St. Coorilos Paulose Kochuparambil +1917

St. Coorilos Paulose Kochuparambil +1917

December 14th is the commemoration of the dukhrono of St. Coorilos Paulose Kochuparambil +1917 according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church. Paulose was born to Varkey & Anna. His maternal grandfather was a priest, Thoppil Scaria Qashisho. At a young age he learnt Syriac & at the age of 9 he was ordained a Quroyo by St. Coorilos Yuyakim the Reesh Episcopo (It is said that the saintly father had a vision that the young deacon would one day lead the faithful of Malankara). At the age of 16, Paulose was ordained a priest by Mathews Mar Athanasius, Palakkunnath (founder of Marthoma Sabha). His first Holy Qurbono was at St. Mary's Church Kandanad. When a dispute about the validity of his consecration arose, he was re-consecrated by Malankara Metropolitan Mor Dionysius V (Pulikkottil Joseph II) & then appointed as Vicar of Mulanthuruthy Church. St. Gregorios Geevarghese Chathuruthil was then a Raban at the nearby Vettickal Chapel. Fr. Paulose was greatly influenced by the ascetic zeal & saintly nature of Raban Geevarghese, & they formed a close companionship. Patriarch Ignatius Peter IV visited Malankara. In 1876 he convened the Mulanthuruthy Synod & later consecrated the Holy Chrism at Mulunthuruthy Church. Both events were in the presence of Raban Geevarghese & Fr. Paulose. In September of the same year, Fr. Paulose along with Karvattuveettil Shem'vun Cor-Episcopo (later Mor Dionysius Shem'vun, the first bishop of Kochi) & Chalapurath Yac'ub Cor-Episcopo were elevated to the rank of Raban by Patriarch Peter IV. Raban Paulose could not stay much longer under the tutelage of Raban Geevarghese as the latter was to be consecrated Metropolitan Gregorios just a few months later in December. Patriarch Peter IV gave permission for Vettickal Chapel to function as a monastery, & in 1877 the foundation stone for Vettickal Dayro (the very first monastery of the Malankara Church) was laid. Raban Paulose took a keen interest to build up the monastery & the surrounding area including starting schools. Malankara Metropolitan Mor Dionysius V was pleased with the efforts of Paulose Raban, & appointed him as the manager of Old Seminary. Raban Paulose along with deacon Sleebo (later St. Osthatheos Sleebo) & others joined Mor Gregorios Geevarghese Chathuruthil on his pilgrimage to the Holy Land. After returning from the pilgrimage, Raban Paulose was sent to Thiruvananthapuram to look after the Syriac Orthodox faithful there. His untiring efforts & able leadership helped to complete the church construction within a year. St. George Church was the first Syriac Orthodox parish in Thiruvananthapuram (sadly it was later usurped by the schismatics). After completing his work there, he returned to being the manager of Old Seminary & publisher of Malankara Edvakappathrika (official magazine of the Church). Even with all his responsibilities, Raban Paulose never wavered in his ascetical lifestyle of prayer & fasting which he emulated from St. Gregorios Geevarghese. Through his missionary efforts more than 200 individuals heard the Gospel & accepted Christ as Lord. Raban Paulose established a Church for them at a time when the notion of untouchability & societal casteism was rampant in the community. He personally came forward to carry out the religious needs of the converts to the Holy Church. As Mor Dionysius V was advancing in age, the Malankara Association convened by him decided to send two Rabans to the Patriarchate for Metropolitan Consecration. Rev. Raban Paulose & Rev. Fr. Geevarghese Vattasseril were elected to be ordained bishops & sent to Jerusalem. Patriarch Ignatius Abded Aloho II consecrated & instituted them with the titles Mor Coorilos Paulose & Mor Dionysius Geevarghese respectively on 31st May 1908 at Dayro d-Mor Marqos Jerusalem in the presence of Mor Osthatheos Sleebo & Mor Ivanios Elias (later Patriarch St. Ignatius Elias III). It is important to note that the deposed Patriarch Abded Messih was still alive, so there is no contention in Malankara about who was the legitimate canonical Patriarch of Antioch. A few months later, the newly consecrated bishops returned to Malankara along with Patriarchal Delegate Mor Osthatheos Sleebo. After becoming a Metropolitan, Mor Coorilos continued his Gospel work, assisted by Qasheesho Mikhayel of Kayankulam (later Mor Dionysius Mikhayel). After the death of Mor Dionysius V, with the permission of the Patriarch, Mor Dionysius Geevarghese was enthroned as Malankara Metropolitan. The ceremony was conducted at Old Seminary by Mor Osthatheos Sleebo with Mor Ivanios Murimattom & Mor Coorilos Paulose as Co-celebrants. It is said that Mor Osthatheos Sleebo preferred Mor Coorilos to be Malankara Metropolitan. A few months later, Patriarch Mor Ignatius Abded Aloho II visited Malankara. 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 was excommunicated by the Patriarch. (the excommunication would be later lifted by St. Ignatius Elias III Patriarch) On 17 August 1911 the representatives of the Malankara Church met at Thrikunnath Seminary & Mor Coorilos Paulose Kochuparambil was selected as Malankara Metropolitan. Disputes & quarrels became daily occurrences in Old Seminary because of the schismatics led by Mor Dionysius. The ongoing disputes destroyed the peaceful atmosphere in the Old Seminary where Mor Coorilos was residing. Mor Coorilos left the Old Seminary for Attamangalam church, Kumarakom. Finally, the rest of his days were spent at Panampady church & Piravom church. While continuing missionary work, overseeing Church affairs & traveling far & wide to defend the true faith, the health of Mor Coorilos began to deteriorate. He gave his final Kalpana on 2nd Thulam 1917 from Panampady Church, which was heart touching. Mor Coorilos Paulose, who had fought the good fight, & protected the true faith, passed away on 14th December 1917. His last rites were led by St. Athanasius Paulose assisted by St. Osthatheos Sleebo & Mor Severios Geevarghese (Knanaya diocese). He was entombed adjacent to the altar of St. Mary’s Church, Panampady. Mor Coorilos Paulose Kochuparambil is remembered for his humbleness, missionary zeal, service of the downtrodden & his unflinching loyalty to the Holy Throne of Antioch. In 2008 vis Patriarchal Apostolic Bull No. E215/08, he was glorified as a Saint by Patriarch Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas. In 2017 during the 100th anniversary of his dukhrono, vis Patriarchal Apostolic Bull No. E I23/17; the Patriarch of Antioch and all the East HH Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II permitted the recitation of the name of St. Coorilos Paulose Kochuparambil in the 5th Thubden (Thubden d-Qadishe) at all Malankara parishes across the world. Biography courtesy of, 'Martyrs, Saints and Prelates of the Syriac Orthodox Church' and Syriac Christianity website. Oh Mor Coorilos Paulose Kochuparambil! Plead for us before God's throne of grace. Amen. http://www.syriacchristianity.info/bio/MorKoorilosKochuparambil.htm