Geevarghese Mar Gregorios or Parumala Thirumeni as he is popularly known is the first and greatest saint of the Malankara Orthodox Church.
He was a Saint, theologian, excellent administrator, a brilliant, a prolific writer and an eminent educationist. He is admired for his humility, and the importance he gave for prayer and fasting in his life.
AD 1848
Parumala Thirumeni was born on 15th June 1848 in the Chathuruthy family at Mulanthuruty in Ernakulam district, Kerala.
He was the youngest son of Kochu Mathai and Mariam. He was named Kochu Ipora and his Christian name was Geevarghese. Even as a small boy, he exhibited outstanding qualities of humility, obedience, love and respect towards his teachers, and had good habits of Bible reading and prayer. He was greatly influenced by the reading of the lives of the saints.
AD 1858
On 14th September 1858, when just ten years old, he was ordained as 'Korooyo' at the Karingachara Church. The young deacon completed his priestly education as a disciple of his paternal uncle - Geevarghese Malpan of the Chathuruthy family.
When Bishop Youakim Mar Coorilos from Syria visited Kerala, he was highly impressed by the deacon's wisdom, devotion, and his scholarship in the Syriac language. He ordained
Geevarghese as full deacon (Shamsono) and later as priest, and then, as a Cor-Episcopa.
He lived the life of a monk.
Geevarghese Cor-Episcopa lived the life of a monk. He was raised to the position of Ramban on 7th April 1872, and on 10th December 1876 he was further elevated to the position of Metropolitan. He was given the title Mar Gregorios.
Being only 29 years when consecrated, he was fondly referred to as ‘Kochu Thirumeni’. Staying at Parumala, he initially looked after the diocese of Niranam, and later on, took over the administration of the Dioceses of Thumpamon and Quilon.
At Parumala, he founded a seminary for training deacons. He also started missionary work among the un-touchable. There was a time when the high caste people maintained a superior attitude towards the backward and oppressed classes. ‘Kochu Thirumeni’ firmly believed that in God's sight, all men are created equal and so, took much effort to uplift the oppressed. Realising the need and importance of education, he began a number of English schools.
He was the first Malankara Metropolitan to visit the Holy Land in 1895.
There are quite a few outstanding events associated with Parumala Thirumeni. One was the outbreak of small pox at Thumpamon. Many people fall victim to the deadly epidemic. In those days, few would go close to a sufferer. Thirumeni however visited the sick continuously and prayed for them. Eventually the epidemic passed away.
His Last Days.
‘Kochu Thirumeni’ fell sick in September 1902. He had a premonition of his death and even mentioned this, to those around him.
Once while conducting a wedding ceremony in a church at Veeyapuram, the couple's wedding ring fell from his hands. The wedding couple were distraught, assuming it to be a bad omen. Thirumeni after the ceremony consoled them and said not to worry, and that this would be the last time he conducted a wedding ceremony. This turned out to be true. The Holy Father had his last breath on the 2nd of November 1902. He was 54 years old.
He was laid to rest at Parumala. He has become a person to be remembered by the entire world of all ages. ‘Kochu Thirumeni’ was declared as Saint by the Holy Episcopal Synod of the Malankara Church on 2nd Nov. 1947, on his 45th death anniversary day. His tomb has become one of the most visited pilgrimage centres in the world today. Thousands of people throng the Church to pray for the intercession of the Saint and receive blessings. Numerous miracles have been attributed to him.
Our patron saint
In Mangalore, the Church began worship with a small congregation on 15August 1976. The Church is dedicated to Parumala Thirumeni and is named as the St. Gregorios Orthodox Syrian Church. With such a patron saint, it is not surprising that the church has grown over the years from strength to strength, to become one of the most important churches in the Madras Diocese.
The annual festival of the Church is held during November Our Church has been fortunate to obtain a Holy Relic of this powerful Saint. This Relic was installed during the festival celebrations held from 24th to 27th November 2005, by H.G. Dr Yakob Mar Irenaios, Metropolitan of the Madras Diocese.
