KERALA--NRKs-FAREWELL TO CATHOLICOSE, MATHEWS PRATHAMAN
Dr. P.K. John
FAREWELL TO MATHEWS PRATHAMAN CATHOLICOSE
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EXCLUSIVE MALAYALA MANORAMA REPORT
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NOVEMBER 28, 1996
Dr.P.K.John, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Syrian Orthodox church members numbering about twenty Lakhs, saw him as
a great source of inspiration . He was their fifth catholicose. His
earthly remains were placed beside the final resting places of his
predecessors catholicose Ougen Prathaman (4th catholicose) and
Geeverghese 111(3 rd catholicose) at DEVALOKAM ARMANA CHAPAL.
The funeral services were held in the presence of hundreds of clergy men
and thousands of devotees. The services were held under the guidance of
catholicose BASSELIOSE MARTHOMA 11 and catholicose designate for the
future THOMAS MAR THIMOTHIOSE.
MAJOR ARCH BISHOP KARDINAL ANTONY PADIYARA, ARCH BISHOP MAR JOSEPH
POWATHIL, ARCH BISHOP MAR CYRIL MAR BASSALIOSE, Kottayam diocesan head
MAR KURIAKOSE KUNNASSERI, C.S.I. central travancore bishop Dr.SAM MATHEW
, Marthoma churche's Kottayam diocesan head Dr.GEEEVERGHESE MAR
ATHANESSIUS, and Kanjirapalli bishop MAR MATHEW VATTAKUZI participated in
the service.
Senior bishops from the orthodox church
DR.PHILIPOSE MAR THEYOPHILOSE
MATHEWS MAR EPIPHANIOSE
GEEVERGHESE MAR IVANIOSE
PHILIPOSE MARYOUSEBIOSE
SAKHARIA MAR DIVANNIASIOS
GEEVERGHESE MARDIASKOROSE
POULOSE MAR MILITHIOSE
DR.MATHEWS MAR SEVERIOSE
DR YACOB MAR IRANIOSE
ZACHARIA MAR ANTHONIOSE
KURIAKOSE MAR KLIMEESE and
POULOSE MAR PAKKAMIOSE
also assisted in the final funeral service.
There was an emotional farewell at the Catholicate chapel when the late
Catholicose wore the KURBANA KUPPAYAM of his late father VATTAKUNNEL
KURIAN KATHANAR who passed away some fifty years back.At that point the
gold cross, and chain and the silver ceremonial rod (AMSHA VADI) were
replaced with wooden cross to symbolically represent humility.
When the senior BAWA's earthly body was placed in the chapel, the
congregation said in a loud voice in unison:
"DEIVATHINTE PUROHITHA SAMADHANATHODE POVUKA
DEVALAYATHINTE ALAMKARAM AYULLONE SAMADHANATHODE POVUKA
KUDASHANUSHTANAKANAYA PUROHITHA SAMADHANATHODE POVUKA"
The clergy said to the chapel where the late catholicose conducted Holi
Kurbana for 15 years:-
PARISHUDDA MADBAHAYE SAMADHANATHODE VASIKKUKA
NJAN SUSSRUSHA CHEYTHADEVALAYAME SAMADHANATHODE VASIKKUKA
PARISUDHA DEVALAYAME SAMADHANATHODE VASIKKUKA
NINNIL SAMADHANAM VAZATTE"
Candles were lit and the congregation responded "PITHAVE SANTHOSHA
MANAVARAYIL NJANGAL ANGAYE KANAN IDAYAKATTE"
The present Catholicose read 'EVANGELION'
Enroute to the final resting place the group under the leadership of
father M.P.George (SRUTHI SINGING GROUP ) sang:-
"NASHWARAMAM VEEDE ENTHINU MOHIPPICHENNE
PAPA KKADALE NEE ENTHIAZATHIL THAZTHI PPAYUM JEEVITHAME
KLESHIPPICHATHENTHINU NEE
POKUNNEN NATHAN NOKKIPPARKKUM
STHANATHIL"
The faithful shed tears as this song was sung in a sweet voice by the
group.
Then the earthly remains were brought to the side of the tomb. The tomb
was five feet deep. After more songs the present Catholicose poured SAITH
oil on the body and said
"EE DASNE EE THALKALIKA JEEVITHATHILNINNU YATHRA AKKIYA DEIVAME
THIRUSANNIDHIYIL NINNU SWARGHIYA SENAKALUDE SAHAYAM IVANU
AYACHUKODOKKANAME "
Then putting some soil he sang:-
"MANNAM NEE MANNIL CHERUM-------"
Before lowering the body in to the 3 1/4 x 31/4x 31/4 tomb the face was
covered with SOSAPPA by the present catholicose who also give the final
farewell kiss. The present Catholicose could not hold back his tears and
said"I LIKE TO CALL YOU APPACHA APPACHA--"
As devotees were singing
KARUNA NIRANJAVANE PUNARUTHANATHIL NINNUDE
SRUSHITIYE NEE PUTHUTHAKKANAME--"
After that the body was lowered to the tomb by the private secretary of
the late Catholicose Ougen Rampan, Fr.T.C.John,Jacob Mannaraprayil, Cor
Episcopa Fr.K.V.Verghese,Fr.V.M.James, Fr.Zakhariah Periyormattam,
Fr.E.K.George Inchakkattu and others. The present Catholicose and Bishops
were then putting KUNDIRUKKAM in to the tomb.
Deacon P.K.Thomas and Subash Shibu who looked after the late Catholicose
were crying uncontrollably.
Signifying the end of an era in Malankara Orthodox church 90 Gun salute
was heard at that point
Those who were watching the ceremony on closed circuit television felt a
profound sense of sorrow.
The tomb was filled with about 200 kgs of KUNDIRIKKAM from some 50 large
sacks.
Earlier the body was kept for public viewing first at PAZAYA SEMINARY. It
was then taken in a ceremonial procession to Kottayam's Eliya cathedral.
Subsequently there was the customary NAGARIKANIKKAL, another ceremonial
procession. It took two hours for the ceremonial procession to reach
DEVALOKAM ARAMANA. A navy band played in front of the ceremonial
procession.
There will be daily services at DEVALOKAM for the next 40 days.
EDITORIAL COMMENT
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Thus ended a great life. The late Catholicose was my grandmother's
brother. My mother used to call him "KUTTACHAN" before he entered
priesthood. My late uncle once told me that many years ago long before
KUTTACHAN even thought of becoming a clergy man, a famous Jolsyan had
predicted that he will become SHEMMACHAN, ACHAN, BISHOP and HEAD of his
curch!
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