Mourning the loss of a great shepherd

By Dr. Thomas Joseph 

The metropolitan of the Syriac Orthodox Diocese of Central Europe His Grace Mor Julius Yeshue Cicek, entered into eternal rest on Oct 29, 2005, at Dusseldorf, Germany. The archbishop was 64. The mortal remains of Mor Julius Yeshue Cicek were brought to the monastery of St. Ephrem the Syrian in Glane, Losser, The Netherlands where they were entombed in the tomb for bishops below the sanctuary of the church of The Holy Virgin. The final rites for the departed archbishop were officiated by Patriarch His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas assisted by several bishops of the Syriac Orthodox Church from the Middle East, Europe, Americas and India. The funeral was attended by over 15,000 Syriac Orthodox faithful.

The late archbishop was the first appointed to shepherd the church in Europe in 1979 by late Patriarch Mor Ya`qub III and dedicated all his energies in establishing a firm foundation for the Church in Europe. Due to his efforts, the Church now has three large monasteries in Europe--at Glane, near Enschede in the Netherlands, in Arth, Switzerland, and in Warburg, Germany. Several parishes were formed throughout Europe over 50 in Germany and several others in the Netherlands, in Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, England and France, among others. In the monasteries he founded, Mor Yulius established monastic schools which trained the clergy and faithful in the new diaspora in the traditions of the Church. 

Mor Yulius made very significant scholarly contributions to the Church through the Bar Hebraeus Publishing House at Losser which published about 115 books related to the Syriac Orthodox liturgy, Bible, history, etc., in Syriac and in European languages, as well as periodicals such as the "Kolo Suryoyo". His Eminence was also an eminent calligrapher who continued the ancient Syriac Orthodox tradition of liturgical manuscript production as a monastic vocation. 

Mor Yulius was an effective ambassador of the church to the European Churches. He participated in ecumenical dialogues with the Catholic Church at the Pro Oriente and accompanied HH Patriarch during his historic visit to Rome in 1984, where the Joint Declaration with Pope John Paul II was signed. The strong relationships he helped build with churches and governments in Europe came to be of much benefit for the Syriac Orthodox Church. Syriac is today recognized as a language included in the approved list of languages that can be formally taught in schools in countries such as Sweden and in Austria. 

Mor Çiçek is a Syriac father that Malankara can never forget. During times of hardship for the faithful in Malankara Mor Çiçek visited them many many times to offer succour and strength. His Eminence can be considered the founding father of the Theological Seminary of the Church that now flourishes in Udayagiri. He contributed about Rs. 40 lakhs--the largest contribution that made the founding of the seminary possible in 1988. He continued to take much interest in the growth of this institution till his end. The Church in Malankara will be indebted to him forever. 

Despite his strenuous schedule, Mor Yulius always found time to stay abreast of the struggles of the faithful in Malankara. He was a regular reader of the Syrian Orthodox Church-Malankara Forum (SOCM-FORUM - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SOCM-FORUM/message/5348) and 'Shroro - The Syriac Orthodox Christian Digest'. Many from Malankara, both clergy and laity, were warmly received by His Eminence at his monastery in Holland. His Eminence maintained warm relationships with many late and current bishops of the Church in Malankara including late Catholicos Mor Baselius Paulose II and the present Catholicos H.B. Mor Baselius Thomas I. 

In the untimely passing away of this great luminary, the faithful of the Syriac Orthodox diaspora in Europe, in Malankara and all over the world have indeed lost a true shepherd. 

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I first met Mor Yulius Çiçek as a young boy at St. George Church, Karingachira, when His Eminence accompanied His Holiness the Patriarch during his first apostolic visit to Malankara on February -1980. Mor Yulius Yeshu` Çiçek stood out among the bishops who were present, since he sang Syriac hymns during the reception for His Holiness. It was my first experience hearing Syriac music outside of the Divine Liturgy and that by a native Syriac speaker. 

Fifteen years later in December 1995 God blessed me with an opportunity to go to Mor Ephrem monastery in Glane, The Netherlands, to meet His Eminence, accept his warm hospitality and to stay with him for 3 days--a cherished memory that will remain for ever indelible in my mind. The stay at the monastery encouraged me to work actively on the Syriac Orthodox Resources web site (http://sor.cua.edu/) where I first published a journal of my stay in the monastery (see link below). The humility and warmth of Mor Yulius and his great diligence in prayer at the canonical hours and work for the Church in all hours between endeared him to me. 

On August 9, 1997, when His Holiness arrived at the Archbishop's residence at St. Ephrem's Cathedral, Burbank, Los Angeles, to be introduced to the Syriac Orthodox Resources, H.E. Mor Yulius was there as well. As His Holiness was given a tour of the web site, His Eminence followed attentively asking questions to understand the potential of the new technology. At the end, he asked me, "Where did you find the time to do all of this?" I replied, "Sayyidna, how can I give you of all an answer to that question--my efforts are very very meager compared to yours!" I told him how my stay with him in his monastery inspired me. His Eminence signed the guestbook of the web site: “It has been a great pleasure for me to visit this site and to read about the traditions of the Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch on the Internet, and especially in hearing Syriac music in the voice of the Patriarch Jacob III of blessed memory. Of great interest were the pictures of our churches and monasteries as well. Many thanks to those who diligently work for this site and we ask the Lord to give you the strength to continue this work.”

I met His Eminence Mor Yulius for the last time again at the archbishop's residence in Burbank on Feb 21, 2004. He was with H.E. Mor Severus Hawa of Baghdad. This time the meeting was brief. Despite the years His Eminence recognized me immediately. However, his face appeared rather troubled. The young bishop I recollect from 1980 was now an aged senior bishop with a white beard and face showing the strain of the years. When I took leave of him, little did I imagine that it would be for the last time. I always looked forward to another opportunity to go to Mor Ephrem monastery or to Mor Awgen in Arth where His Eminence had invited me and immerse myself in the spiritual atmosphere there at the feet of His Eminence. This was not to be; I can now only look forward to a pilgrimage to pay obesiance at the tomb of the holy man below the sanctuary in the Cathedral of the Virgin Mary in Glane. 

The untiring efforts and accomplishments of His Eminence Mor Yulius Çiçek will remain an inspiration for those who are called to toil in the vineyard of God. May God grant rest to the beloved metropolitan who found little time to rest during his mortal life! 

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"l-kohnayk aneeh baynoth keené bro daloho b-hoy malkootho d-lo meshtaryo am qadeeshé." 

"O Son of God, grant rest to the priests among the just in that indestructible kingdom, with the holy ones." 

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Related Links: 
» Biography - http://sor.cua.edu/Personage/Suryoyo/MYuliusYCicek.html 

» Mor Ephrem Dayro, Losser - http://morephrem.com/ http://sor.cua.edu/ChMon/GlaneDEphrem/index.html 

» A Journal of a Visit to Mor Ephrem Dayro - http://sor.cua.edu/ChMon/GlaneDEphrem/PJrnl.html 

» Mor Awgen Dayro, Arth, Switzerland - http://sor.cua.edu/ChMon/Switzerland/ArthDAwgen.html 

» Mor Ya`qub of Sarugh Dayro, Warburg, Germany - http://sor.cua.edu/ChMon/Germany/WarburgDYSarug.html 

 

Source of funeral pictures: http://www.morephrem.com/
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Volume 1. Issue 12.