Mor Koorilos Yuyakim, Reesh Episcopa of Malankara, Mulanthuruthy (+1874)

Mor Koorilos Yuyakim, Reesh Episcopa of Malankara, Mulanthuruthy (+1874)

September 2nd is the commemoration of the dukhrono of St. Coorilos Yuyakim +1874 according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church. Mor Coorilos was the Reesh Episcopo of Malankara. Mor Coorilos Yuyakim, was sent as a Delegate of the Holy Apostolic See of Antioch to Malankara. He helped the Syriac Orthodox faithful in Malankara in their struggle against the protestant reformers. Born in 1818 to Malke bar Israel who belonged to the 'Amir-d-gadhani' family in Tur Abdin, he was one among 8 children (he had 5 brothers & two sisters). He was enthusiastic about Syriac spirituality even at a young age & studied Syriac along with Orthodox theology under the tutelage of Mor Severios. At the age of 21 he was ordained as a deacon & soon afterwards tonsured as a monk. He was appointed personal secretary of the Patriarch, serving for a number of years. On February 18th 1845 the thrice blessed late Patriarch HH Moran Mor Ignatius Elias II of blessed memory consecrated Raban Yuyakim as Metropolitan with the title Coorilos at the Monastery of Mor Hananyo (Kurkmo Dayro/Deir ez-Za`faran). The Malankara Church was facing a tumultuous challenge at the time. Anglican missionaries spearheaded by bishop Daniel Wilson of Calcutta, with the support of the British colonial power, were attempting to spread the protestant faith in the Malankara Church. They managed to gain the support of a number of local priests, namely Abraham Malpan Palakunnathu from Maramon who systematically began altering the liturgy & practices of the Holy Church to fit in line with the Anglican beliefs. To put an end to this, Mor Dionysius IV (Cheppad Philipose) convened the Synod of Mavelikara at St. Mary's Jacobite Syrian Church in 1836. At this Synod it was affirmed that the Malankara Church was part of & under the authority of the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate, & that no alteration in the faith, traditions or liturgy of the Malankara Church could be made without the sanction of the Supreme Pontiff the Patriarch of Antioch. These decisions are recorded in what is known as the Mavelikara Padiyola of 1836. However, the crisis in the Malankara continued & the Church leaders sent word to the Patriarchate requesting further assistance. The Patriarch was initially hesitant to send a prelate, preferring to ordain a native bishop for Malankara. The Patriarch also considered the difficulties faced by earlier missions & he conveyed this to the Malankara church. While the Patriarch was awaiting the reply from Malankara, one deacon Mathew the son of Mathachan Palakunnathu & nephew of Abraham Malpan reached Mardin where the Patriarch was residing, & under the guise of carrying a request from the Malankara, he faithful was consecrated by the Patriarch as Metropolitan with the title Athanasius on February 2nd 1842. When he returned to Malankara Mor Athanasius Mathew was not initially attempting to spread the protestant practices but extolled the faithful to remain steadfastly to Syriac Orthodoxy. The declaration of faith adopted at the Association meeting of the Malankara Church held at Kallumkathra under his leadership attests to this fact, which is recorded in the Kallumakathra Padiyola of 1843. However, soon afterwards he was swayed by his relative Abraham Malpan along with the British powers to wreak havoc by vigorously spreading the protestant agenda. As the situation of the Malankara Church was in dire straits, Mor Dionysius sent word to the Patriarchate, Patriarch Ignatius Elias II sent his former secretary Mor Coorilos Yuyakim to Malankara, who arrived along with his brother Israel on 2nd Chingam 1846 in Cochin. After a thorough investigation of accusations against bishop Athanasius Mathew, Mor Coorilos published the excommunication letter given by the Patriarch of Antioch, & submitted it to the authorities. The older Mor Dionysius, seeing the more youthful & vibrant Mor Coorilos was the need of the hour in Malankara, requested that he manage the affairs of the Malankara Church especially at this troublesome time. Thus, Mor Coorilos Yuyakim became the Reesh Episcopo of Malankara. An angered Athanasius, with the support of Anglicans, convinced the Raja of Travancore that he was the legal Metropolitan. He would later become founder of the Malankara Marthoma Syrian Church in Anglican communion. Additionally, Athanasius convinced the British Resident to publish an ordinance prohibiting foreign bishops from entering Travancore & Cochin. Mor Coorilos was deported & was forced to stay in Fort Cochin at Mattancherry. During his exile in Mattancherry, Mor Coorilos built St. George Syriac Orthodox Church "to be used by the Delegates of the Holy See". Learning of the terrible situation, Patriarch Ignatius Yac'ub II of blessed memory sent Mor Athanasius Stephanos to Malankara. However he was not able to stop the Protestants who enjoyed the support of British colonial power, & he was forced to leave Kerala. Mor Athanasius Stephanos then went to London via Calcutta on 1st September 1852 & filed a petition in the Court of Directors of the British East India Company. The prohibition order on Syriac Metropolitans was cancelled in 1857 & as the travel ban on foreign metropolitans was lifted, Mor Coorilos Yuyakim could travel freely in Malankara. The lifting of the prohibition was a major turning point at that period. The reinvigorated Mor Coorilos could now directly interact with the spiritual children in Malankara, he went to various regions strengthening the faith of the believers, uplifting their spirits & helped build many churches. Mor Coorilos mastered Malayalam & published a number of the Malayalam translations of the Syriac Liturgy. He was a highly educated person in theology & Biblical studies, along with being an excellent orator as well as a master in Syriac music & calligraphy. He left for us many letters & poems in Syriac. Though further setbacks arose, the difficulties did not hinder Mor Coorilos from defending the true Orthodox Faith & the Syriac traditions. He also gained a friend & companion in Mor Dionysius V (Pulikkottil Joseph II), together they would strengthen the Malankara Church against the onslaught of colonial powers espousing the protestant heresies. Mor Coorilos Yuyakim was also blessed to have disciples in St. Gregorios Geevarghese Chathuruthil & St. Coorilos Paulose Kochuparambil who both emulated the prayerful spiritual life of Mor Coorilos. In addition to his efforts to strengthen the Malankara Church, Mor Coorilos was beloved for his piety & saintly nature. As a practitioner of traditional medicine, many flocked to him for curing of illnesses. He never neglected to do works of charity & to instill a love of God in everyone whom he encountered. Mor Coorilos spent his final days at Mulanthuruthy Marthoman Syrian Church (known as the second Jerusalem). On September 2nd 1874, Mor Coorilos Yuyakim departed for the heavenly abode after serving the Syriac Orthodox Church in Malankara for 28 years. His mortal remains were interred at the northern side of Mulanthuruthy Church. Countless faithful continued to flock to his tomb & seek his intercession for healing from illnesses. On October 10th 2008 vis Patriarchal Apostolic Bull E214/08, the thrice blessed late Patriarch HH Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas of blessed memory declared Mor Coorilos Yuyakim as a saint, permitting the prayers at his tomb (Zadhiko). In 2017, the Patriarch of Antioch and all the East HH Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II vis Patriarchal Apostolic Bull No. E I23/17; permitted the recitation of the name of St. Coorilos Yuyakim in the 5th Thubden (Thubden d-Qadishe) at all Malankara parishes across the world. Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II belongs to the family of Mor Coorilos Yuyakim in Tur Abdin. Biography courtesy of, 'Martyrs, Saints and Prelates of the Syriac Orthodox Church' and Syriac Christianity website Oh Mor Coorilos Yuyakim! Plead for us before God's throne of grace. Amen. For full biography visit: https://goo.gl/s3LNYH