Shroro

The Syriac Orthodox Christian Digest - May, 2005

Mor Koorilose Laid To Rest

By SOCM News Bureau

In an atmosphere charged with emotions, the mortal remains of Metropolitan Mor Koorilos Markose was laid to rest yesterday (May 31, 05) at 2 PM at Pangada St. Mary’s Church after burial rites attended by thousands of people. The late Metropolitan was the bishop of Niranom, Thiruvanthapuram and Kuwait dioceses of the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church.

At the end of the burial rites, H.B. Catholicose Baselios Thomas I anointed the body with "Zayt" (Holy Oil) and the Metropolitan of Kottayam, H.G. Mor Themotheos Thomas covered the face with the "shushefo" (veil) before the body was interred in the grave. The body was laid inside the specially prepared tomb infront of the northern Madbaho of Pangada Church by seven priests dressed in full vestments. By 4 pm the mortal remains were fully covered with frankincense and the great shepherd became a memory in the hearts of his bereaved flock.

Until Tuesday (May 31, 2005) morning, the body of the late Metropolitan was kept for public viewing at the Manarcad St. Mary’s Cathedral. After the Holy Qurbono concelebrated by Mor Themotheos Thomas Metropolitan and other Bishops, the body was taken to Pangada Church via Vellore St. Simons, St. Thomas and Pampadi Simhasana (Thronal) Churches.

The burial service started at 1 pm lead by the Catholicose H.B. Mor Baselius Thomas I. Bishops of the Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church Mor Polycarpos Geevarghese, Mor Themotheos Thomas, Mor Julius Kuriakose, Mor Ivanios Mathews, Mor Dionasios Geevarghese, Mor Milithus Yuhanon, Mor Severios Kuriakose, Mor Gregorios Joseph, Mor Dioscoros Kuriakose and Mor Theethos Yeldho assisted in the funeral service.

Metropolitan Mor Koorilos passed away on 30th May at 9.30 am at the Lakeshore Hospital at Ernakulam, after prolonged illness.

The Metropolitan had served as the head of Syriac language instruction at the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Theological Seminary, Mulanthuruthy and as the chief editor of the Journal of the Kottayam diocese. As a priest, the late Bishop served as the vicar of churches in Kurichy, Pangada, Bahrain, Roorkela and Bhilai.

As a Syriac scholar, the late Bishop had served as the examiner of Syriac at Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam. He was also a teacher of Syriac at St. Ephraim Syriac Research Centre (SEERI), Kottayam.

It was Mor Koorilos Markose who convened and presided over the first Jacobite Syrian Christian Association meeting held at Puthenkurishu on July 6, 2002. The present constitution of the Jacobite Syrian Church was approved at this historic meeting.

The Holy Synod of the Church has declared seven days of mourning. Holy Qurbono and evening prayer will be offered for 40 days at Pangada Church.

“The 30th day and 40th day programmes will be decided by the Holy Synod and will be announced later”, informed the Catholicos H.B. Baselious Thomas I, in a condolence meeting held after the funeral service.

The Episcopal Encyclical from the Patriarch H.H. Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, offering condolences on the departure of Mor Kurilose to his heavenly abode, was read by the Holy Synod Secretary H.G. Mor Gregorius Joseph. Mor Milithus Yuhanon, bishop of Kollam and Thumpamon, also spoke during the meeting.

On behalf of the Government of Kerala, District Collector Mrs. Rani George offered condolences. Ex-Minister Com. T.M. Jacob, Com. T. U. Kuruvilla, Rubco Director V. N. Vasavan, District Police Superintendent S. Sreejith and R.D.O also offered condolence. Trivandrum Asst. Metropolitan Mar Ignatius of Malankara Catholic Church, Bishop Sam Mathew of C.S.I. Church, Thomas Chazhikadan M.L.A. and Elizabeth Mammen Mathai M.L.A. attended the funeral service.

Photos: By Malankara Voice