(Life Story of Archbishop Mar Ivanios) PETER C. ABRAHAM, MYLAPRA IN HIS MASTER’S FOOTSTEPS (Life Story of Archbishop Mar Ivanios) ^ Uibt is ^•ftl) i+larbutlio Hibrari’ 1 he Malphono George Anton Kiraz Collection Ld„ Lch UfsjaX oC^. joav,, Lu,' ^ L\msn loou »o^o c^o --~q- 01’ v.o '5*sJ2b O^i, laxoo La^cu ^ LJajo ^ ,iJas ^ ^ 1^0 ^ «O.Koo^ oCX U,.^ \nvonc who asks for this volume, to read, collate, or copy from it, and who appropriates it to himself or herself, or curs anything out of it, should realize that (s)he will have to give answer before (»<>ds awesome tribunal as if (S)he had robbed a sanctuary, bet such a person be Held anathema and receive no forgiveness until the book is returned. So be it. Amen! \nd anyone who removes these anathemas, digitally or otherwise, shall himself receive them in double. IN HIS MASTER’S FOOTSTEPS (Life Story of Archbishop Mar Ivanios) PETER C. ABRAHAM Mylapra Translation of “Malankara Sooryan” by REBECCA THOMAS Mylapra BP No. 93 BETHANY PUBLICATIONS KOTTAYAM 686010 2001 IN HIS MASTER’S FOOTSTEPS (Life Story of Archbishop Mar Ivanios) Author Peter C. Abraham, Mylapra Translator Rebecca Thomas, Mylapra First Published June 2001 Published by Bethany Publications Kottayam 686010 Printed at Bethany Press Kottayam 686010 Price Rs. 100/- TRANSLATOR S NOTE When Peter C. Abraham brought us a copy of his recently published novel in Malayalam, “Malankara Sooryan” and told us he was hoping to get it translated into English I decided I would wait for the translation to read about this extraordinary Archbishop. Months later when Peter had not found a translator I volunteered to do the translation myself. I am very glad I did so. I enjoyed reading the book and translating it and in the process finally learned about this unusual clergyman. He was a highly gifted man, an evangelist and missionary who wanted to change the lives of his unfortunate fellowman in every way, spiritually and physically, but the strife-torn Jacobite world he was bom into, and which had nourished him, would not have given him the peace he needed to carry out his dreams. He would, however, be able to do so in the Catholic fold, and so in my humble opinion, he went over, but he could not, and did not, abandon the unquestionably beautiful form of worship of the Jacobites so he carried it with him, thus giving a new dimension to the Catholic Church. I take this opportunity to thank my husband. Dr. V.G. Thomas without whose untiring patient help I could not have achieved this work. He chased up words in the dictionaries, and he read and compared Peter’s work and mine to make sure I had not erred anywhere in the translation. I cannot thank him enough. I hope this book will carry the story of Archbishop Mar Ivanios to the four corners of the world, and young people everywhere will be inspired by it. I wish Peter Abraham all success. Valliath, Rebecca Thomas Mylapra. 5-5-2001 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The Malankara Syrian Catholic Church is seventy years old, yet one has to acknowledge that no complete and authoritative book has been written so far about its founding father. A book in English does exist written by an Englishwomen, Margaret Gibbons, but it is a little known one. Sadly no one has attempted to tell the story of this extraordinary Prelate even in Malayalam. It was against this background then that I wrote “Malankara Sooryan" a historical novel based on the life of this remarkable visionary, it was so well received by the reading public, that Bethany Publications which had published the book soon felt that a translation of the same in English would carry the story of his life to a wider public. I began to look around for someone who would translate this book for me. Someone who would be able to capture the essence of my book and reproduce it in English. 1 did approach a few people, but eventually found someone in my own backyard as it were. I discovered a retired English teacher, Rebecca Thomas, living in my own village and she agreed to translate the book for me. I am extremely thankful to her. Archbishop Cyril Baselios, has been kind enough to write an encouraging introduction to my work. In spite of his busy schedule as the one who directs the affairs of the Malankara Syrian Catholic Church and as the President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India he has never failed to provide encouragement for my work. I take this opportunity to express my heartfelt thanks to His Grace for i his encouragement for my work. The Bethany Publications, Kottayam has also given me every encouragement by publishing my works, and in spite of its heavy financial obligations it has undertaken to publish this translation. I owe much to its Director, Father Sylvester Kanjiramukalil, O.I.C. for all the help he has given me. I cannot thank them enough. I owe special thanks to two other people who helped me financially with this translation. One is Mr. Baby Thomas Naikamparampil of New York and the other is Shri Anthony Vaikkath of Carmel. My sincere thanks to both of them. I hope and pray that the younger generation of today, and the coming generations will be inspired by the life and times of this extraordinary visionary, His Grace Archbishop Geevarghese Mar Ivanios. Chari vuparampil Peter C. Abraham Mylapra P.O. Pathanamthitta 689671 GREETINGS (Malayalam Edition) In the recent history of the Christian Community in Kerala there is no one who can in any way be compared to the late Archbishop Mar Ivanios. Not only was he an extremely intelligent human being but he was also extremely good and kind and was also a saintly ascetic who gave up all the pleasures of this world that he might live to fulfil his Master’s Will. It was he who single-handedly directed the course of the Syrian Christian community in Kerala towards the Catholic Church, with far-reaching consequences. The process which had started four centuries earlier and which had suffered a crushing break could now be set right. The earnest prayers of the church officials and the faithful for a reunification were finally coming to satisfactory end. Peter C. Abraham in his deliehtful historical novel, “Malankara Sooryan" has given a very good picture of the astonishing Prelate who changed the lives of a large number of Christians and non- Christians in Kerala. The younger generation for whom Mar Ivanios is only a name, should in fact be encouraged to read this book to get a comprehensive idea about this astonishing Archbishop. And they should not find it difficult to read it for Peter C. Abraham has adopted a simple appealing style for his narration. In our Malankara Syrian Catholic community Peter C. Abraham is an up and coming writer in the Makfyalam language. My heartfelt congratulations to him for producing such a good piece of work. This should appeal to not only our members but to all who desire reunification. I hope and pray that Peter C. Abraham will produce more such books. Archbishop’s House Most Rev. Cyril Mar Baselios Trivandrum Metropolitan Archbishop of Trivandrum 1st August 1996 Chapter 1 The sudden, unexpected peal of the church bell startled the sleepy little village of Puthiakav and disturbed the concentration of the young boy seated at his study table, memorizing his lessons. The evening bell for prayers had rung a bare half hour or so ago, and he had at once got up to say his evening prayers. In fact he could not have read more than six or seven pages after his prayers when the bell sounded again. And it was an unusually long peal! “Keevaricha,” his mother called out to him from the kitchen. “Isn’t that our church bell? What could the matter be?” “Shall I go and find out, Amma?” He put away the book he was reading in its appointed place on his shelf, and got up. From the clothesline strung across his room, he picked out a shirt, and put it on , and combed his hair. And then it was a quick dash out of his room. “Take your umbrella, Keevarichen,” his mother called out after him. “It is going to rain heavily.” He scarcely heard his mother’s words as he ran fast towards the church. “Don’t worry, Mother . I’ll be back soon,” he called out to her. As he raced towards the church the young boy anxiously hoped and prayed that nothing untoward had happened. The sky was overcast, and there were frequent flashes of lightning, and frighteningly loud claps of thunder. The boy took shortcuts that he knew of through the wild undergrowth, hoping to beat the approaching rain, but before the initial drizzle had given way to a torrential downpour, he had entered the church porch. The doors were open and he saw in the dim light of a hurricane lantern a number of people gathered together in the church. He then noticed that there was a well-sprung bullock cart standing in the churchyard, the kind that the rich used for travelling. Some dignitary had arrived. He wondered who it could be. By this time the rain was a veritable downpour, and the night was much darker. The sexton of the church hurried into the church 2 carrying his own lantern. Keevarichen slopped him and asked him about the visitor. “ Valia Thirumeni has arrived,” answered the sexton.