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
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
