HH Moran Mor Ignatius Abded Aloho II Sattuf +1915

HH Moran Mor Ignatius Abded Aloho II Sattuf +1915

December 9th is the commemoration of the dukhrono of the thrice blessed late Patriarch HH Moran Mor Ignatius Abde d-Aloho II Sattuf +1915 of blessed memory. Mor Ignatius Abded Aloho II (in Arabic Abdullah II) was born in Mcluf tribe as son of Yac'ub in the village Sadad near Homs, Syria in 1833. He had an inclination for ascetic life from childhood & accepted monastic orders at Dayro d-Mor Marqos in Jerusalem. In 1870, he toured the area of Tur `Abdin & recorded the names of villages, monasteries, churches, clergy & the families living in the area. He was consecrated bishop of Jerusalem in 1872 by Patriarch Peter IV & accompanied the Patriarch to England & India from 1874 to 1877. During the Malankara visit he participated in the Synod at Mulanthuruthy, attended the consecration of six bishops & the blessing of the Holy Chrism. After the return of Patriarch Peter IV from India, he stayed for two more years before going back to London where he secured a printing press for Deir al-Za`faran. After his return, Abded-Aloho served as the bishop of Syria & then of Amid. He paid a second visit to London, during which he attended sessions of the 1888 Lambeth Conference, & secured a second printing press. Patriarch Abded-Mshiho II (Abdul Masih II) was deposed by the Holy Synod in 1903. (This deposition was well established and accepted by the Church in Malankara) Subsequently, Abded-Aloho was elected & consecrated Patriarch in 1906 with the name Patriarch Moran Mor Ignatius Abde d-Aloho II Sattuf (Abde d-Aloho means servant of God). A decree announcing this consecration was issued by Malankara Metropolitan Mor Dionysius V (Pulikkottil Joseph II) from Kunnamkulam church on 24 Chingam & was sent to all the churches in Malankara. Shortly after, Mor Ignatius Abded Aloho II visited London for the third time. In London, he met King Edward VII twice. Incapacitated by old age, Mor Dionysius V requested Patriarch Abded Aloho II to consecrate new bishops for Malankara. (It is important to note that the deposed Abded Messih was still alive, so there is no contention in Malankara about who was the legitimate canonical Patriarch of Antioch). Rev. Raban Paulose Kochuparambil & Rev. Fr. Geevarghese Vattasseril were elected to be ordained bishops & sent to Jerusalem. They were consecrated & instituted with the titles Mor Coorilos Paulose Kochuparambil & Mor Dionysius Geevarghese respectively on 31st May 1908. Along with the newly ordained bishops, the delegate of the Holy See of Antioch St. Osthathios Sleebo also returned to Malankara. In 1909, Patriarch Abded Aloho decided to visit Malankara. Then Malankara Metropolitan Vattaseril Mor Dionysius & many Church leaders went to Bombay to receive him & to accompany him to Malankara. One of the two Rabans who came with the Patriarch was later appointed as Mor Yulios Elias Qoro, the delegate of the See of Antioch. In India, Mor Ignatius Abded Aloho consecrated St. Athanasius Paulose (Valiya Thirumeni) as Metropolitan for the diocese of Angamali on 9th June 1910 at Mor Sabor-Mor Aphroth Church Akaparambu. Patriarch Abded Aloho also established the Knanaya diocese. Mor Severios Geevarghese, the first bishop of the Knanaya community, was consecrated by the Patriarch on 28th August 1910 at Vadakara Church. Abded Aloho gave permission for the 'Malankara Jacobite Syrian Prayer book’ translated by Mathai Kassiso Konatt. In 1911 on the feast of Transfiguration, he conducted the sacrament of the blessing of the Holy Chrism at Mulanthuruthy Church. It was during this time a major rift started in Malankara. Following the autocratic style of functioning & his disobedience of Church laws, Vattasseril Mor Dionysius the Malankara Metropolitan he was excommunicated. On 17 August 1911 the representatives of the Malankara Church met at Thrikunnath Seminary & Mor Coorilos Paulose Kochuparambil was selected as Malankara metropolitan in the place of Mor Dionysius Vattasseril. After his return from India in 1912, he stayed at Dayro d-Mor Marqos till his death in 1915 & he was entombed on the southern side of the Church at Dayro d-Mor Marqos. The Patriarch received a medal from King Edward, two medals from the Ottoman Sultan & medals from the Kings of Travancore & Cochin. Biography courtesy of, 'Martyrs, Saints and Prelates of the Syriac Orthodox Church' May the prayers of the late Patriarch HH Moran Mor Ignatius Abde d-Aloho II Sattuf be with us all. Amen.