Like a
caring shepherd, Pulikkottil II Thirumeni not only faithfully guided the flock but
also envisaged a brilliant vision to have the flame of the Orthodox faith be
lit worldwide. Under Thirumeni’s leadership, we see the emergence of two such
prominent clergies- one from the Roman church and one from the Parsi community, namely Blessed
Alvares Mar Julius Thirumeni and Fr Dr. S.D. Baba respectively.
( A) Fr.
Dr. S.D. Baba- From Zoroastrianism to Orthodoxy.
Pulikkotil
II Thirumeni lived in an era when India was under the colonial rule of the
British Empire. Thirumeni wished that an ambassador of the Orthodox Church in
India should be present in London who would mainly publish details/news
regarding the Malankara Church in the English newspapers and represent the
Malankara Orthodox Church in important events taking place in London- the capital
of that empire known as the one on which the sun never sets. Thirumeni’s vision
was that having such representation will increase the glory of Malankara Orthodox
Church worldwide. Without much delay, Thirumeni’s fervent prayers for this
desire was answered in the person of Fr. Dr. S.D. Baba.
Dr. S.D.
Baba was a Parsi by birth and a native of Pune. He left for England at a young age
and became a doctor by profession after completing medical studies. He embraced
Christianity and was a part of the Presbyterian church. He also became an
ordained minister with Presbyterian community.
Though Dr. Baba
wasn’t known to Mar Dionysius V Thirumeni but he was aware about the existence
of the Malankara Orthodox church and her history. We can assume that it would
have been due to Alvares Thirumeni’s outreach that someone like Dr Baba would
have known about the Malankara Orthodox church which was then concentrated in
Kerala only. Of course, that period was almost a century before the internet or
social media happened wherein, we could get the information on our fingertips.
Eventually,
Dr Baba met Pulikkottil II Thirumeni and over the course of time he became well
versed with the tenets of the Orthodox faith and became a member of the
Malankara church. Dr S.D.
Baba wished to be an ordained priest of the Malankara Orthodox church. Since
the ordination from Presbyterian church was not considered valid and travelling
from London to India will be a cumbersome affair (including financial burden), Pulikkottil
Thirumeni instructed him to travel to Jerusalem and get ordained by the Syriac
Metropolitan Elias Mar Ivanios Thirumeni. Mar Ivanios gave diaconate and
priesthood ordination to Dr S.D. Baba. With the approval from Pulikkottil
Thirumeni, Fr. Dr. S.D. Baba was appointed as the Ambassador of the Malankara Orthodox
Church to London.
He was a
passionate about and remained firm in the Orthodox faith. He translated the liturgy
of St James in English and would celebrate the Holy Qurbana in English using
the translated version. It is sad to note that almost a century later, there
are still parishes in the diaspora who are in two minds about having the
liturgy in English catering to the youth!
Fr Dr. S.D
Baba had written articles and essays about our Church in the English dailies. Fr
S.D. Baba was invited as the representative of the Malankara Church to attend
the funeral of King Edward and was given the honor equivalent to what was bestowed
to the ambassadors from different countries.
*****************************
B) Blessed
Alvares Mar Julius Thirumeni- the courageous prelate who upheld the True Faith
amidst persecutions.
The Goan
priest Fr. Alvares was disgruntled with the Roman church and his quest for the
true apostolic church led him to Malankara. What attracted the Goan padre to
the Orthodox fold, was not only its faith and the indigenous nature of the Malankara
Church, but also the pleasing and loving personality of Pulikkottil II
Thirumeni. Thirumeni wholeheartedly welcomed Fr Alvares to the Orthodox faith,
who was later ordained to the order of bishophood. Like this nation’s patron
saint- St Thomas, Blessed Alvares Thirumeni’s mission was spread across
geographies many of which is yet to be discovered.
It is impossible
to pen down the missionary activities of Blessed Alvares Thirumeni’s in few
paragraphs. In a society entrenched deep into caste-based discrimination, Mar
Alvares’s mission extended to the people of lower castes (which included the
fishermen community in the present Tamil Nadu). This happened ages before
Mahatma Gandhi coined the term ‘Harijan’.
At a time when it was unthinkable to include people from lower caste to
the mainstream, Mar Dionysius V Thirumeni offered his support to the newly converts
thus- “this group was to be considered as my own flock and I take much interest
and warm care in their welfare.”
One thing
to note as we commemorate Pulikkottil II Thirumeni’s memory is his vision and
focus on the Church’s outreach to different communities which is seen from the example
above. It was also evident with the ordination of Rene Villate (Mar Timetheos)
to cater the spiritual needs of the Western world.
With Pulikkottil
II Thirumeni’s repose, the disconnect with Mar Alvares Thirumeni’s mission grew
and it is an unfortunate naked truth that Mar Alvares wasn’t accorded the due honor
for countless years by the Malankara Orthodox Church. Now, when we commemorate
the memory of Blessed Alvares Thirumeni with much devotion and glory, indeed
the soul of his spiritual guru- Pulikkottil II Thirumeni will be content!
Had it not
been for the Mar Dionysius V Thirumeni- the brilliant visionary, the church
would have been never blessed with the presence of Blessed Alvares Thirumeni
and Fr. Dr. S.D Baba!
****************************
May the
prayers and intercessions of the holy fathers be our refuge always!
In Christ,
Rincy John
Reference:
Translated from Malayalam, Malankara
Sabhayude Suvarna Yugasilpi, Malankara Sabha Thejas Pulikkottil Joseph Mar
Dionysius II, Vol. I, Editor- Fr. Dr. Joseph Cheeran, Published by: Dr.
Geevarghese Mar Yulios, M. J. D. Publishing House, Kunnamkulam, 2011, Pg-641,642.
Saints,
Goddesses And Kings - Muslims and Christians in South Indian Society, 1700-1900,
Susan Bayly, Cambridge University Press-1989. Pg 318.
