By Matters India Reporter

Kochi: A leading Catholic Church in Kerala has felicitated a centenarian prelate from a Protestant Church in the southern Indian state.

“The life of Mar Chrysostom in itself is a message,” said Cardinal George Alencherry, head of the Syro-Malabar Church, who presided over the felicitation program on August 23.

Philipose Mar Chrysostom, seniormost metropolitan of the Marthoma Syrian Church, is celebrating the centenary of his life this year.

Social, religious and political groups have vied with each other to celebrate the centenary of Kerala’s most loved Christian leader. His 100th birthday was celebrated on April 27.

The Syro-Malabar felicitation program was organized at St. Thomas Mount, the headquarters of the Syro-Malabar Church, in Kakkanad near Kochi, Kerala’s commercial capital. The synod of the Catholic Oriental rite is now underway.

“The Metropolitan disseminated Christ’s message all through his life, words, and action. The Metropolitan, who is known for his humorous speeches, never hurt the feeling of others. His jokes are thought provoking which also help us to introspect,’’ Cardinal Alencherry told the gathering.

Mar Chrysostom in his address to bishops thanked the synod for the honor. He said heaven emerges when one understands the need of the other. “We may face obstacles while trying to help others. But our efforts will find fruition,” he added.

Retired Archbishop Joseph Powathil of Changanacherry, who spoke on the occasion, said Mar Chrysostom always strived for the ecumenical movement.

Bishop Emeritus Joseph Pallikkaparampil of Palai draped Mar Chrysostom with a golden shawl while the cardinal presented him with a memento.

Mar Chrysostom as he is popularly known is the longest-serving bishop in India. Born Philip Oommen, he became a bishop nearly 64 years ago in the Marthoma Church, an offshoot of the Orthodox Church of Kerala.

Mar Chrysostom’s father was vicar general K. E. Oommen, Kalamannil, Adangapurathu, Kumbanad. His mother was Sosamma of Nadukke Veettil, Karthikappally. He did his schooling at Maramon, Kozhencherry and Eraviperoor schools, and went on to graduate from Union Christian College, Aluva.

In 1950, the Church Mandalam (representative assembly) consecrated him and two others as bishops. During his bishopric, he was the president of the National Council of Churches in India and has attended World Council of Churches at Evanston in 1954 and Uppsala in 1968. He also attended the Second Vatican Council of the Catholic Church.

As part of the centenary celebrations, the Mar Thoma Church has devised a project, Navathy (ninetieth anniversary) Home Project, to build homes for 1,500 families in India, irrespective of caste, creed or religion. Each home, built at the cost of 150,000, has a sit-out, a drawing room, a bedroom, a kitchen, a dining room and a toilet. The Mar Thoma Church members funded the project, which was extended to Mexico.

“100 years of Chrysostom” is an upcoming Malayalam biographical documentary film. Directed, produced and written by Blessy, it narrates the centenarian prelate’s story.