Thirumeni in New York

When in new york our thirumani stays with us for a few days before leaving to Kerala.Thirumani will make sure that I do not stay in the kitchen for long.After a few days His Grace will tell we are going out to eat.At home Thirumani uses limitted dishes.It is a joy to serve my appachen. Thirumani always make sure that I am included in all phone calls.Thirumani is the only bishop from our church who does that.We are eternally greatful to His Grace's love and prayers To us our appachen will live through all of us and our generations.

Idiculla family, New York

In the Middle of his Final Walk

The liturgy after the liturgy – Thirumeni’s life was the service after the Liturgy according to Rev. Fr. T.J.Joshua.


Thursday March 16, 2012
We were assembled in the hallway and the 2nd floor stairwell of Parumala hospital waiting for updates about Osthathios Thirumeni and we had heard that the chief minister of Kerala, Oommen Chandy was en route to see Thirumeni. It was around 6:45 pm.  It was at 7:49 that H.G. Yuhanon Mar Chrysostomos asked us to assemble in the hospital chapel.  We knew the inevitable had happened.  Oommen Chandy had come and gone and the speculation was that Oommen Chandy had arrived shortly after Thirumeni died (7:25 pm.).  It was 7:49 pm when Chrysostomos asked us to assemble in the chapel.  

I was comfortably seated in the chapel with Jinu (Dallas via New York) when H.G.YMC made the announcement. As soon as the announcement was made I felt the rush from the men’s side to get outside.  I followed the crowd only to find them all on cell phones obviously spreading the news.  With in an hour I watched the first incredible site at the hospital – hundreds of motorcycles with many carrying more than two people on the bike.  It was a site to behold.  It was as if the command had gone out in the anthill that the work was scheduled – the worker ants were ready, willing and able.   

The route for H.G. Dr. Geevargese Mar Osthathios’s final tour of the town (Nagaram Kanickal) was set: Friday: Parumala to Bethany and Niranam and back to Parumala;  Saturday: Parumala to Pathichira and St.Paul M.T.C. for the Burial.  The embalming team had work to do. We returned to Mavelikara – Rajanachayan and Molly Ammama’s home for a good night’s rest. Thirumeni, I was sure was being greeted in to his Lord’s presence.

Friday, MARCH 17, 2012

We were at the Parumala church at 9 a.m.  Posters of Thirumeni in various settings were already at major junctions and roadside.  The worker ants were busy overnight. Thirumeni was brought in to the Parumala church – carried by clergy.  The mobile mortuary was set and Thirumeni looked over his flock.  What a sight.  The line to view Thirumeni one more time kept getting longer and longer.  I met our deacons and seminarian from the American diocese.  

The first leg of Thirumeni’s journey to Bethany was in an ambulance.  The KSRTC bus arranged for the transportation had broken down.  But a beautifully decorated KSRTC bus was made available in the evening for the tour of Niranam.
It was clearly better to view the events on TV and Internet than to be in the vicinity of Thirumeni’s journey.  But, the feeling that swept over you as the caravan carrying Thirumeni arrived in Niranam is simply awesome.  We were blessed to be in close proximity to the bus and the events but what we saw were people rushing the bus for a final glimpse.

The next morning was equally surreal.  I had the opportunity to speak to many at Pathichara church.  This is where I realized that Thirumeni had left indelible mark on individuals and families he met in his 80+ years of ministry.  

The interment service at Mission Training Center was a fitting close to Thirumeni’s life on earth.  Next morning Rev. Fr. T.J.Joshua put Thirumeni’s life in one sentence – “Thirumeni’s life was the liturgy after the liturgy.”.  How appropriate.

-Abraham Joshua (Bejoy), Baltimore
 

From Chicago

The personal story I have about Thirumeni is from the Youth conference in Nyack, New York that I attended as a kid. Activities on Saturday night ran late, but Thirumeni announced that Church on Sunday would start at 8am. Somehow it ended up that Thirumeni and a few of us kids were the only ones to show up on time. Thirumeni handed me the censer containing incense (which I did not know how to use) and then started Mass on time. The adults who came later were stunned but not surprised – His Grace always kept his word.

Reading about his charitable initiatives these last couple of days as well as the tenants he lived by is inspirational:

- The call to ‘Sunday Christians’ to become ‘Everyday Christians’

- To not only fight against poverty, inequality, and discrimination but to go and do something about it (the Orphanage in Mavelikkara, the Marriage aid fund, the Sickness Fund, etc.)

- To let actions speak louder than any eloquent words

He will be missed.

Jerry


-Thomas K Varghese Jr, Chicago

From Maryland

I don't really have a story about him. Just that the last time I saw him was in Kerala in father's house just before I was to start to school in Manipal. He ave me a post card with his picture on the front and a description of the various missionaries and charity work that he was involved in on the back. I've had that post card in my Bible since then, for more then a decade. I was reading over it today and thinking about him. May God give him peace in heaven and bless his entire family.
Love,
Deby


-Deby Thomas, Maryland

An example of Thirumeni's character

"Both the kidneys of the Metropolitan had failed last week and therefore, the medical team tried to do dialysis on him. However, the attempts to perform dialysis were with no success. The Metropolitan was immediately moved to the ventilator for sustenance. “Thousands of poor patients in this world have no access for dialysis and therefore, do not let me undergo dialysis”, pleaded Mar Osthathios earlier. His compassion for the poor strongly reflected in his words and the noble longing came true just as he wished himself for." (source unknown)

From Kumbinad - In Loving Memory of our Beloved Thirumeni Appachen

“For I am now ready to be offered and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at the day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” - 2 Timothy 4:7

The world will remember Dr. Geevarghese Mar Osthathios as a great theologian, orator, spiritual leader and prophet of social justice, but to us in his family he will always be our beloved Thirumeni appachen with a million dollar smile that is so full of warmth and love, a contagious laugh, sweets for everyone, especially children, and the continuous advice to love, share and be unselfish; the way he lived.
 

As the granddaughter of Thirumeni appachen’s younger brother in Mumbai, Mr. P.K. Joshua (late) and Saramma Joshua, I have been blessed to know him since my childhood. One of the songs he taught us children was: 

“Jeevichalum, marichalum, daivam mathram mathi enikke.
Jeevanum maranavum orupole, calvary thannoru van dhairyam”.
 

I never understood the meaning when I learnt it, but now when I teach the same song to my son, David, every line seems to be alive and the meaning so powerful. The cross which is the symbol of God’s love for mankind was his strength and continues to be our inspiration.
 

Another memory that is vivid is that when we were children, Thirumeni appachen would ask me, my brother and cousins what we wanted to become when we grew up and would make us repeat, “I want to become what God wants me to become”. That was his way of making us children understand and always pray “God, may your will be done and not mine”
 

From all the stories I have heard, I know that Thirumeni appachen revered his parents and had a deep love and concern for not only his family members but for mankind, especially the underprivileged and a passion to uplift them. He has also instilled this passion in many who have had the privilege to know and listen to him. We love you and you will continue to live in our hearts, Thirumeni appacha.

- Jenny, Kumbinad

Johnykutty & Leela: Manoj, Jenny & David; Jeby, Leena & Isabel (Kumbanad)

From Kerala - Give One, Receive Two

As far as I can remember meeting Thirumeni Appacha and visiting him at the seminary, he would support and encourage us to be the best we can be and reward us for being considerate. He would have a packet of toffees ready by his side, and ask either my brother or me, to offer everyone in the room one. And in the end, whoever distributed the sweets would get two. It was a very simple yet profound way of explaining a very lost yet important lesson.

To me this was my most treasured memory and how I remember Thirumeni Appacha. His generous nature and witty humour never ceased to amaze me. I feel extremely privileged and blessed to be his great-grand niece. The only regret that I have is that I was not able to convey how intelligent and well-informed he is with current events. He was very happy to hear that I took up journalism and I feel disappointed that I never got the chance to interview such a dynamic personality. Hopefully, this contribution will make up for what I could not do earlier.

On behalf of myself and my family, I would like to thank him immensely for giving us the greatest gift of all, that is being someone who was unselfish and kind in a world which seems to discourage any kind of charity. We will miss you very much. Your prayers and blessings have been a major part of what I have achieved today, and for that I am truly grateful.


-Shruti, Kerala

From Atlanta

I still remember meeting thirumeni appachen for the first time. He came to visit me in NJ shortly before Somini and I were about to be engaged in India. He came to give me his blessings and asked me to pray with him. I thought it was funny he told me that he was perfectly fine with the fact that Somini was marrying into the Mar Thoma church. He also surprised us by attending our engagement to say hello and well wishes. I'm so glad that Sandhya had an opportunity to see him 2 years ago in India. We were blessed to have him here on earth but he is in a better place now.

-Sam, Atlanta

From Ireland - A Testimony

It is with great sense of gratitude, love and bubbling enthusiasm that I am typing this brief note of testimony. When I was in College, I had recurrent attacks of Migraine with symptoms of severe headache accompanied by prostration, nausea, vomiting, and photophobia. There was, sometimes, a preceding aura consisting of visual disturbance, tingling and weakness of my limbs. I tried all three systems of treatments like Modern Medicine, Homeopathy and Ayurveda, but all were of no effect. 

In 1986, Mar Osthathios thirumeni made his Apostolic visit to my former parish –the St. Thomas Orthodox Church, Alleppey. In all faith, hope and love and with the same attitude of the woman with an issue of blood as narrated in the gospel of St. Luke 8:40-48, I approached his grace with this my grievance. He prayed for me by laying his holy hands upon my head and blew on my face. After that healing prayer, I have never had the attack of Migraine. I still believe that the very same God who healed the woman who touched His cloak healed me too through this my beloved mentor and motive – Mar Osthathios thirumeni.
I recall that past solemn event on the very next day when I was ordained as an acolyte by his grace. The celestial voice from his mouth exhorting me to serve the Lord in His temple still echoes in my ears. It was indeed an inexplicable heaven coming down experience for me.
My elder brother Mr. P.T. Varghese too has the same experience to testify for the miraculous recovery that he had from his illness after having been blessed by this Holy Father in 1987.

I thank the triune God for having graced the holy Church with Mar Osthathios thirumeni and for allowing the tenderness of His Fatherly care, the glory of the Cross of Christ, and the splendour, power and wisdom of the Holy Spirit to shine through this our beloved thirumeni. Trusting fully in God’s infinite mercy, in the intercession of Virgin Mary the Theotokos, and of all saints and by internalising the gist of gospel, he has given a living image of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, and has shown us that holiness and sharing of love are the necessary measures of ordinary Christian life and will be the way of achieving eternal communion with God. I do humbly pray to God Almighty to grant us, according to His will and by the intercession of this our well- beloved guru and shepherd, the graces we implore, hoping that his grace will be numbered among the “Saints” in the future. 


-George Achen, Ireland

From Ireland

Dear brothers and Sisters,
I have never come across such a man of God ever in my life who has had so much profound faith, hope and love in God like Mar Osthathios thirumeni. He has proved himself to be a man of integrity and deep spirituality and that is reflected in each of his thought, word and deed. It is obvious that anyone who comes closer to him could easily sense and recognise the fact that each of his grace’s breath is saturated with the belief in the Holy Triune God. I hope many a close associate like me could vouch to this truth. I have always had felt in reality his physical presence to be the sacramental and spiritual presence of Christ, our Lord and that blissful experience has always brought to me the gracious divine power. This makes me visit his grace frequently. I have always had cherished his prayerful touch of blessing as a viaticum for my spiritual journey. 

Before my coming to Ireland, I wanted to get blessings from Osthathios thirumeni. So, I, along with my wife Cicy and our son Gregy went to see his grace at MTC Mavelikara. He received us with his genuine fatherly affection and granted us an audience. The memories of those moments still linger in my mind afresh. My son, Gregy, then was just 2 years old. His grace even in that brief meeting, found time to teach him a few lines of a song written by him. He, after giving some sweets, asked my son to share among ourselves. But he was, in his childish nature, found to be shy and reluctant. Thirumeni, then, sent us to the mess hall there for lunch after having blessed us. Soon after the lunch, we again went to see him in his room. This time, his grace wanted my son to share the segments of an orange with us, and he did it without any hesitation to the surprise of us all. His grace was seen talking to my son in the same “language of a child” by identifying himself fully with my son. His grace, finally, gave him some simple pieces of advice to be a good boy of prayer and sharing. This shows his grace’s quality of being a down to earth person. On our leaving his grace, I offered his grace a small amount of 300 rupees being our donation to a boy’s home. When I, in my weak and selfish human attitude, handed over it with the names of just three of us in mind, his grace received that offertory with totally different and glorified attitude. He translated that human thought and action of mine into a divine thought and action. I could, astonishingly, see his grace overtly counting the 3 notes of hundred that I gave by uttering audibly the prayer “In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen!” I could sense a shade of spirituality even in that simple segment of that episode of our meeting. 

I must acknowledge here with thanks that it was his grace who happened to be the source of inspiration for my starting a charitable organisation –the MERIN GEORGE FOUNDATION – following the demise of my little daughter in 2009 through which we are able, by the grace of the mighty God, to extend a helping hand to the poor and needy with our mite. I humbly and fervently do pray to God, who elongated the life of King Hezekiah, to extend the life span of our beloved thirumeni. May God’s will be done! 

In Christ,
George Achen, Ireland.

From Washington, D.C.

I remember His Grace came to visit Washington when I was young. He was known to give candy to every child he came across and I heard in India he still does. He is a learned and progressive minded individual spoke to every person and treated them as equals no matter their age, sex, etc. My family holds him in very high regard, admiration, and respect for so many reasons. May God be with him in his time of need.

-Joe, Washington, D.C.

From Kuwait with Love

Its always a blessing and bring us joy after spending time with Thirumeniappachen. Thirumeniappachen would bless us saying LET US BE A BLESSING TO THE SOCIETY!!! The message of LOVE and SHARING are the Strongest topic that Thriumaniappachen shares with us.... We LOVE you, Thirumaniappachen....

-Geena George, Kuwait

Stay on Your Toes

Whenever you were around Thirumeni Appachen you always had to be prepared.  :)  Sometimes he would ask you to pray and sometimes he would ask you to sing a song.  I'm sure he even had some people say a few words.  After it happened to you once, you learned your lesson.  You begin to carry lyrics to songs in your purse or jot a few talking notes for a quick talk.  It's almost like an adventure and I know that none of us would have it any other way.

:) Aimee J
Baltimore, MD, USA