Konat Mathen Malpan +1927

Konat Mathen Malpan +1927

November 8th is the anniversary of the demise of the late Malankara Malpan Very Rev. Konat Korah Mathen Cor-Episcopo +1927. Born to the prestigious Konat family, whose other members include late Mor Julius Geevarghese +1884 in Pampakuda. He served as the priest trustee of the Malankara Jacobite Syrian Church during the early 20th century. One of the greatest works of Konat Mathen Malpan was the translation and editing of the Prayer book from Syriac to Malayalam used by the Malankara Syrian Church to the present day. This book, popularly known as 'Pampakuda Namaskaram' was first published in 1910 with the permission of the Patriarch of Antioch thrice blessed Mor Ignatius Abde d-Aloho II Sattuf. Mathen was instrumental in guiding the Malankara Church following the events of the schism which began in 1911 and which was unfortunately cemented with the 1912 uncanonical consecration of a "Catholicate" by the deposed Abdul Messih II. Konat Mathen Malpan bravely stood along with the other prelates of Malankara, upholding the apostolic faith and traditions of the Syrian Orthodox Church during the tumultuous time. Malankara Malpan Very Rev. Konat Korah Mathen Cor-Episcopo is the only Indian who is mentioned among the elite list of Syriac scholars in the book titled 'The Scattered Pearls: A History of Syriac Literature and Sciences' written by the thrice blessed late Patriarch of Antioch Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem I Barsoum. An excerpt from this book follows below. "Chorepiscopus Konat was born at Pampakuda in Malabar, India, in 1860. He studied the Syriac language and religious sciences under some of his relatives. In 1883, he was ordained a priest and began teaching at the seminary in Kottayam. Then he established and operated a small seminary in his own village, from which a group of priests graduated. In 1926, he became a chorepiscopus and died in 1927. Chorepiscopus Konat wrote a book on church festivities and letters. He translated from Syriac into Malayalam, chapters from Bar Salibi's Scholia on the Gospel according to St. Matthew, the Nomocanon by Bar Hebraeus, the New Testament (except Revelation) which was published in 1936 and a selection of church rituals and hymns. Furthermore, he published the Shhimo (Regular Weekday Service Book of Prayers), some Anaphora, the service of deacons, the orders of baptism, marriage and funerals as well as the service book for principal feasts and the service book for the Week of the Passion. Biography adapted from, "The Scattered Pearls, and Syriac Christianity website "http://www.syriacchristianity.info/bio/KonattCorepiscopa.htm