Indian Orthodox Church in "Re-reformation"

Fr George Varghese Vayaliparambil

Indian Orthodox Church in Re-reformation As the Indian Othodox church claims that by 2012, they will be completing 1960 years of existence as a church and 100 years as a Catholicate there is lot of proposal as the part of its celebration. Among that proposal one is very attractive and acceptable to all Christians especially those who suffer from their evil and selfish acts.

Recently Indian Orthodox Herald had published one of the suggestions of its church member

http://www.orthodoxherald.com/2009/08/18/ioc%E2%80%99s-transformation-as-%E2%80%98oic%E2%80%99/

The main suggestion was itself on the name of the church. Instead of Indian Orthodox Church/ Malankara Orthodox Church/ or Orthodox Syrian Church/ Jacobite Syrian Christian Church (As it is in the Malankara Association Seal), it should be fixed as (OIC) Orthodox Indian Church.

“OIC’ – In the article it suggests the expansion of the terms as follows

1. Order of Imitation of Christ
2. Orthodox Indian Church

What ever may be the name of the church; I would like to appreciate the author for the concept behind the name, and see it in a good spirit.

The author suggests that all the orthodox Christians should be the true imitator of Jesus Christ. It is an important thought to the church not only to IOC, but to all Christians in the world also.

Another point the respected author suggests that instead of the name of the nation Indian/ India church should be none as Orthodox. With whole heartedly as a Christian brother I support his suggestion. I praise the Lord for raising His voice through a layman of the church instead of a prelate of it. Until 1912 the orthodox Christians India fought for the religious freedom and also fought to protect the Orthodoxy (the Kingdom values of God). But from 1912 onwards there raised an unexpected voice out of selfishness to divide the church based on nationality. Still it is continuing as a poison of the peace of the orthodox Christians in India.

Jesus came to the world not to build Islands but build a valley where his folk feed by his spirit.

In the High priestly prayer, Our Lord Jesus Christ, says to God the Father that (John 17: 20-24) “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. And I have declared to them your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”

The division of the church based on colour/ culture /race/ Gender/ language/ name/ nationality is sin. In the act of Apostle and whole the epistles we can see that the church of God was one and all the nations considered the Apostales as the leaders of the one and Holy Church and peter as the leader of the church. Even thought there was different of opinion in between the Aramic speeking people and the Greeck Speeking people, the Apostles didn’t separated the church rather they appointed servants among them. Jesus as a true God, he is Love and Jesus himself is the culmination of that true love. Rather than be a child of Indian Nation let us be child of the Kingdom of God.

May the Almighty God strengthen all the prelates of IOC to think and help them to lead a meaningful Christian Life.

ഗുരുനാഥന്.........

Alas! My Guru departed from me...

He was in all the way a guru, one who removes the darkness from his disciple. He was a light for us in all our paths.

My Guru was not a man with some divine qualities, but he was a divine man with some human qualities. In his Character there is nothing to loose, in his skills there is nothing vain. My Guru was really a saint.

He was the one truly followed his saintly teachers. Among his two teachers one was a man of Holiness and a Jewel of Good Conduct (Yacoob Mor Themothiose) and another was a harp of Holy Spirit (Perumbillil Geevarghese Mor Gregoriose). I can see them in my Guru. He is a facade of his gurus.

Though he was a married priest he was even a model for the celibate priests. During my seminary life more than the liturgy, I learned from my Guru that how one can be a holy man? How a priest could imitate Our Loving God in thoughts words and actions.

I could see a spiritually matured man in my Guru. I never heard a single word from my guru that accusing, or criticizing others. He never judged anyone. I remember that once when I said against Vattassery Thirumeni in presence of my Guru, he said me “shemmashan let us use our life for the glory of God than criticizing others”.

My guru taught me how to celebrate Holy Eucharist in purity of Body, Mind and Spirit. My guru he was against the publicity, He told me that we don’t record the Holy Qurbono, we don’t sell it and we don’t exhibit it in anywhere, because it is mystery.

My guru loved me like a father, he cared me like an angel, and he protected me like a soldier in all the way of my life. My Guru he is the one who promoted me to learn Syriac language and liturgy more. He forced me to go for higher studies about Syriac culture and Syriac Christian faith in Thurabdeen. He wrote to the bishop of Gabriel Dayara recommending me to study there and gave it to me to send it to the bishop there, but I never did that because in that I was able to feel how much he loved me and cared for me; how as a Guru, he respected the skills of his disciples. I saw the heart of my Guru in that letter. There is nothing in the world that can make me happier than that letter. The spirit of my guru is with me and his prayers helps me to achieve his wish about his disciple.

Once when I visited my Guru’s home, I could experience that it was a paradise filled with divine love. He is blessed with a loving and caring wife and sweet and obedient kids. The happiest memory of my life with my guru was when he,like a loving father beside his child, sat beside me, took food by his hand and started feeding me.Accepting the fact that my guru is away from me pains me like a strong dagger in my chest. He was a true faithful of God. He believed in Jesus Christ. He believed that God creates out of nothing and gives life to the dead.My Lord! We, the children of our ever loving teacher pray to you. Lord, as you promised, be kind to the soul of our Guru who bears you, who witnessed you.Oh! Our loving, holy father and great master! You deserve the reward that is kept for the true servants. Go in peace and pray for us sinners.

On behalf of the students of Rev. Fr Cherian Kottayil, I extend my heart felt condolences to his bereaved family.

Thoughts bring out words...
Words create actions...
Actions become habits...
Habits nurture character..
Character decides destiny...
Always have clean thoughts...

(¨`•.•´¨)
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(¨`•.•´¨).•´
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Fr George Varghese Vayaliparambil