To save Syriac

Mar Thoma Nazranis of India were blessed to know our lord and our god Ieso mishiha, in the very same language spoken by him, through the words of his beloved apostle Mar Thoma sleeha. This served as the liturgical language of the nazranis for many centuries. The language had contributed much to the Malayalam. Most of the widespread used words related to the church like Ieso mishiha, mar, Qurbana, Dukrana etc were originally derived from Syriac. The decline of the importance given to Syriac started with the use of local languages as the liturgical language.

To some, Syriac is a synonym to Aramaic, the language spoken by Ieso mishiha. To some others Syriac is the renewed version of Aramaic. Syro malabar church belongs to the category of Chaldean churches. Chaldean means East Syriac. Our great forefathers loved and valued this great tradition as their lives.

After the introduction of Malayalam as the liturgical language, the importance given to Syriac was started to decline in our church. This has resulted in such a scenario that the present generations hardly knows a language called Syriac. If this situation continues unchecked, with the next generations, the place of Syriac will be in the archives galleries. This should not happen.

A language can only be saved by spreading it. It can only be saved by letting others to learn the language. So to save Syriac, the best possible method is to teach the language in Sunday catechism classes. Let the young generations grew up by learning the language spoken by our lord Ieso mishiha and our father Mar Thoma sleeha.This will surely give them the chance to know our prestigious traditions and love them.

Syro malabar catechetical commission should take the responsibility of this. There are many Syriac scholars in our church. They can provide the curricula. In the next stage, people who are interested in the language can be called from each parishes and the training can be conducted at the diocesan levels. Once they are ready, they can start teaching the language in the Sunday classes. At the initial stages, classes can be given to some specific age groups. Then it can be expanded to all classes. It will be surely beneficial to start the learning from the lowest possible age.

By this, the young generations can be made familiar with the alphabets, commonly used words and our liturgical songs. With the success of this, the efficient celebration of our prestigious Syriac Qurbana will be possible. Competitions in Syriac can also be conducted as part of the 'Bible kalolsavams'.

This is not just a dream, but the only possible way to save and protect our great Syriac traditions. If the Muslims can efficiently teach Arabic to their young generations, why can't we teach syriac to our generations? Everything needs pain. Fruitful pains will be sweet to taste!! Even if it's not possible in some dioceses, it will be surely possible in the majority of dioceses. If we take the pain now, we can surely taste the sweetness in the near future. Knowing the language will help them to love it and spread it. Let's pray for a good future, where the young generations of Mar Thoma Nazranis, study this great language and celebrate  holy Qurbana in Syriac.... 

Happy birthday to Mar Joseph Powathil....

August 14, 2011 our dear Mar Joseph Powathil turns 81....

സ്വയം കത്തി തിരുമ്പോഴും മറ്റുള്ളവര്‍ക് പ്രകാശമേകുന്ന മെഴുതിരി പോലെ അനേകര്‍ക്ക്‌ പ്രകാശമേകാന്‍, സ്വന്തം ജീവിതമ് ഉഴിഞ്ഞുവെച്ച അഭിവന്ദ്യ പവ്വത്തില്‍ മാര്‍ യൌസേപ്പ്‌ മെത്രാപ്പൊലീത്തക്കു ആയിരമായിരം ജന്മദിനാശംസകള്‍....

Image courtesy: 'Aadaram'-documentary by madhyasthan tv

The reality behind the self financing college issues in Kerala...

'Inter church council: The real threat to the society'-Dr Fasal Gafoor, in Kaumudy...Why the Inter church council has one justice when all others have another one...They should try to remove their shields (minority rights!!!) for the public interest!!!...Like ways he continues the arguments. It seems like he has taken some quotations to destroy the church and it's institutions. Media provide amble time and space for his mission. It seems like all channels had recruited him to throw the mud into the catholic institutions and our leaders. Any way let us come to the topic.

Catholic churches were the pioneers in the education sector of Kerala. It started these institutions to serve the church and the nation. These institutions were not started for business, as the media call our institutions now!!! It maintained social justice by admitting all people, without any discrimination. When the catholic managements entered the self financing professional field, the same was also applied.

These colleges are started by the churches, to help the faithful and other people. Money belongs to the faithful. According to 50:50, half of the seats are given to government where the students study in a lower cost. Other half is for management, where the seats are given to community merits. Here the fees will be double. That is, the students from the community (who spend money to start college) have to spend more money to sponsor government merit students.This is a double burden for the people of community. Supreme court had ruled out this cross subsidy. Hence in these colleges run by catholic managements, equal fees for all is adopted. But scholarships are provided for the poor students, by the colleges.

Those who goes to best schools and Coaching centers gets higher rank and gets admission in government merit. Those who have money can only do these. Then how you can say that it is the poor people who gets admission in 'Government merit'? So there is no point in teaching 50% of students in a reduced rate. Fees should be collected from the ones who are able to pay it. Also scholarships should be provided for those who can not pay this. The fund for this should be provided collectively by the government and the institutions. This is the stance of the Inter church council. This also involves the idea that the students in private colleges are also eligible for the money of the government. They are also tax payers. Hence they also have the right for that.

According to the council, the present fee structure is not reflecting the social justice. In all seats, a common fees should be implemented. Adequate scholarship should be given to eligible students (mark should not be the criteria for this. family conditions & economical backwardness should be the criteria). Other students should be encouraged to study by spending the money.

If money was the motive of the church, they would have stood with Dr Gafoor. But their aim, was the social justice. So they vowed for a common fee structure without any cross subsidy. Does this criteria of admitting all according to merit and collecting a common fee, a very big crime to the society? Or should we collect double fee from the owner's child to teach an other person? The supreme court had ruled out that this is the best method and even then the government and media need 50:50. Social justice is the obligation of the government. But there is no point in arguing that, it should be done at the cost of self financing colleges, where the government has not even an investment of 50 paise.

The fee structure should be able to provide the investment to run the institutions. If the government colleges fall into debt, government will compensate it. What if, it is a private college? Surely they would close down the institution. According to an old data, government spends more than 5 lakh per year, for a student in a government medical college. If this is the situation, how the private colleges can be run by collecting the so called 'government fees' implemented to protect the 'social justice'. If social justice is the motive of government, they should provide the fees for the students they send to the private colleges.

If we sing 'hosanna' to Mr Gafoor and stand besides him, saying that we are 'gafoor ka dosth', our institutions can also be a part of the government sponsored 'Professional business', but at the cost of our minority rights. Even then, from the managements point of view, this may be beneficial. But we can not go for it, since we have social and communal commitments. If we didn't come forward to protect the social justice and minority rights, who else should go for it?

If we agree to the 50:50 formula of the government and adopt 50% students at a lower fees, we will get license for the 'professional business', so that we can sell the rest 50% seats as we wish. Every one will be satisfied if we do like that!!! This is the 'social justice' according to the government, media and all others!!!

But we don't need any seats for business. Our colleges were started by investing the money of the faithful. So their children must be given the chance to study in our colleges at a fair fees. Instead of this, if we are forced to sell the seats again to the faithful, then for what we need these colleges? We don't need any profit out of this. But we just need money to run these colleges and improve the facilities.

Hence we adopt admission based on merit in all seats except NRI quota of 15%. We didn't go for any special entrance examinations. We prepare the rank list based on the qualifying exam(+2) marks and the Kerala entrance examination marks. In all these seats, we collect the common fees from the students. But also Scholarships are provided for the needy students. Is this a big crime to the society? Is this an insult or threat to the common men?

We are following the same criteria for the last four years and nobody had complaints. But when then ruling party moves into opposition, they have severe complaints!!! If the government need to consult the Opposition leader (Previous Chief minister) and the previous Education minister for all matters, then why we voted for the change of ministry? Remember that our stands are no based on any political parties. Even if its left or right, there will be no change in our stance. It is not fair to make us change the stance by threatening.

Here we see the hidden agendas to capture the minority rights in the name of social justice. Remember that we are a community that has no reservations any where in the country. The only thing we have is our minority rights. So if we did n't provide chance for our children to study in our colleges, then for what we need colleges? For this, we need the minority rights. Dr Gafoor, who vows us to remove the shield of minority rights in the name of social justice, enjoys the protection of both minority rights and reservations. Will he ask his community members to remove these shield to protect the social justice?

Think wise..understand the truth and support our leaders to protect our rights and to prevent the hidden agendas...

Go through this article to know the facts in depth...Please click here to read the linked article...

Here is what Inter church council is....

Inter church council for education is a common platform for all christian churches in kerala to discuss the problems related to education field and give a proper order to the sector. It is an ecumenical council started by Mar Joseph Powathil before a long period. It is not a council of christian professional colleges. Inter church council captured the headlines of media, when mar powathil took the driver's seat, to protect the church's rights and social justice, when the previous communist government introduced the self financing bill that had clauses to indirectly capture the minority rights.

From that time onwards, Mar Powathil and Inter church council, stood for protecting minority rights and social justice in the field of professional education. Under the guidence of the council, two separate fedarations were formed, each one for engg and medical colleges. All the colleges which are a part of these federations are run by individual trusts or dioceses. The inter church council has no part in managemental process of each colleges. Hence the council has no profit from these colleges. But the council took up the issue only to protect the minority rights and the social justice. But every one argues that the coucil is business oriented. But according to the above facts, There is no point in that argument.

Here is the article regarding the stance of Inter church council, regarding the self financial professional college issue..Please go through this, to understand the problems in depth...

Hope every one understands the facts now..

Why we need a patriarchate?

The Syro Malabar church, one among the 24 Individual Churches in Catholic Communion is the Chaldean* Catholic church of St. Thomas Christians in India. With the lamp of faith handed over by the apostle Mar Thoma Sleeha in the very first century, the church is about to complete her 1970 years of long journey. With the ever-shining lamp of faith, she continues her journey. Even in the midst of thunder storms and tsunamis that struck the church in Kerala, she didn't let the lamp to die. She didn't let anyone to blew off the lamp. Instead she tried to preserve the lamp for the generations and glorified it by pouring more and more oil! But what did she gain from that?

The Syro Malabar Church is the third largest Church in Catholic Communion, behind the Latin church and the Ukranian church, with more than 40 lakh of faithful, spread across the globe. Sadly, both the Ukranian Church and the Syro Malabar church are not given patriarchal status.

Regarding the union with the Catholic Community and allegiance to the Pope, the Syro Malabar church was tightly bound to the Catholic Communion, ever since her birth. She is one among the three churches who hadn’t ever break up the links with the Catholic Communion. The other two Churches are the Maronite Church and the Italo-Albanian Church. Among these, the Syro Malabar church is the prominent one with about 10 lakh more faithful than the Maronite church. But Maronite church is Patriarchal, whereas the Syro Malabar remains as the Major Archi Episcopal church!

Out of the 23 Oriental Churches, 6 are Patriarchate Churches. These are the Coptic, Maronite, Syrian, Armanian, Chaldean and the Melkite churches. Except the Maronite church, all others had broken the catholic faith and had moved away from the Bishop of Rome. They moved out of the Catholic Communion, installed their own Patriarchates and when they returned to the Catholic Church, Rome allowed them to continue their Patriarchates!

Regarding the number of faithful, none of these stands with the Syro Malabar Church. The Armanian church has about 6 lakh faithful, Chaldean Church has about 5 lakh faithful, Coptic Church has about 1.75 lakh faithful, Syrian Church has about 1.6 lakh faithful, Melkite Church has about 16 lakh faithful and the Maronite church has about 32.5 lakh faithful. All these Churches have the Patriarchal status. Yet our Syro Malabar church with over 40 lakh faithful, and which is in full communion with the successor of St. Peter ever since her birth has no patriarchal status!

Where did she fail? Did the pain she took to protect the lamp of faith that Mar Thoma sleeha handed over to her cause this? Why did she stand with the lamp, even when her children were scattered into different groups, to protect their faith, believes and traditions? What would have happened if the Marthoma Nazranis stood in union against the missionaries, proclaimed their identity and jurisdiction over the Church of India, installed a Patriarchate and later came back into the Catholic Communion? Of course, we might have got a patriarchate in Angamaly! Our Patriarch would have been the “Father and Gate of whole India and it's premises”. Our church would have been the second largest Church in the Catholic Communion after Latin church. We would not have been waiting for the mercy of Vatican and the local Latin bishops to establish new Diocese or even to give the necessary pastoral care to the migrants!

But we considered the obligation as our priority and stood with the Pope, even in the midst of all crises. We had to give much for that. That is our history! We had been split up into different groups. Our Patriarch or the Archbishop of Angamaly who had the jurisdiction over the whole India and it's premises was devalued as a suffragan of the newly erected Latin Archdiocese of Goa. From the whole India and it's premises, we shrinked into the area bounded by the 'Pampa' and 'Bharathapuzha' rivers. We lost all our identity and Sacred Liturgy partially or completely.

But the biggest lose was due to their brain washing. Because of which, our own leaders asked the Pope to translate the Latin Liturgy into Syriac for their use. They struggled hard to continue the Latin practices, even after obtaining the freedom! They also opposed the minority of leaders who were firm on returning to our ancient traditions! In a sense we were again captured in a prison of our own minds- because of the severe brain washing! We had our great fighters, but they were the minority and even though the Popes and the Vatican Congregations were with them, they were unable to do much more owing to the threat of another split. This might had prompted the Vatican for not giving the Patriarchal status in the course of time. Again we failed here for another time. We cannot blame the missionaries completely for this, we had the time to learn and correct, we had our leaders. Yet for some one's selfishness we had to suppress our identity. As a result, our 1970 years old Church, which is the third largest Particular Church in Catholic Communion, has to continue as a Major Archi Episcopal church.

This should be changed. We should realise the present and think for the future. All must realise the need of restoring our identity and our holy traditions. Then surely the Rome can not neglect us. Now we have a very energetic and efficient Major archbishop, who knows and loves our great traditions. He is very keen on restoring the identity of the church and uses each and every chance to proclaim our great traditions to the global audience. Let us stand with him in union and strengthen his hands. Let us pray for the good days when the Patriarch of Angamaly rule over a united and energetic Chaldean Catholic church of St. Thomas Christians in India.  

Let the grace of our lord Ieso Mishiha, Love of our heavenly father and the blessings of Ruha d’ kudisha be with us for ever and ever..

Remembering our Mar Thoma Sleeha, on this Dukrana of 2011.

*Chaldean: This simply means East Syriac, the developed form of Aramaic, the language spoken by our lord Ieso Mishiha. Catholic faith was given to the Marthoma Nazranis (St. Thomas Christians in India) by the Apostle St Thomas, in the very same language spoken by Ieso Mishiha. It served as the liturgical language for many centuries, until the celebration of liturgy was made in the local languages, after the Vatican II council. 

Fr Benedict Onamkulam: Sahanadasan

Fr. Benedict Onamkulam, a diocesesan priest of Changanacherry was the accused in the famous Madatharuvy or Manthamaruthy murder case in which Mariyakkutty, a widow and mother of 5 children was found dead in a tea garden near Madatharvy. From the circumstantial evidences Fr. Benedict Onamkulam was arrested and Kollam district sessions court ordered him a rigorous imprisonment of 5 years and to hang him till death. Later he was found innocent and let free by the high court while judging his appeal. But the ill repute of 'murder' was an inerasable misery for him. He suffered a lot for what is unaware of him. Later Fr. Benedict served the remote Kanyakumary mission (Presently the Thuckalay diocese) of the Archdiocese. During his last years he was resting in the priest home in Kottayam. At that time, the widow of a doctor and her family visited and confessed that Mariakutty was dead while doing an abortion and the estate owner was the cause for the child. Yet Fr. Benedict kept it as a secret, until it was revealed by the family members of the doctor after 11 months. Within a few days, on 2001 January 3, he was called for the eternal life and his body was buried in the cemetery chapel for priests in St. Mary's Forane Church, Athirampuzha

Birth and Early life of Fr. Benedict Onamkulam

Fr. Benedict was born in 1929 into a catholic family. He had his primary studies at St. Ephrems Mannanam. After completing the sixth forum, he joined the seminary in 1950. He became a priest in 1959 and served different parishes of Archdiocese of Changanacherry. In 1962 he was at Kannampally church near Manthamaruthy. From 1962-64 he served as a vicar in Alappuzha Chakkarakkadavu church. It was this time Mariakutty and Fr. Benedict got to know each other. After this, he became the manager of St. Joseph's orphanage press Changanacherry. He continued in this position, until he was arrested for Mariakkutty murder case.

Mariakkutty murder case and the consequences in Fr. Benedict's life

In 1966 June 16, the dead body of a 43 year old woman was found near Madatharuvy in Manthamaruthy. Later it was confirmed to be Mariakkutty, a widow and mother of 5 children. The case became popular and the news spread all over the nation when Fr. Benedict Onamkulam, an Archdiocesan priest of Changanacherry was arrested on June 24. Fr Onamkulam was serving as the manager of Archdiocese run St. Joseph's Orphanage press. Mariakutty had knew Fr. Benedict since he was serving as the vicar in Alappuzha Chakkarakkadavu church. There he was in charge of distributing wheat and milk powder to the poor. He knew the poverty of Mariakutty's family and used to help her at times. It was reported that Mariakutty left her home on June 15. Before some days she had visited Fr Benedict in Changanacherry. Some years before he was the vicar of Kannampally church near Manthamaruthy. The police related the both and concluded that Fr Benedict was the culprit. Stories were made like Some one had seen a priest with a lady in Manthamaruthy on that day, Fr Benedict was the father of her youngest child, she used to blackmail him by this and so Fr Benedict decided to kill her!!!

From the circumstantial evidences, Fr Benedict was found guilty by the Kollam district sessions court judge Kunjiraman Vaidyar and on 1966 November 19 he was sentenced to death and for a rigorous imprisonment for 5 years. This was a shock to the common people who believed that the priest was innocent. It was the first incident in Kerala, in which a priest was punished for a murder case.

Later Archdiocese filed an appeal in the High Court against the verdict of the sessions court. Judicial bench consisting of then acting chief justice P Raman Nair and Justice VP Gopalan Nambiar heard the appeal. ASR Chari who was a famous advocate in supreme court and adv. KT Thomas was appeared for the Fr. Benedict. High court found that the arguments against Fr Benedict was unbelievable and he was set free due to the lack of evidences, on 1967 April 7. On the next day, he was relieved from the Central Prison in Thiruvananthapuram and was greeted by a huge crowed on the road sides, while he was returning to Changanacherry. He was given a warm welcome at Changanacherry by the natives and the faithful.

Life of Fr. Benedict after Manthamaruthy case

Even though he was set free from the case, the ill repute of 'murderer' remained on him. This gave him a lot of mental sufferings. But Fr. Benedict accepted and suffered all of these, without complaining to any one. Later he served the Kanyakumary mission and other remote centers of the Archdiocese. Towards the end, he was resting in the priest home at Mudiyoorkara near Kottayam.

Confession by the family members of the doctor

On 2000 January 14, a 94 year old widow of a doctor and her family visited Fr. Benedict in the Mudiyoorkara priest home. She confessed to Fr. Benedict that her husband was the cause for Mariyakkutty's death. Mariyakkutty was dead during an attempt to abort her child. The estate owner was the father of the child. When Mariakkutty became pregnant from estate owner, she asked for her share on his property. So the estate owner forced her for abortion and during that, she was dead. Marks were made on her body to seem like a murder. The body was placed near Madatharuvy and the witnesses were made to point the cause on Fr. Benedict. Estate owner was utilizing the circumstantial connections of Fr. Benedict. Postmortem was not conducted efficiently and the whole case was moving on the cash thrown by the estate owner. Thus Fr. Benedict Onamkulam was arrested for a crime, which was totally unaware by him.

What made the family to confess was the continuing problems in the family. Before and after the death of the doctor, many problems aroused in the family. Doctor was dead, They lose all the wealth made by the doctor, different diseases followed the family members and children were born with mental and physical disabilities. When they attended a retreat, the councilors pointed out these as the result of the sufferings and sorrow of a priest. They advised to confess to him and so the family decided to visit Fr. Benedict.

Fr. Benedict heard all these silently. Even though the confession happened, the story remained as a secret within his heart. Later, after 11 months, this was officially revealed by the family to the media. The world realized that Fr. Benedict was innocent and the crime was actually 'foisted' on him.

Death and burial of Fr. Benedict

After a few days, on 2001 January 3rd, Fr. Benedict Onamkulam was called for his eternal life in heaven. He had suffered a lot and his name was a curse for the church and all the priests. Yet the church stood besides Fr. Benedict because of his saintly life. He was leading a saintly life without complaining to any one. Even though, he was aware of the truth, he kept silence. But his death was like an extended period to see the world hearing the truth. On January 4th , Fr. Benedict Onamkulam was buried in the cemetery chapel at St. Mary's Forane church Athirampuzha near Kottayam, Kerala. A huge mass of people including Archbishops, Bishops, Priests, Nuns and the faithful attended the ceremonies. According to them, it seemed like the death ceremonies of a saint.

Developments after the death of Fr. Benedict

Now ten years had been passed after the death of Fr. Benedict. Recently his grave was reconstructed in concern with the priest year celebrations in the Catholic Church and facilities were provided for the faithful to offer prayers. It had been attracting the faithful. Hundreds of people are visiting and offering the prayers every day. According to Dr. Mani Puthiyidom, PRO of the Archdiocese of Changanacherry and the vicar of Athirampuzha church, some miracles were also reported by the people and if St. Alphonsa was called as 'sahanadasi', Fr. Benedict is being called as the 'sahanadasan'.

The Archdiocese had started the decennial celebrations of the entry of Fr. Benedict to his heavenly life. Hope this great priest be declared as the saint in the near future.

Watch this short clip from "Kannadi" from Asianet News about the life of Fr. Benedict
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBjfRJ58l4A

The need of revolutions in the field of Catechism

Over the years, the signs of a shear towards ignorance and negligence on the faith, spirituality and traditions can be easily noticed among the new generations of Syro Malabar Catholics.  The problem that shattered the church in Europe and US has started to hit the church in Kerala too. This pin points the need of a new revolution in catechesis. Effective and continuing catechesis can only save the generations from this crises.

Catechesis is not something that can end with school days. It is not a matter of Std 1 to Std X or XII. But it should be from the time of birth and everlasting to the last moment in life. Parents should be the first teachers of their children. They should be able to give a foundation in the faith and traditions of our church. If the foundation is not good, what ever built over it, is of no use. According to the second Vatican council, parent's role in the formation of a child is so important such that anything else cannot fill that gap. Also, all should realize that the scope of catechism in sunday schools is very little. Parents should be able to let their child grow in age and wisdom according to the faith and teachings of catholic church.

Children should be grown with an affection towards the mother church. They should be taught our prestigious history and traditions. One who knows the history can only love the presence. Remember the words of cardinal Tiserang, who was the prefect of the congregation for Oriental churches: "I love the church in malabar, because I know it's past". One who is aware of our great history, traditions and our great freedom fight to restore the identity, will surely love our church. But sadly the present generations lacks this love and affections. Parents are often ignorant to teach this great history. But unfortunately no moves are seen from the church too. Why should we hide our history? Or who should hide our history and for whom? What ever be the answers, outcome will not be good. If we expect love and affection towards our church from the faithful, we must teach our history. We must teach our great traditions.

After the catechism for whole 12 years and if you don't know the importance of Danha and Dukrana, what else you gained through all these years? If you are illiterate and ignorant about the basic teachings and traditions of the church, for whom you lose the Sundays during the past 12 years? If you still remains as a mere viewer in Holy Qurbana, without the knowledge of great mystery over it, it is surely a wastage. After 12 years of catechism, if you run away with a muslim or hindu for your selfishness...or if you wander here and there for a relief...or if you start a new life with any Pentecostal churches,...or if you forget all the fundamental believes and even the Sundays, when you are away from home,... then surely there is a problem in your formation. Yes the way of formation should be changed. If one has an affection or love towards the church, he will surely remain with the church until his death.

Our catechism should create this love and affection towards our church. It should teach them the meanings of our faith and rituals. It should teach the mystery of Holy Qurbana. It should enlighten the children with the morel sense. It should help them or make them capable of upholding the faith and believes in the modern age and to live as true models for the world. It should teach them to keep their faith even in front of the sword. It should teach them to even shed their lives for the faith in our Lord...This should be our catechism.