Very Rev. Koottunkal Geevarghese Rambachan/Thiruvithamcode Rambachan- an exemplary life of prayer and silence.(Commemorated 16th July)

 

Very Rev KV Geevarghese Rambachan/Thiruvithamcode Rambachan.

It was already dusk when a young lad from Fathima Matha College, Kollam arrived at St. Mary’s Orthodox Church Thiruvithamcode (Thiruvithamcode Arapally) with an earnest desire to meet Geevarghese Rambachan. Rambachan had taken the vow of silence, so he wrote in a book asking the purpose of the boy’s visit.

Just few days before his travel to Arapally, the young boy named K.G George (fondly called Kunjukunju at home) had first met Rambachan at St. Thomas Orthodox Church Kollam where the latter had come to give a devotional talk to the youth. The words of Rambachan had a profound effect on Kunjukunju and the young boy sensed the fountain of spiritual greatness who lived in Arapally. When asked about his future plans, the usually quiet Kunjukunju excitedly spoke of his calling to work in the Lord’s vineyard. Rambachan was pleased to see Kunjukunju’s determination and advised him to come to Arapally whenever he had vacations. An intense zeal burned within Kunjukunju following the encounter. In one such moment of quiet contemplation, Kunjukunju felt why to waste time in education when his ultimate aim was to serve God. If he can engage in divine mission a day earlier, then let be so. With this resolution, Kunjukunju wrote a letter to his parents informing them of his decision to begin his mission centered life at Thiruvithamcode Arapally. He posted the letter placing an express delivery stamp and thereafter boarded the train to Thiruvanthapuram to embark on a new journey under Rambachan’s wings at Arapally.

When asked about the purpose of his visit, Kunjukunju penned his desire in Rambachan’s book. Rambachan then wrote- “child, please go back (to your home) now. You should come here after completing your education and with the consent and blessing of your parents and other (relatives).”

Kunjukunju went back to Kollam accompanied by his relatives who had come searching for him. As instructed by Rambachan, Kunjukunju completed his studies and dedicated his life to God with the consent and blessing of his parents. Kunjukunju later became a metropolitan of the Malankara Orthodox Church- His Grace Geevarghese Mar Ivanios Metropolitan (of blessed memory)-a life illustrated with prayer and silence just as his guru Rambachan lived. It was indeed an encounter of saintly life recognizing holiness in another.

Very Rev. Geevarghese Rambachan was born on July 14,1890 to Pampady Koottungal Varkey and Annamma. He was fondly known as "Kochukochu". Since childhood he was known to have a devout, good mannered, honest, prayerful and humble nature. From a young age, under the tutelage of Pezhamattathu Kuriakose Rambachan (later His Grace Kuriakose Mar Gregorios Metropolitan of blessed memory/Pampady Thirumeni), Kochukochu learnt the Orthodox Christian faith and liturgy and became an acolyte at the Pampady church.

As a teenager, Geevarghese went to Old Seminary, Kottayam and His Grace Kochuparambil Paulose Mar Coorilos Metropolitan took the young lad under his wings. In the year 1909 AD, during the factional dispute, the young Geevarghese followed Mar Coorilos Metropolitan to the Jacobite church. In 1910, Geevarghese stepped into diaconate ministry by the hands of Mar Coorilos Metropolitan. After the departure of Mar Coorilos Metropolitan in 1914, Dn Geevarghese stayed at the monasteries in Kunnamkulam and Aluva to further train in the Syriac language and liturgy. During the stay at Aluva Thrikunnathu Seminary, Dn Geevarghese received the priestly ordination from Mar Athanasios Thirumeni. Fr. Geevarghese shifted to Piravom church after staying for four years in Aluva Thrikunnathu Seminary.

Recognising the ascetic life of Fr. Geevarghese, His Grace Mikhail Mar Dionysius Metropolitan elevated him as a monk-priest/Rambachan in 1930. Thereafter Rambachan willed to be the disciple of  His Grace Augen Mar Timotheos Metropolitan and shifted to Piravom. When Augen Thirumeni came to Malankara Orthodox Church, Rambachan followed suit. Once when Augen Thirumeni (later His Holiness Baselios Augen I Catholicose and Malankara Metropolitan) along with Very Rev Geevarghese Rambachan came to Devalokam to meet His Holiness Baselios Geevarghese II Catholicose and Malankara Metropolitan, Bava Thirumeni instructed thus- " We are the Catholicose of this church. We diligently observe all the fasts commanded by the holy church. From now on, you should also be likewise". Duly following the orders, Rambachan adopted an even more rigorous ascetic lifestyle.

In 1941, His Holiness Baselios Geevarghese II Bava Thirumeni appointed Very Rev Geevarghese Rambachan as the Vicar and Manager of St. Mary's Orthodox Church Thiruvithamcode. He faithfully served this parish till the end of his life.

St Thomas Orthodox Church Kulasekharam -Church consecration.From left (sitting): Very Rev. KV Geevarghese Rambachan, His Holiness Baselios Augen I Catholicose and Malankara Metropolitan, Very Rev. Aprem Paulose Rambachan. Kizhakkedathu Kuriakose Semmassen holds the pastoral staff 

Rambachan was respectfully addressed as Periyaswamy by the local Tamil people. The demanding ministry was never a stumbling block to his prayer life. Canonical prayers, periods of silence and fasting were strictly adhered to even on occasions of travel. During the period of Great Lent, Rambachan would forgo food and only have water.

Thiruvithamcode Rambachan in front of the old office block.Picture taken in 1956 by KV Mammen (Ref: the book noted in the main post).

Rambachan was concerned about the upliftment of the people of Travancore. A compassionate human being, Rambachan would financially support the less privileged ones in matters of education and health. It was Rambachan's dream to build educational institutions in Travancore under the auspices of the Malankara Orthodox Church and to start at least one dispensary to provide medical care. A nursery school was started as a part of this initiative and free medical camps for poor patients were conducted.

Photo from 1955 June edition of Malankara Sabha showing the renovated (outer) gate of the Thiruvithamcode church.(The photo is not clear; I assume it is Rambachan himself standing near the gate).

In his last days, Rambachan's health deteriorated due to severe blood loss owing to piles. After having faithfully served his Master, the curtain of time fell on the blessed priestly life exemplified by prayer, ascetic life, and service. Very Rev. Geevarghese Rambachan, the renovator of Thiruvithamcode Arapally and founder of St. Thomas Orthodox Church, Kulasekharam, left for heavenly abode on July 16, 1970, at the age of 80.

During the funeral, Rambachan's pupil Fr. CI Jesus remembered his guru thus -" We, Rambachan's students, did not have a formal education at the theological seminary. Rambachan's holy feet was our seminary. The priests whom Rambachan groomed and moulded are second to no one in Malankara. One of his disciples is present here (His Grace Yuhanon Mar Severios Metropolitan) who was elevated as the Metropolitan of Kochi diocese and was appointed as the Malpan of the (old) theological seminary. In Rambachan we saw a serene, accomplished, intellectual worker and an unparalleled ascetic of this generation. Our father Rambachan, please do pray for us." The then Malankara Sabha editor, Fr. TV George in his funeral oration said this: "Many are not here today to lament the beloved Rambachan's departure but the trees, plants and every grain of sand on this land are crying silently."

Rambachan’s burial place at St. Mary’s orthodox Church, Thiruvithamcode.

A click from the funeral of Rambachan that appeared in the 1970 August edition of Malankara Sabha magazine.

Rambachan’s disciple- His Grace Yuhanon Mar Severios Metropolitan.

One on whom Rambachan’s ascetic life of prayer and silence had profound impact- His Grace Geevarghese Mar Ivanios Metropolitan

By the prayers of our holy father among the saints- Very Rev Geevarghese Rambachan of blessed memory, may the Lord have mercy upon us!

In Christ,

Rincy

Ref: Translated from Malayalam and summarised from the following chapters:

'Koottungal KV Geevarghese Ramban' (Fr. Thomas P Zachariah Koottungal), 'Thiruvithamcode Periswamy' (Fr. Daniel George), Malankara Sabha article on the final moments of Very Rev KV Geevarghese Rambachan and 'Shudhan kanda vishudhi' (Shri Jose Kurian Pulliyeril) of the book- 'Thomayar Kovil- Thiruvithamcode Arachapally', Editor- Dr. M Kurian Thomas, MOC Publications, 2020 edition.

July 07th- Commemorating His Grace Zachariah Mar Dionysius Metropolitan (of blessed memory).

His Grace Thoma Mar Dionysius Metropolitan (of blessed memory), the spiritual guru of His Grace Zachariah Mar Dionysius Metropolitan would say of the latter- “He is a faithful herdsman. He is sent by God”.  Born on 06^th August 1924 in Kundara (Kerala), Mar Dionysius joined the Mount Tabor Dayara in his youth and embraced monastic life. In was in 1978 that Thirumeni (then Rev Fr C. Zachariah) was elevated to the episcopate and later became the Metropolitan of the Madras diocese in 1979.  His Grace Zachariah Mar Dionysius Metropolitan reposed in the Lord on July 07, 1997.

Below are some excerpts from Thirumeni’s writings regarding St. Peter and St. Paul (translated from Malayalam). 

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The apostles St. Peter and St. Paul worked with great enthusiasm in the Lord's vineyard. When the Church celebrates their feast, our focus should be on fulfilling the evangelical responsibility zealously.

The Lord called Simon from his trade as fisherman and Paul when he was implementing the agenda of persecuting the Christians. Both accepted this calling. They 'fought the good fight' for Christ till the end of their lives. Christ has obligated each and every Christian to spread the message of Gospel throughout the world. The Church is duty bound to continue our Lord's work of sharing the Gospel message and this is done through liturgy, preaching or outreach.

But many do not give heed when our Lord calls them. People are content to continue in their professions or are happy to assume the role of persecutors. The question - "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" was not just intended for Saul. This is a question which the Lord continually asks  every person indulging in sin. We should be on guard so that we do not become the servants of the devil and deny Christ.

We should hearken to our Lord's calling and aim to live for Him, who died for the whole world. It doesn't mean that everyone needs to renounce the worldly life; rather, one should live spotlessly and be careful so as not allow the ills of the world to tarnish their soul.

The Holy Gospel reading for the feast commemorating Sts Peter and Paul is from the Gospel of St Mathew 20:1-16. This Gospel portion is about the parable of the vineyard owner/workers in the vineyard. The vineyard owner is pleased to give a denarius to the worker who came at the eleventh hour; the same wage which the workers who worked since morning received. The Scripture doesn't state that the workers who came late were at fault. They sat idle throughout the day because no one hired them.

Had the Lord called St Paul early in His ministry like St Peter, there is no doubt that St Paul would have toiled ‘from the morning in the Lord's vineyard’.

Even though they got the wages as agreed, the workers who worked since morning started murmuring against the landlord since he gave the same wages to the workers who came at the eleventh hour. The feeble human mind generally gets turbid on seeing others being gifted with blessings- whether the blessings be worldly or heavenly one. We should feel happy and content if others get blessings in the same measure or more than us. We also ought to share our blessings with others. 

Those who are engaged in gospel work need to always remember that our Lord Jesus Christ, who was obedient even unto the Cross, was willing to have the thief, who repented at his dying moments, to be with Him in paradise.

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By the prayers of our holy father among the saints, His Grace Zachariah Mar Dionysius Metropolitan, may the Lord have mercy upon us.

In Christ,

Rincy

 

Reference:

Zachariah Mar Dionysius- Vrathashudhiyil thalliritta jeevitham, Ed- Ramban Elias Koshy, Published by Mount Tabor Dayara Pathanapuram, Nov 2014 Pg- 171-173. 

Remembering Dr. Samuel Chandanapally (May 26, 1940- July 03, 2000)

 

I translated into English an obituary written by His Grace Philipose Mar Eusebius Metropolitan (of blessed memory) for Dr. Samuel Chandanapally, which appeared in the Malankara Sabha magazine dated July 2000.

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Dr. Samuel Chandanapally- An exceptional human being.

His Grace Philipose Mar Eusebius Metropolitan (of blessed memory).

For a person to be remembered by future generations, they must either have performed memorable deeds during their lifetime or written great literary works that enlighten the next generation. It is the latter category that Shri Chandanapally is blessed with. In a life spanning just 61 years he wrote many great works and dedicated them to the people.

He wore many hats- a man engaged in literary pursuits, author, historian, critic and a great teacher. The fact that he was not affected by any ills (or pretentiousness) that usually affects the youth or the literary personalities reveals his faith in God and an Orthodox Christian character.

Shri Chandanapally was a noble man whose personality shone distinctively. His life was a cradle of unfailing devotion to God that sprouted flawless faith in Him and a perfect love for the Church. He was a respected teacher, a great researcher, a dedicated seeker of truth and an active social worker.

Our friendship and camaraderie, that developed during student days (he was known as CD Samuel), has blossomed with time. Shri Chandanapally became a teacher at a very young age and started teaching in the very college he had studied (Catholicate College, Pathanamthitta).

Due to his relentless work, Shri Chandanapally was soon promoted as the head of the department and was a known research scholar. He obtained Ph.D, D.Lit. in Malayalam literature (he was second person to obtain D.Lit. from Kerala University).

Shri Chandanapally, on his own accord was earning repute as the founding head of the Oriental Research Institute, when untimely death took him. There is no doubt that Shri Chandanapally will be immortalized (through his works). This tragedy befell when more valuable research and literary works were expected from him.

If we go by the adage ‘life begins at sixty’ then Shri Chandanapally had just started to live at the age of 61 years.  I believe that dear Chandanapally would say what the apostle St. Paul said, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” May the Lord’s servant receive the crown of righteousness. Praying with the bereaved family, friends and relatives that the departed soul may find eternal peace.

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In Christ,

Rincy