Mor Osthatheos Sleeba, - March 19

Church celebrates the memory of Mor Osthatheos Sleeba on march 19th. Attaching brief Biography of the Saint.

Mor Osthatheos Sleeba, - March 19

Mor Osthatheos Sleeba, the saintly Syrian father venerated with great affection by the Malankara Syrian Christians, was born on January 1 1854, in the village of 'Kfarzo' in Mesopotamia situated in the south-east Turkey. He belonged to the 'Abakker' family, his father was Salbi and mother Nabuna. His baptismal name was 'SALIBA' (Sleebo/Sleeba). When he was only three years of age his father, Salbi, passed away. A few years later his two brothers and two sisters also died of a deadly disease. Only Sleeba (Saliba), his mother and one sister were fortunate to survive from the epidemic.

At the age of seven Sleeba started his education under his uncle Kassisso Danaha. Later his studies continued under Raban Shem`un at the Damascus church. From the childhood days itself he was very conscious in regular Prayers, lent & meditation. The Church's liturgical hymns and its rich traditions was of great inspiration for the young Sleeba. By the time he completed his education, he mastered in Syriac, the liturgical language of the Holy Church.

Even while continuing his studies he worked in nearby villages for his livelihood. In 1880, he was ordained Koroyoo (Deacon) by his Malphono (Malpan/teacher) who by then had been elevated as Metropolitan for the Damascus diocese by name Mor Athanasius Shem`un. (H.G. is the patriarchal delegate who is entombed at Kottayam Puthenpally).



Malankara Church in the late 19th century

The last quarter of the 19th century was comparatively a better period for the Syrian Church of Malabar (South India). It was at the time the Church started to gradually re-establish its foothold under the leadership of Metropolitan Pulikottil Joseph Mor Dionysius II after a difficult era of alleged domination by certain European Christian groups who opposed the Syrian Christian beliefs and its traditions. The situations changed for better with the arrival of Mor Ignatius Pathros IV, the Patriarch of Antioch to India in 1875. Before his arrival the judiciary and the local administration under the British rulers, were publicly supporting the European missionaries and the Malankara Church was continuously tortured for not endorsing the reformist teachings of these western Christian groups. The Patriarch's discussions with the directors of the East India company at London on his way to Malankara, helped to change this unfair attitude of the Indo-British authorities against Malankara Syrian Church to a certain extend. His Holiness stayed in Kerala for more than a year and helped to reorganize the administration of the Malankara Edavaka (diocese) which was until then administered by a single Metropolitan. In June 1876, the Patriarch convened the historic Mulanthuruthy Synod that gave birth to the popular and democratic 'Malankara Syrian Christian Association', elevated Mor Dionysius Joseph (Pulikottil Thirumeni) as its first metropolitan President (designated as 'Malankara Metropolitan') and also took the crucial decision to divide the Malankara Edavaka into six dioceses for administrative convenience. Later His Holiness ordained Metropolitans for each of the newly formed dioceses; Saint Gregorios Geevarghese, popularly known as Parumala Thirumeni, was one among them.

The Malankara Church was very thankful for the sincere efforts of the Holy See for all the help they received, particularly during the period of great crisis. Though a major crisis was averted with H.H's timely interference, there continued to be certain problems with the western protestant outfits who were very much active here under the patronage of British rulers. Hence the Church in Malankara wished to have the continued presence of a patriarchal representative. This request was submitted before the Church's spiritual supreme, the Patriarch of Antioch & all the East. But His Holiness left for the patriarchal headquarters at Mardin in Turkey without taking a final decision. Initially the Patriarch was reluctant in sending another delegate from the Far East since there were already six native metropolitans besides the Malankara Metropolitan to look after the day to day affairs of the Archdiocese. However the repeated requests from Malankara Church made the Patriarch to change his previous decision; thus His Holiness send Mor Athanasius Shem`un of Damascus diocese as the patriarchal representative to Malankara.



Deacon Sleeba in India

Deacon Sleebo, who was then 27, accompanied the newly appointed Patriarchal delegate, H.G. Shem`un Mor Athanasius to Malankara and reached Cochin on January 1, 1881. They stayed in a small room at Kottayam Puthenpally and preached the Holy Gospel of Our Lord, both within our Church and outside. During this period, the nearby Kottayam St.Mary's Cheriapally and Syrian Seminary (old Seminary at Kottayam) were under the control of the European missionary activists. In 1889, when the Old Seminary was returned to the Jacobite Syrian Church following a court verdict, Shem`un Mor Athanasius and Deacon Sleeba were requested to reside at seminary and teach theology and Church traditions to the seminary students.

On June 11 1889, the Patriarchal delegate Mor Athanasius Shem`un passed away at a most unexpected time. The sudden demise of the Metropolitan was a severe blow for our Deacon Sleeba. He is said to have remained alone for many days, crying and crying. He may have felt lonely in a land far away from his native place. Subsequently our Lord gave him strength to overcome the difficult times; after a short interval, he continued to preach the Holy Gospel, travelling throughout Malankara. His speeches were in Syriac and the main translators were Deacon Mathew (later Catholicos Augen I), Deacon M.J.Michael of Kayamkulam (later Michael Mor Dionysius of Kottayam & southern dioceses) and Kassisso P.P. Joseph (father of late Catholicos Baselios Paulose II). The annual conventions held during those times in Aluva Manalpuram (river side), were very famous with his speeches and attracted many to our Holy Church. He used to stay at the convention site for the entire period without much food, thus saving the money and kind he received and donated it to the needy. His dedication made him so popular; the poor considered him as great prophet and as a friend in need. (The annual conventions held at Aluva Manalpuram were the first of its kind, anywhere in Malankara. The famous Maramon Convention started only a few years later).



Deacon Sleeba and Chathuruthy Mor Gregorios (Parumala Thirumeni)

After the demise of Mor Athanasius Shem`un, Deacon Sleeba came closer with Mor Gregorios Geevarghese (Parumala Thirumeni). Syriac was the medium that is believed to have brought both of them together. St. Anthony of Egypt, the Coptic monk who lived in the 3rd century was of a great inspiration for both. Their intimate relationship continued until the last of Kochu thirumeni.

When a group from Malankara under the leadership of Parumala thirumeni set forth for a pilgrimage to the holy city in 1895, Deacon Sleeba was also asked to accompany them as a guide. The other prominent members of the group were Kochuparambil Paulose Ramban (later Paulose Mor Kurillos - Panampady Church, the Malankara Metropolitan, 1911-1917) and Wattasseril Fr. Geevarghese (Malankara Metropolitan, 1909). St Gregorious in his famous travelogue "Oorsalem Yatra Vivaranam", has mentioned about Deacon Sleeba's help during many occasions and also about their stay at the 'Sehion Malika'/Dayaro of Markose at Jerusalem. The passing away of Parumala Thirumeni on Nov 2, 1902 was another of the saddest moments in the life of Dn.Sleeba after the demise of his Malphono Mor Athanasius Shem`un. He was at Parumala during the last ceremonies of the late Metropolitan and remained there for many more days.

Dn. Sleeba, though only six years younger than Parumala Thirumeni, remained as a deacon until he reached 52 in 1906. During these days his emphasize was on the preaching of Holy Gospel among the mass and guided the theological students. The ordination of Dn. Sleeba as the Metropolitan was at the age of 54, six years after the demise of Parumala Thirumeni.



Journey to the Patriarchal Dayro in Turkey

In 1906 a Patriarchal bull reached Malankara, requesting Dn. Sleeba to reach the Dayro at Mosul (Iraq) for his ordination as Metropolitan. Before his departure to Mosul, a grand public reception was given to Dn. Sleeba by Malankara Metropolitan H.E. Mor Dionysius Joseph and was presented with a gold chain and Holy Cross as a gift of the Malankara Church. He together with Deacon Mathai of Cheettalathumkara (later Catholicos Mor Augen I) left for Mosul the same year. Thus after 25 years in Malankara as a deacon, in 1906 Deacon Sleeba was ordained as Kassisso (Full Priest) at the age of 52 and two weeks later as 'RABAN' (Monk Priest/Ramban) by Mor Kurillos Elias Qudsho, at the Monastery of Mor Mattay, near Mosul. The Priestly consecration ceremony of Deacon Mathai was also held on the same occasion.

Later Raban Sleeba and Kassisso Mathai went to 'Kurkkuma Dayro' (Deir'ul Zaffaran Monastery in Turkey) and stayed with the new Patriarch Mor Ignatius Abded' Aloho (Abdullah II) for a few days. From there they went to the house of our Raban Sleeba at the 'Kaferzo' village in Tur'Abdin (Present Turkey). Raban Sleeba's only sister was living there. For the next two years, Raban Sleeba together with Deacon Mathai visited many of the nearby Syriac Orthodox churches and preached the Holy Gospel. (Deacon Mathai became well versed in Syriac during his long stay with his close friend Raban Sleeba. Patriarch H H Ignatius Elias III ordained him Metropolitan in 1927 by name Thimotheos and in 1964 Patriarch H H Ignatius Yakoob III elevated him as the first canonical Catholicos of India by name Augen I).



METROPOLITAN CONSECRATION

In March 1908 Patriarch of Antioch & all the East Moran Mor Ignatius Abded' Aloho (Abdullah II) consecrated Raban Sleebo as Metropolitan and was entrusted with the name OSTHATHEOS. The ordination ceremony was held at the church of the 'Forty Martyrs' in Mosul and appointed him as the Apostolic Delegate of the Holy See to India, succeeding his mentor Mor Athanasius Shem`un.

On 31st May the same year, Kochuparambil Paulose Raban (Mor Kurillos) and Wattasseril Geevarghese Malpan (Mor Dionysius) were also ordained as Metropolitans at the St.Mark's Dayro in Jerusalem by Patriarch Mor Ignatius Abded' Aloho (Abdulla II). RABAN ordination of Deacon Mathai (later Mor Augen Thimotheos) was also on that auspices occasion. (Wattasseril Mor Dionysius become the Malankara Metropolitan in 1909 following the demise of Pulikottil Joseph Mor Dionysius in the previous year. Two years later, the Saintly Kochuparambil Paulose Mor Kurillos was elevated to the highest order of Malankara Metropolitan.)



Mor Osthatheos Sleeba appointed as the Patriarchal delegate to India

After the Metropolitan consecration, Mor Osthatheos Sleebo, along with the other two newly ordained bishops and Ramban Augen, returned to India and assumed the responsibility of the Patriarchal representative in Malankara. When the Malankara Metropolitan Mor Dionysius Joseph passed away in 1908, Mor Osthatheos Sleebo was given charge of the Malankara church administration temporarily. In 1909 the Apostolic Bull appointing Wattasseril Mor Dionysius as Malankara Metropolitan was issued by the Patriarch Mor Ignatius Abdulla II. Unfortunately, a major split occurred in the Malankara Syrian community just two years later in 1911; Wattasseril Mor Dionysius emerged as the leader of the dissident group. It was actually the disputes between Wattasseril Thirumeni and his co-trustees, Corepiscopus Mathen Malpan Konattu (Priest trustee) and Mr. C.J. Kurien Akkara (lay trustee), that led to the sad split. The conflict intensified with the co-trustees openly demanding for more transparency in financial matters which the Metropolitan trustee Mor Dionysius Wattasseril could not accept at all. When complaints against the Methran reached the visiting Patriarch Moran Mor Ignatius Abdulla II, His Holiness asked for explanation; this prompted the agitated Wattasseril Methran to revolt against the supreme pontiff. Since then a group called "Methran's party" started functioning in Malankara under the leadership of Wattasseril Mar Dionysius Methran and his colleagues.

These disputes made the responsibility of Mor Osthatheos Bava even more greater; he along with the newly elected Malankara Metropolitan Paulose Mor Kurillos (Panampady) and Paulose Mor Athanasius (Valiya Thirumeni) worked tirelessly to retain the true apostolic faith of the Syrian Church.



Founding of the Arthat St.Mary's Simhasana church, Kunnamkulam

Consequent to the separation of section from the Malankara Syrian Church, disputes started to erupt in many of the parishes. Though almost the entire faithful in North Kerala remained in the Holy Church, there was a vertical split in Kunnamkulam, a prominent Syrian Christian centre. The intensive disputes in the Kunnamkulam St. Mary's church (Arthat Valiyapally) resulted in great hardships for supporters of both the Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Christians as well as for the faction under Wattasseril Thirumeni. Mor Osthatheos Bava tried his maximum to avert the sad split, but when he understood that his mission is failing, he requested the Jacobite faithful to find a suitable place for worship and thus to avoid direct confrontation with the opposite group. But this decision of our Holy Father was not acceptable for the prominent persons of the Syrian community; they wanted to retain their rights in the ancient church. However, Mor Osthatheos Bava was finally successful in convincing them on the need for a peaceful atmosphere for worshipping. Thus a place near the Old Church was bought in 1919 and was registered in the name of the Holy See of Antioch. During the construction of this church which lasted for many years, Mor Osthatheos Bava stayed in a house made of bamboo and thatched with coconut leaves. With the efforts of Mor Osthatheos Bava, a small church was built and was named "ST.MARY'S SIMHASANA CHURCH". The church was consecrated on 12th October 1919.

The St. Mary's church at Vadavukodu (near Karingachira Church), was another famous parish established and consecrated by Mor Osthatheos Bava. During his stay at the church, many were cured through the Holy relics of MOR QAWMO which he brought from the Syrian Orthodox Church in Turabdin. Portions of the Holy relic are interred in many other churches also. The Malecuriz St.George Dayro near Puthencuriz, was established during this period. The St. George's Church at Nedumbasserry (near Cochin International Airport) was founded at the place were Mor Osthatheos Sleeba insisted. Mor Osthatheos travelled to a great number of churches and led many peace negotiations in spite of his age and health. Unfortunately he was unsuccessful due to the stubborn attitude of the dissidents.



HEAVENLY ABODE OF THE HOLY FATHER & THE PATRIARCHAL PROCLAMATION

On 19th March 1930 at the age of 76, Mor Osthatheos Bava passed away and his mortal remains were interred at the Arthat St.Mary's Simhasana church, Kunnamkulam. This church is now a major pilgrim centre of the Malankara Syrian Christians. Because of the tomb of the saintly father, the church came to be popularly known as 'Bava Pally' (the church of Mor Osthatheos Bava).

In 2000, the visiting Patriarch of Antioch & all the East, through bull dated 4th April, officially proclaimed Mor Osthatheos Sleebo and Mor Gregorios`Abdul Galeel as Saintly Holy Fathers, thereby permitting to recite the 'Quqalya' hymns and prayers of the 'Zadeeqo' (saints) at their tombs and beseech their intercession (see Patriarchal Encyclical dated April 9th, 2000). In 2005, the historical patriarchal bull allowing the local Simhasana church to recite the name of St. Osthatheos Sleeba in the fifth 'Tubden' (diptych) was issued and later through the Apostolic bull dated 26th September 2008, the name of our holy father was permitted to be recited in all the Malankara churches.

Sacred tomb of St. Sleebo Mor Osthatheos Bava at the Arthat St. Mary's Simhasana Church, Kunnamkulam



Mor Osthatheos Bava, the Saintly Father

Mor Osthatheos Bava was one of the pioneers of the Sunday School movement in Malankara. He ministered for the Church in Malankara, establishing and consecrating many number of Parishes. St. Paulose Mor Athanasius, (Malankara Metropolitan, 1917-53) & Malankara Malpan Corepiscopus Mathen Konattu were his closest companions during his stay in Malankara as Patriarchal delegate. Many of his students later became famous personalities in the Syrian Church. Mookencheril Pathros Mor Osthatheos, the late Metropolitan of the Methran faction was one of his disciples.

("Sleeba Daasa Samooham", a missionary group in the Malankara Church was started by Mookkencheril Pathros Mor Osthatheos, under the initiative and guidance of St. Sleeba Mor Osthatheos Bava, in 1924. Mookkencheril Thirumeni who was the first administrator of the organization, was then a Kassisso (Priest) of the Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church under the Holy See of Antioch.)

The two famous scholarly books, "Misiha Aiyaka Swabhawam" ('Messianic Character', published in 1904) & "Yakkobayakkar" ('Jacobites', published in 1905), originally written in Syriac by Mor Osthatheos Bava and translated into Malayalam by Rev. Fr. P P Joseph, are some of his masterpieces. It was in circulation until recently. During his life time itself he was considered as a holy person. His tireless efforts in spreading the Word of God attracted many to the faith. Mor Osthatheos lived a life of extreme simplicity spending most of his time in prayer and meditation. His concentration & dedication in prayers were extraordinary. His piety was known far and wide. He hardly had any material possessions, yet was happy to help the poor and needy. His foods at many times were only prayer & meditation. Even during these circumstances he helped the needy by donating whatever he had. His prayers healed many sick, and those who were childless were blessed with children. Many are baptized in the name 'SLEEBA'. The church were his mortal remains are interred is often mentioned as "BAVA PALLY", so called after the saintly Osthatheos Bava. Annual pilgrimage on the remembrance day to his Holy Tomb is very popular.


May his blessings be with us and Glory be to God forever. Amen

Source : http://www.syrianchurch.org/StSl/Mor_Osthathious_Sleeba.htm