conference. Please
register your place for the conference at
the Hayes Conference centre from 26th to
28th August, 2016. (Contact: Mr. Dileep
Cherian: Cherian.dileep@gmail.Com)

News & Reports

Nazareth Mar Thoma Church

Worship at St. Maelruain's Church

Tallaght, Dublin 24, Ireland, Tel: 00353
15471416

Episcopal Visit Report

The founder of the UKs largest

independent toy retailer has spoken about
his Christian faith and how it impacts all
areas of life, including his business.
Speaking to the BBC, Gary Grant said that,
as a result of his faith, The Entertainer
gives 10% of its profits to charity, doesn't
open on Sundays, and doesn't stock
Halloween goods. Gary traces the
continuing success of the retailer to the
Lord's goodness, quoting 1 Samuel
2:30: "Those who honour me I will
honour".

As scheduled, The Rt. Rev. Dr. Geevarghese Mar

Theodosius Episcopa arrived in Ireland on 24th
August 2015 and spent three days in fellowship
with the members and the office bearers of
Nazareth Mar Thoma parish. The land greeted
Thirumeni with its lush green grass and autumn
leaves.
On Monday, August 24, 2015 Thirumeni
celebrated Holy Communion service at Cork
Prayer group at 6.00 PM. Around 60 people
attended the communion service.
Nazareth Mar Thoma Church was honoured to
host our Diocesan Bishop, The Rt. Rev. Dr.
Geevarghese Mar Theodosius Episcopa on
Tuesday August 25, 2015. Thirumeni celebrated
Holy Communion in Malayalam and more than
125 people attended the service. Rev. Philip
Varughese (Vicar), Rev. Jameson K, Mr. Thomas
P.John, and Mr. Sibi Philip assisted Thirumeni in
the service. Following the service, Parish
Secretary Mr. Joji Abraham P.Jacob did the
announcements. Mr. Joji Abraham welcomed
Thirumeni to the great city of Ireland and thanked
him for his visit and he praised the bishop for his
seven years of loyal service as a Diocesan Bishop
and bid him farewell as this may be his last visit to
Ireland before his transfer to India.
Theodosius Thirumeni and Evg. Aniyankunju
Pullad (Asst. Secretary, Mar Thoma Voluntary
Evangelists Association, Thiruvalla) delivered the
devotional message.

30

Thirumeni concluded the service with prayer and

followed by Kaimuth service. Thirumeni
encouraged a meet and greet session during the
fellowship meal. Thirumeni visit has been a
blessing for the whole parish. We the Mar Thoma
community in Ireland would like to thank our
Diocesan Thirumeni for his Episcopal visit.
The Vicar, the executive committee and the
members of the parish extended their deep
gratitude to Thirumeni for his visit to Ireland and
his leadership to the Diocese and the church as
whole. We pray that may the Lord Almighty
showers his blessings upon Thirumeni for his
continuing ministry and leadership.

Joji Abraham P.Jacob

Parish Secretary
Email: dublinmtparish@gmail.com

It has been said that though God cannot alter the past, historians can; it is perhaps because
they can be useful to Him in this respect that He tolerates their existence.
(Samuel Butler Ad 1835- 1902) What would historians say about Zacharias Thirumeni?

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Photo Gallery

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ECHO Family

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