പരിശുദ്ധ പാമ്പാടി തിരുമേനി

H. G. Kuriakose Mar Gregorious of Kottayam diocese is a jewel of the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church for the grace he radiated from his saintly life. Many have seen miracles while he was alive. Christ said one who believes in him will never die, because “I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 14.6). His Grace is still living in Christ even though he has traveled away from his earthly body, and is still staying as a refuge to millions. Many have testified the power of intercessory prayers of Thirumeni including metropolitan of Kottayam diocese H. G. Geevarghese Mar Ivanious for his miraculous healing from cancer. Thirumeni was born to Chacko and Ilachi on April 5th, 1885 at Pampady, Kottayam. Baptismal name given to him was Kuriakose. Education started at the age of 5. The kid grew with amazing attachment to the Church and worship and was ordained as sub-deacon (korooyo) at the age of 14 by Paulose Mar Athanasious at the Pampady Church. After becoming a deacon, Thirumeni proceeded to the Old Seminary for theological studies. The young deacon led a prayerful life. During vacation time, the young deacon served his church at Pampady. One year, the villagers faced severe drought and the deacon during a sermon during the Holy Qurbana on Sunday declared that everyone should fast and pray intensely for three days for the mercy of our Lord. While kanji was served on the third day, heavy rain started pouring down. “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—
whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.” (1 John 5: 14, 15).
The deacon was ordained as a priest on 8th July, 1906 by H. G. Paulose Mar Gregorious, followed by the Ramban ordination on 9th July, 1906. He stayed first at the Pampady Church and later shifted to Parumala Seminary.Life at the place of St. Gregorious (Parumala Thirumeni) tremendously influenced the Ramban which is evident on his life afterwards. Pampady church was later closed due to fights between the two factions when Ramban had to find another home. He earned the land, which was donated by his former school teacher Madathil Ashan, and a church and dayara was built. Vattaseril Mar Dionysius christened the dayara as “Thabore Dayara”. The reconstruction of the church and dayara started on 28th of May, 1920. During the construction of the center pillar, a shining star was witnessed in the sky. Consecration of the new church took place on 20th January, 1923.Rambam was ordained as the Metropolitan on February 16th, 1929 by the late Moran Mar Baselious Geevarghese II Catholicose. Thirumeni was a symbol of love even when fights were going on between the two factions. He visited the deceased bishops of the other faction. He prayed and fasted intensely during the times of court cases and issues for peace. Thirumeni was a refuge to many poor and needy by helping them in different ways. He has supported many students for their education needs, has helped the poor and the aged and stayed as a guardian to many. ‘Kantheela’ was administered to Pampady Thirumeni on Dec 8th, 1962 by Catholicate Designate Augen Mar Themothious Metropolitan, Mar Ivanious, Mar Athanasious and Mar Kuriakose.
In Kantheela, a patient is anointed in the name of Christ to absolve one of sins as much as to relieve from ailment. ‘Kantheela’ was administered to Pampady Thirumeni on Dec 8th, 1962 by Catholicate Designate Augen Mar Themothious Metropolitan, Mar Ivanious, Mar Athanasious and Mar Kuriakose. In Kantheela, a patient is anointed in the name of Christ to absolve one of sins as much as to relieve from ailment. Catholicose designate Augen Mar Thimotheus Thirumeni, during the Holy Qurbana at Pampady dayara on 09th June, 1962 said: "We solemnised the 'Kantheela Susroosha' for Gregorious Thirumeni after Holy Qurbana yesterday. We consider it a big blessing. Even though physically present with us, Thirumeni is one who has left everything mortal, with his mind full of thoughts about heaven. There is none in our church like him. We all think about material things much more. But Thirumeni is fully prepared to go to Heaven. We consider it a real blessing that five Metropolitans and fifty achens could solemnize the function in the presence of thousands of believers. This Achen (Fr. P. C Yohannan) looks after him more than blood children would do for a father. Moreover there are a few young men who are prepared to do anything for Thirumeni here in the dayara". Thirumeni’s health deteriorated and was admitted to the hospital on March 11th, 1965. No improvement was shown and he was shifted back to the dayara. On April 4th, 1965, at 2.35AM, the soul of our beloved Thirumeni started his journey to meet his Lord in the heaven to praise and intercede for all his loving children. May the biography of this blessed servant of Lord be a guide to us all in our journey of salvation. May his intercessory prayers be a refuge to us all in times of tribulations.

My blessed children, even if I am physically removed from you, I shall be with you spiritually. Remember what good I may have done for you. Pray for me.
(Pampady Thirumeni)

Recovery from Critical Illness by the Intercessory Prayers of Pampady Thirumeni
Geevarghese Mar Ivanios
English translation of an article written by H.G. Geevarghese Mar Ivanios of Kottayam Diocese, published in Malayala Manorama special supplement dated 19th January 2006.
While Lord Jesus Christ was teaching the multitudes, some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a bed. They tried to take him inside the house and put him in front of the Lord. However, as they could find no way due to the thronging of the crowd, they climbed on to the roof, removed some tiles and lowered the man on the bed down into the middle of the room, right in front of Christ. When Jesus Christ realized the magnitude of faith they had, He said to the paralyzed man, "Your sins are forgiven". He then uttered, "I tell you, get up, pick up your bed and go home". At once the man got up in front of them all, took the bed he had been lying on and went home, as recorded by St. Luke in the Holy Bible.
It is quite evident in the above instance that our Lord cured the paralytic person not because of the faith shown by him, but on the contrary, by witnessing the staunch faith delineated by those who brought him. This incident points out and clarifies that the Lord will be compassionate to a person even by the prayers of others. In accordance with the exhortations of Jesus Christ, "Those who believe in me shall live even if he dies; those who live and believe in me shall not die", Orthodox Church teaches that there is no death for a faithful and even though 'dead' is a word in common usage, it is only meant to denote one's departing from the earthly body. Moreover, the Orthodox Christians believe that even though the departed faithful are invisible, they too, like any other living persons, are members of the Holy Church and the same fruition can be availed when they pray for a living person, similar to the effect of prayers by the living faithful for one another. One can attain Lord's grace by his own prayers for self or by the prayers of others for him.
It has been our untainted faith that the Saints who departed from their bodies live with Christ and they also continue to pray for those living in their bodies. When the Saints are requested to intercede for them by those who take refuge in their prayers, mediation of the Saints is wholeheartedly accepted. They get a chance to share the solidarity of the Saints. Moreover, they also become obliged to imitate the Saints. The author of the Epistle to Hebrews instructs the faithful to remember those who had preached the Word of God and led them. He advises to reminisce the memory of the end of their lives and be imitators of their faith.
Pampady Thirumeni, although departed from the earthly body, still continues to live. He persists to pray for others still, the very same way he used to do while living in the body. Prayers of that Saint are effective and fruitful. Those who indulge in the refuge of the Holy Father's intercessory prayers are numerous.
I had served Karapuzha Mar Gregorios Chapel as its Vicar from 1973 till 1985. In 1978, I was confronted with a fatal illness. First, I was admitted at the Carithas Hospital. Later on I was transferred to Kolenchery Hospital. But once again I was shifted to Carithas Hospital where my illness got diagnosed. I soon realized that I was affected with the deadly disease Cancer, which had already begun encompassing me. I reached a particular mental state of affairs.
Everyone felt that remedy was impossible. Just before I was being taken to Adayar Cancer Institute in Madras from Carithas Hospital, my colleague at seminary, Rev Fr. K.M. Alexander came near me and asked, "Acha, What are your feelings in your mind right now?". I replied that a Bible verse was surfacing in my mind then. St John 11:40, "You will see God?s glory if you believe". Respected Achen prayed only after pacifying me to expect and believe so. My relatives and friends who had gathered there bid farewell to me. In the meantime an unaffordable amount had been already spent on my treatment. Bill of Carithas Hospital was settled with an amount taken as loan. Immediately after reaching Adayar Cancer Institute and undergoing the preliminary check up, the Chief Medical Officer informed me, "Father, you must be admitted immediately. You need not pay anything. We will do our best. The rest is in God's hands".
Chemotherapy treatment started instantly. Before long, I started losing my hair and beard. At one point of time only three whiskers remained on my chin. I was moving into a hopeless condition. The second phase of treatment was very crucial and critical. I became unconscious. I slipped into a sinking stage. Fierce fight against death had already begun. Doctors informed my bystanders that they would come to know the result within 10 minutes. My colleagues and friends had already undertaken arrangements with regard to transferring my dead body back home and elaborate plans for funeral also got finalized.
At that time, while being in an unconscious state, I had a vision. Four Saints were standing near me! One of them asked me, "Why are you lying down?". He told me to sit upright. I saw that he was lending a helping hand to make me sit on the bed. Suddenly all the four Saints disappeared.
Myself and those near me were wonderstruck as I was by then sitting upright on the bed, fully conscious, as if resurrected from death. I got miraculously cured! Treatment was started in May 1978. But, by November 1978, by the Grace of God, I was again able to celebrate Holy Qurbana!
After 2 years, while on a check up visit to Adayar, Dr Subramanya Swami (the earlier mentioned Doctor who had treated me during the critical period) asked me, "Father, How are you?" I replied that I was keeping good health. His reply was, "Father, I am very pleased to see you in good health. Now I believe in prayer".
I was bestowed with the grace of God in abundance. I did get relieved from a very critical illness. Gradually my hair and beard began to grow. I regained my former status. In March 1979, I was raised as Ramban. In 1985, I reached the position of Metropolitan. I was infected with cancer while I was in the service of the Chapel of Pampady Thirumeni. I am sure that Pampady Thirumeni had been praying for me. I had been taking refuge in the intercessory prayers of Thirumeni regularly. I firmly believe that by the power of prayer, especially by the prayers of Pampady Thirumeni, my illness got cured. I received the blessings from the invisible hands of the Holy Saint while serving in his Chapel. It was because of those blessings that I was fortunate to become his successor as the Metropolitan of Kottayam Diocese. The Lord hears the fervent prayers of the righteous.