Little Thomas was about six or seven years old when St. Gregorios of Parumala visited his home parish, Puthiyacavu Church in Mavelikkara. As the saint interacted with the children, his eyes fell upon Thomas, and he embraced the boy warmly. At that moment, the parish vicar reminded St. Gregorios of a prophecy he had made concerning this child while still in his mother’s womb. The saint recalled the incident vividly.
Nearly six years earlier, a devout couple, Callumpurath
Poovathur Mathew and Smt. Aleyamma, had sought an audience with St. Gregorios
at Parumala. They requested his fervent prayers, as the expectant mother was
facing severe health complications during pregnancy, worsened by fits. The
saint assured them of his prayers and, by divine inspiration, foretold the
destiny of the unborn child. He said, “Avante thalayil thoppi vekkan yogam
ondu” (he is destined to wear the priestly cap). St. Gregorios instructed
the parents to dedicate the child to the Lord. Through his intercessions, the
mother’s health was restored, and the pregnancy progressed safely.
Thus, wrapped in prophecy and blessing, infant
Thomas was born on 8 June 1887 in the Callumpurath household at Puthiyacavu,
Mavelikkara. Recalling this divine moment, St. Gregorios reiterated his
instruction to the parents about the boy’s sacred calling. The father, however,
expressed his intention to send his younger son for priestly ministry while
training Thomas in the family trade. Smiling, St. Gregorios replied, “God
has set the elder one apart—may He utilise the younger one also,”
indicating that both sons would serve the Church. This prophecy came true:
Thomas became a stalwart bishop of the Malankara Orthodox Church, and his
younger brother, C.M. Isaac, was ordained a priest.
St. Gregorios then ordained little Thomas to
serve at the Holy Altar and instructed the parish vicar to ensure the boy was
thoroughly taught the Orthodox faith. From that day, the roots of faith were
deeply planted in Thomas’s heart, shaping a life dedicated to God and His
Church.
Thomas completed his schooling at Mavelikkara
B.H. High School and later graduated from CMS College, Kottayam. He was then
ordained as a deacon by the revered Malankara Sabha Bhasuran, St. Dionysius
Vattasseril, and pursued priestly education at the Old Seminary in Kottayam and
the Parumala Seminary. His thirst for knowledge led him to Calcutta, where he
secured admission to the MBBS programme at the Prince of Wales Medical College.
Semassen envisioned serving humanity both as a doctor and a priest. However,
after completing his first year of medical studies, St. Dionysius Vattasseril
recalled him to Kerala, as the Malankara Orthodox Church was facing severe
challenges and urgently needed committed ministers like Thomas Semassen to
strengthen the faithful.
Thomas began his public life as a teacher at
M.D. High School for two years and later served as the headmaster of M.G.D.
School, Kundara, for 14 years. During his tenure in Kundara, Semassen undertook
a 40-day fast every year, entirely of his own accord, spending those days in
prayer and solitude at a small church dedicated to Prophet Elijah (Mar Elijah)
in Koduvilla near Kundara. It was in this sacred silence that he received the
inspiration to establish a monastic order. These contemplative periods not only
deepened his spiritual life but also became the wellspring for many of his
devotionals and sermons that would later inspire generations.
During the tenure of Semassen as the headmaster
of M.G.D. English School, Kundara (1916–1930), one remarkable incident occurred
that revealed the depth of his character and Christ-like compassion. One
afternoon, after completing his official duties, Deacon C.M. Thomas retired to
his room for a brief rest. What seemed like an ordinary day soon turned
extraordinary with the unexpected arrival of a visitor.
The uninvited guest was a tall, middle-aged
Tamilian man with an imposing physique. At first glance, Semassen sensed that
the stranger was not of noble character. Yet, with characteristic grace and
courtesy, the young deacon engaged him in polite conversation, striking a
friendly chord. Before leaving hurriedly, the man handed over a suitcase to
Deacon Thomas, instructing him to keep it safe and promising to return within
three days to collect it.
Suspicious of the man’s intentions, Semassen
examined the suitcase after the visitor departed. It did not take long to
discover that the contents were stolen goods. Without delay, he informed the
Kollam Deputy Superintendent of Police and local authorities. But for Semassen,
duty did not end with reporting the crime. The love of Christ burned deeply
within him, compelling him to seek not only justice but redemption for the
offender. With courage and compassion, he made an unusual request to the senior
police official:
“Please do not harm the man physically. Give
him an opportunity to reform, he could become an asset to society. Perhaps he
might even serve in your department. It will be difficult to overpower him by
force, so please send two constables in civilian clothes to Kundara on the day
he returns.”
Moved by Semassen’s conviction, the Deputy
Superintendent agreed.
On the appointed day, the thief returned to
reclaim the suitcase. Semassen welcomed him calmly and led him to a room. In a
gentle yet firm tone, he said: “You will have a good future if you speak the
truth; otherwise, matters will worsen. Say only the truth.”
The man broke down: “Sir, please save me. I
will tell the truth. These are stolen belongings.”
As he confessed, the two plainclothes policemen
waiting in the adjacent room stepped forward to arrest him. While they escorted
the man to the station, Semassen reminded them not to harm him and to ensure he
was given food in jail.
The thief spent a few days in custody, but
thanks to Semassen’s intervention, he was treated with dignity. The deacon
personally followed up on the case and, impressed by the man’s good conduct,
appealed to higher officials for leniency. In time, the man was pardoned and—on
Semassen’s recommendation—appointed as a constable in the Travancore Police
Department. Grateful for this extraordinary act of mercy, the former thief
often returned to Kundara to express his heartfelt thanks to Deacon Thomas.
A gifted orator, Thomas Semassen’s sermons and
devotionals stirred hearts and strengthened the faithful to remain steadfast in
the True Faith during a time marred by schisms and defections to other
churches. This was an era when transportation was scarce, and speakers had no
microphones to amplify their voices. For over two hours, one had to shout to be
heard by large gatherings—a testament to Semassen’s endurance and zeal.
An incident of God’s providence in Semassen’s
life stands out vividly. His success in fortifying the faithful against
reformist propaganda provoked hostility. A young man, influenced by such
propaganda, plotted to attack Semassen. Concealing himself in the bushes with
his accomplices, he waited for the deacon to pass. But divine intervention
prevailed—the man was bitten by a snake, causing commotion. Unaware of the
deadly plan, Semassen happened upon the scene and, seeing the man in distress,
ensured he received proper medical care. Days later, the young man and his
father came to Semassen, seeking forgiveness—a powerful witness to grace
overcoming malice.
Pathanapuram, covered by thick forests, is inhabited by wild
elephants. Back then, the tree canopy was so dense that sunlight could barely
penetrate through it. While
passing through this region, Semassen learned of a lower primary school about
to be closed. Seizing the opportunity, he purchased it and established a proper
school in honour of St Stephen, the proto-martyr—offering education without
barriers of religion, caste, or creed. This was revolutionary in an era when
literacy was a privilege for a few. In newly independent India, educational
opportunities were scarce, yet Mar Dionysius Thirumeni’s vision transformed
Pathanapuram from kaadu (forest) to naadu (town). Today, the
institutions he founded-schools for boys and girls, training schools, an art
college, and technical colleges, stand as towers of excellence, attracting
students from across India and bearing witness to his foresight.
In 1933, Thomas Semassen was ordained to the
priesthood. The following year, he accompanied His Holiness Baselios
Geevarghese II, the Catholicos and Malankara Metropolitan, to Holms, Syria, for
peace talks concerning church disputes. He embraced monastic life in 1937 and
was consecrated as a bishop in 1940. In the interim, he pursued higher studies
at Oxford University, enrolling in the B.Litt. programme, where he studied
alongside eminent scholars, including Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, later
President of India. During his time in England, he also spent enriching days
with the Cowley Fathers, learning deeply about their monastic order.
In 1942, Thirumeni accepted the British Indian
Government’s invitation to serve as a military chaplain during World War II.
Traversing the length and breadth of the country, he ministered to soldiers,
offering spiritual solace in turbulent times. This experience impressed upon
him the need for the Malankara Church to extend its reach across India. Acting
on this vision, he established a school in Tiruchirapalli upon his return.
In Pathanapuram, Thirumeni saw not only the
need for education but also for a monastic order to nurture an ascetic life.
Thus was born Mount Tabor Monastery, founded on four guiding principles: transfer,
transform, transfigure, and translate. The monks embraced simplicity,
combining spiritual duties with manual labour and administrative
responsibilities in educational institutions. Thirumeni ensured they received
the best education, producing leaders of exceptional calibre. Mount Tabor has since
given several bishops—including a Catholicos—to the Malankara Orthodox Church.
A convent was also established nearby, furthering his vision of consecrated
service.
Mar Dionysius Thirumeni was renowned for his
compassion, extending help without regard for religion or caste. Under his
care, an inmate named Vadakkan Mohammad lived to the age of 108. Witnesses
recall Thirumeni feeding him with his own hands and, upon his passing, ensuring
burial according to Islamic rites—a profound testimony to Christian love.
People from all walks of life were drawn to
Thirumeni’s towering personality. He moved with ease among global and national
leaders while remaining a tender father to the poor and needy. If anyone
offered him a gift, he would slip it into his cassock pocket and, without even
glancing at it, hand it to the first person in need. His life was a seamless
blend of humility, generosity, and vision, a shepherd who built not only
churches but futures.
Two years before Thirumeni’s repose in the
Lord, an incident revealed the depth of his compassion and simplicity. After
the morning prayers and Holy Qurbana, Thirumeni was resting in his room when a
few priests from the Dayara came in for a conversation. At that moment, a man
known to Thirumeni entered. By his appearance, he seemed to be a middle-class
family man—his clothing suggested he was not poor or destitute. The priests
present assumed the same, but Thirumeni knew his background and the financial
struggles he was facing.
After speaking with the man, Thirumeni quietly
reached into his cassock pocket, took out a bundle of currency notes, and
handed it to him. The money was what Thirumeni had received the previous day as
a token of gratitude for officiating a marriage sacrament. Witnessing this act
of generosity, one senior priest asked, “Thirumeni, it is a blessing to support
the poor and needy, but what good is it to help those who seem financially
secure?”
Thirumeni replied with characteristic wisdom: “Achen,
if a man does not hesitate to ask for help, we should not hesitate to give. Our
Lord has commanded us to help the one who asks.”
After serving the Malankara Orthodox Church as
a bishop for 32 glorious years, His Grace Thoma Mar Dionysius Metropolitan
entered eternal rest on 3 December 1972. His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Didymos
I, Catholicose and Malankara Metropolitan (of blessed memory) once said: “I
faced immense sadness only once in my life. And that occasion was the departure
of His Grace Thoma Mar Dionysius Thirumeni- he who like a father, selflessly
loved me, brought up and raised me to this status. This incident remains the
greatness sorrow of my life.”
The immense contributions of His Grace Thoma
Mar Dionysius Metropolitan to the Church and society cannot be captured in a
few paragraphs. May this article offer a glimpse of the blessed life of this
saintly father to inspire the younger generation.
By the prayers of our holy father among the
saints, His Grace Thoma Mar Dionysius Metropolitan, Lord, have mercy upon us
and help us.
In Christ,
Rincy
Ref: My humble gratitude and thanks to Shri
George Kuruvilla, nephew of His Grace Thoma Mar Dionysius Metropolitan (of
blessed memory) for sharing the precious stories about Thirumeni. Other
sources: Translated from Malayalam- ‘Manushya Snehiyaaya Mar Deevannasiyos’,
Very Rev. N. J. Thomas Ramban, Mount Tabore Dayara, Pathanapuram, April 2014
(Third Edition). All image sources are the from the personal collections of
Mr.Gikku George Kuruvilla.
 |
His
Grace Thoma Mar Dionysius Metropolitan alongwith His Grace
Abraham Mar Clemis of Knanaya coming out after the WCC conference in Delhi in
1964. Also seen- Fr. K.C Thomas (later His Grace Thomas Mar Makarios
Metropolitan), Fr. K. Philipose (later His Grace Dr. Philipose Mar Theophilus
Metropolitan), Fr. Paul Varghese (later His Grace Dr. Paulos Mar Gregorios
Metropolitan) and Mr. K.M Cherian
(Malayala Manorama).
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Meeting
the Oxford colleague- the then President of India- Dr. S. Radhakrishnan. |
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With the then Catholicose and Malankara Metropolitan His Holiness Baselios Augen I, when Augen Bava Thirumeni was on his way to Kerala from Edessa (Mosul) with the holy relics of St. Thomas the Apostle. |
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His
Grace Thoma Mar Dionysius Metropolitan with his spiritual guru- His Holiness
Baselios Geevarghese II Catholicose and Malankara Metropolitan. |
 |
His
Grace Thoma Mar Dionysius Metropolitan with his dear spiritual son- His Grace
Thomas Mar Timethios Metropolitan (later His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Didymos
I, Catholicose and Malankara Metropolitan). |
 |
His Holiness Baselios Geevarghese II Catholicose and Malankara Metropolitan and His
Grace Thoma Mar Dionysius Metropolitan welcoming Ethiopian Emperor Haile
Selassie I at Catholicate Palace- Kottayam. |
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At
WCC- New Delhi-1964 |
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His
Grace Thoma Mar Dionysius Metropolitan with his brothers- Fr. C.M Isaac and
C.M. George. |
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The
mortal remains of His Grace Thoma Mar Dionysius Metropolitan at Medical College
Kottayam on Dec 03, 1972. Also see are- His Grace Mathews Mar Athanasius
Metropolitan (later His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Mathews I Catholicose and
Malankara Metropolitan), Very Rev. Zachariah Rambachan (later His Grace
Zachariah Mar Dionysius Metropolitan) and His Grace Thomas Mar Timethios
Metropolitan (later His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Didymos I, Catholicose and
Malankara Metropolitan) |
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The
Tomb at Mount Tabor Dayara chapel, Pathanapuram |
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Mount
Tabor Dayara chapel, Pathanapuram. |
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