By George Cheriyan
Bengaluru: The oldest surviving bishop in the world, Philipose Mar Chrysostom, the emeritus Metropolitan (supreme head) of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church, passed away in the early morning of May 5 in Kumbanadu, Kerala at the age of 104.
He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2018, the only Christian bishop to receive the third highest civilian award in India.
Born in 1917, he became a priest in the Mar Thoma Church in 1944. He became a bishop in 1953 and was in-charge of various dioceses of the Mar Thoma Church since 1954. He was also the missionary bishop.
He became the head of the Mar Thoma Church in 1999. Mar Chrysostom relinquished the post in 2007 and continued as the emeritus Valiaya Metropolitan (senior supreme head of the Church), without any administrative responsibilities, until his death.
His demise is a big loss for the Mar Thoma Church, and for the Christian community in India and the world, and a personal loss for me.
Chrysostom in Greek means “Golden-mouthed.” His has proven this with his inborn sense of humor, which is very famous. His main medium of communication was pleasant talk containing humorous words and action. Many books and documentaries have been published containing his humorous speeches and talks.
He was a great ecumenical visionary. He was in the leadership position with Kerala Council of Churches (KCC), National Council of Churches in India (NCCI), and the World Council of Churches (WCC). More than his positions in formal platforms, he really practiced ecumenism.
When I served as the associate director with KCC and Ecumenical Christian Centre (ECC) in Bengaluru, I have seen his practical ecumenical actions from close quarters. He loved and blessed every human being, irrespective of caste, color or creed.
His defiance of convention is well known. His meeting with Mātā Amritānandamayī, or visit to Cherukolpuzha Hindumatha Maha Mandalam (Hindu convention), or visiting Palan Pulyan (18th century Dalit farm worker) Temple in Kanjeettukara or visit to Kathakali fest in Ayroor, was always in news and a debate among the Christian community.
Personal Loss
I had a close personal association with the bishop. Sharing couple of incidents here to show his progressive and ecumenical mindset.
I was a member of the Church Council (Mandalam) during 1992-1995, when Bishop Chrysostom was the Metropolitan (head of the Church). One of the key issues debated in the council in 1995 was about the burial to those who commit suicide. Suicide was considered a sin by the Churches during those days. The whole Church and the council were divided on the issue and the debate in the council continued for hours.
Metropolitan was in favor of giving a ‘decent’ burial to those who commit suicide and consoling the family. Concluding the debate, he said, “The family will be passing through great grief, and support at that time is a must. By giving (the victim) a proper burial it will be of great help to the family. The issue and the objection is whether the priest should use the same liturgy (the ritual or script for various forms of public worship in churches) or not. For the time being, let the priest say the prayers, without looking at the worship book.” This was his ruling, which concluded the heated debate, which diffused the tension.
This progressive initiative of the bishop has found support with majority of the people. Now there is a separate service for such people (who commit suicide).
I was appointed as the bishop’s ‘development advisor’ in 1993, when I returned from Nova Scotia, Canada after my higher studies in social development. I used to meet him regularly in the evenings at the Bishop’s House in Ranni for discussions. He was keen to initiate some development work for the Adivasi community in Ranni near the Bishop House.
He asked me to suggest the activities. Being trained for following a bottom up and participatory approach, I was hesitant to suggest anything and said, we need to meet with the people of the tribal community, understand their problems and make them capable to suggest the solutions, before we initiate any work.
Bishop was not convinced with my reply, he asked again and my reply was the same. “If the Tribal people can understand their problem and can suggest the solution, then what is your need, what big development you have studied,” the bishop replied in his usual humor. Later he appreciated my suggestions and the development work was carried out accordingly.
My father was working in Malaysia and I was born in Malaysia in 1962. Bishop Chrysostom baptised me in 1963 in Banting, Malaysia. After 29 years, he blessed our marriage in April, 1992, in my home village in Ayroor at Chayal Mar Thoma Church. Since I was working with Ecumenical body, Kerala Council of Churches (KCC), at that time, priests and sisters from various Christian denominations attended my marriage.
The bishop was generous enough to accommodate all in the marriage worship service order, by giving different portions to read or pray, including giving a prominent role to Bishop K. Michael John of the Church of South India (CSI). At that time, he was the Suffragan Metropolitan (associate head) of the Church and was the in charge of the Ranni-Nilackal Diocese. This was the ecumenism he practiced.
Those days, veil or a crown was not allowed for brides in the Mar Thoma Church before the marriage service take place. My wife came with a veil covering her head and a crown on the top of it. Our parish vicar and other Mar Thoma priests were very tensed and asked to remove the veil. While the process to remove the veil was on (clipped with numerous pins), the vicar brought the matter to the bishop’s notice, he without any hesitation allowed it. It was big relief for the vicar and the bride. Evan after 30 years, many priests and bishops. still don’t allow the veil or the crown for the bride.
In February 1994, Bishop Chrysostom baptised our daughter at Ayroor. In those days it was not common for bishops to visit a layman’s house. So, I planned to arrange the high tea at the parish vestry (a room attached to the church). But he refused, visited our home, spent about two hours and had tea with other priests. This showed his courage to deviate from conventions.
After relinquishing his position, I used to visit him in his house at Maramon and had detailed interactions. My last meeting with him was in September 2019, during the meeting of the Church Council in Tiruvalla. Thereafter due to the pandemic, I could not meet him.
I pay my homage to the great soul.
(George Cheriyan is an active member of the Mar Thoma Church and was a member of the Sabha Prathinidhi Mandam (Church Council)
Nice Article👍,Our Beloved Thirumeni will be their for ever in Our Hearts.🌷