Makarios Thirumeni

We celebrated St.Dionysus and Makarios Thirumeni's memorial today in church. I was given the responsibility to speak about Makarios Thirumeni. Although my speech was nothing special, I've been told to post it, so it's reproduced below :)

Rev.Achen and Dear Friends,

As I was conducting my research for this speech, reading articles, watching videos, I thought to myself...what can I possibly say that can adequately describe such a man? How can I intimate to you the depth of such a personality as this? I can only try.

The name "Makarios" means "blessed."

His Eminence Dr.Thomas Mar Makarios, was everything a bishop should be. An entrancing orator, an unparalleled historian, and most of all, a loving spiritual father, and friend. He was of the all too uncommon breed of bishop that could forge a deep personal connection with all of his spiritual children. Anyone who's been in his presence can attest to this. The debt that this parish owes to Thirumeni can never be forgotten. When we first started this congregation, on our own, without any aid from the diocese, without any priests, it was Thirumeni who told us not to worry, that we were not alone. It was Thirumeni who was our shepherd and father.

Most anyone would agree that Makarios' Thirumeni's signature was his incredible oratories. His quick wit and sharp intellect were legendary. Thirumeni always provided unique insights on any number of issues he spoke about. He would speak from angles that most of us would never have thought of otherwise, with the ability to communicate the scriptures to others, bringing them to life by demonstrating their relevance to real situations. His grandfatherly demeanor and the obvious sincerity with which he spoke endeared him all the more to us, his children. One specific story Thirumeni told when he visited our parish comes to mind. It's a Jewish version of the story of Jonah and the whale. The story goes that when Jonah was thrown overboard, the whale had it's mouth open, and Jonah fell into the open mouth of the whale. The whale then had a horrible stomach ache for three days, and finally threw Jonah up on the third day. In the story, the whale talks to Jonah, and asks him "Jonah, why did you fall in to my mouth? I had a stomach-ache for three days because of you." Jonah responded "Whale, It's good to keep your mouth shut sometimes."
This story, was of course with the backdrop of how Malayalees like to yell in church, etc.

Thirumeni was, in addition to this, an unmatched historian. He used this intimate knowledge of Church history to aid the church greatly when he was still Fr.K.C.Thomas. He lent his impeccable logic and intellectual prowess to the church's legal team, helping to lead the church to great victories in the supreme court. It was surely this great knowledge of church history that gave way to Thirumeni's comprehensive view of how the church changes:

""The church needs to change - Just like the 4th
century church was not exactly a carbon copy of
the 1st Century church, so also the 21st Century
church cannot be an exact carbon copy of the 1st
century church or the 20th century church.
Change is not a threat. Change is Growth and
growth is change. The church needs to
continuously adapt to the new society."

Only someone who had meticulously studied the history of the church and discovered it's patterns could arrive at such a conclusion.

It cannot be a coincidence that Thirumeni entered into eternal rest on the memorial of his hero, St.Dionysius of Vattasseril. Thirumeni had a rare foresight and courage that in many ways, is reminiscent of St.Dionysius. If St.Dionysius played an integral role in establishing the Catholicate, Makarios Thirumeni played an integral role in protecting it. Like the holy saint, Thirumeni sacrificed all for the love of his church.

May his memory be eternal, Amen.