H. G. DR. THOMAS MAR MAKARIOS IN MEMORIAM

 

 

H.G. Dr. Thomas Mar Makarios, the Metropolitan of the Canada – UK – Europe Diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Church passed away in New Castle, U.K, at 4:12 (IST) on Saturday, February 23, 2008. Though aged 81, the Metropolitan kept good health until he met with an accident in New Castle on 6th January while returning after visiting the parish in Sunderland. (Incidentally, 6th January happens to be the Feast of Epiphany (Denaha), the day commemorating the baptism of Jesus Christ as also the death anniversary of his beloved mother. Again, notably, he succumbed to his injuries on 23rd February, the Feast Day of Saint  Vattasseril Mar Dionysius, whom he hero-worshipped from his boyhood days and the 59th anniversary of his profession as a sub-deacon.) His mortal remains will be brought home to Kerala shortly and entombed at Devalokam Catholicate Aramana Chapel, Kottayam which is the headquarters of the Church.

 

 

K. C. Thomas whom his parents endearingly called Thankachen was born on 26th May 1926. He was the eldest son of A. T. Chacko and Mariamma Chacko, Kuttikandathil, Ayroor, Pathanamthitta District. After his high school education, young Thomas served as a school teacher for a few years. His yearning passion was to join the Othara Dayara(Monastery), but he had to don the coat of a teacher to help his parents bring up his five siblings. However, in 1947 he quit the teacher’s job and joined the Old Seminary Kottayam. He was professed a deacon on 23rd February 1951 at the Old Seminary Chapel and was ordained priest in September 1952 at the Broadway St. Thomas Cathedral, Madras. ( Fr. K. C. Thomas was not the only contribution of his family to the ancient church in India. Two of his brothers are also priests – Very. Rev. Ramban Lazarus Cor-Episcopa and Very. Rev. K. C. Mathews Cor-Episcopa.  And one of his sister’s is a nun – Rev. Sr. Mariam of Bethany Convent. Fr. K.C. Thomas was posted to Delhi by His Grace Alexios Mar Theodosius, then Metropolitan of the outside Kerala Diocese. At that time there was only a small Orthodox parish in India’s national capital city. The young priest stayed in a small room of the Delhi Y.M.C.A. and started his work. In addition to his priestly ministry, Fr. Thomas had to assist the lawyers in conducting the court cases related to the church which were being considered by the Supreme Court of India in those days. He played a great role in conducting the cases which eventually brought victory and glory to the Orthodox Church.

In 1962, there was a meeting of the World Council of Churches (WCC) in Delhi. Fr. Thomas met Bishop Skafe, an Episcopal prelate from America during this meeting. It was this fortunate meeting which gave Fr. Thomas a chance to visit and eventually settle down in the United States. America gave him tremendous opportunities to study theology and Church history. He took his doctoral degree from Virginia University. At about this time, Fr. Dr. K.C. Thomas was invited to join the faculty at the Orthodox Seminary, Kottayam which he gladly accepted. Within a few years he got wide acclaim as a church historian and eloquent speaker at church rallies and meetings.

 

 

In 1974, the Malankara Association meeting held at Niranam elected Fr. Thomas as a bishop-nominee. Shortly along with four others he was consecrated Metropolitan with the name Dr. Thomas Mar Makarios. The new Metropolitan was initially put in charge of the Bombay Diocese. In course of time when dioceses were reorganized, he was shifted to the American Diocese and last of all, to the Canada-UK-europe diocese. He was a capable organizer and a gifted speaker. His Grace was endowed with a rare sense of humour. The youngsters in America and Europe who do not know their parent’s mother tongue were electrified by His Grace’s speeches in English studded with humorous anecdotes and biblical allusions.

 

 

Mar Makarios was a bishop with an international – cosmopolitan outlook. His friends were innumerable, drawn from many religions and nationalities. Whenever he came down to Kerala , he made it a point to renew his ties with old friends and acquaintances. Celebrities such as Indira Gandhi and K. R. Narayanan knew him very closely. And he used all his connections in high places, not for his personal gain, but for the glory and victory of his church.

It is not a mere coincidence that H. G. Dr. Thomas Mar Makarios breathed his last on the feast day of Saint Vattasseril Mar Dionysius. Like his great hero, Mar Makarios also was ready to lay down his life to protect the freedom and rights of the church. In his demise, the Malankara Orthodox Church has lost a forerunner in the struggle to uphold the autocephaly and national identity of the most ancient apostolic church of St. Thomas in India. May the God Almighty grant him everlasting peace in his eternal abode.

 

 

Prof Jacob Kurian Onattu
Principal
K.G. College, Pampady