19 Mar14 84th Dhukrono of Saint Osthatheos Sleeba St. Osthatheos Sleeba the Delegate of the Holy See of Antioch (A. D. 1854 – 1930) By: Very Rev. Dr. Mani Rajan Corepiscopo Sleeba was born at the village, Kafarso, (near Shrehre) near the city of Amid, Mesopotomia on 1 January 1854. He was born in the Abakkar family to Salbi and Naboona. He had two brothers and three sisters. His father Salbi died when Sleeba was a child. His father’s brother, Priest Dhenha, was his first teacher. Later he learned Syriac and theology from very Rev. Samuel Ramban who was the vicar of the Damascus church. In 1849 Very Rev. Samuel Ramban came to Malankara with His Grace Mor Athanasius Stephanos at the direction of His Holiness Yacoub II, the Patriarch of Antioch. Ramban Samuel returned home after eight years. At that time, the protestant missionaries were causing trouble in the Church. His Holiness Patriarch Peter IV came to India in 1875. The Synod of Mulanthuruthy, the appointment of Mor Dionysius Joseph as Malankara Metropolitan, the administrative set up of the Church into seven dioceses, the ordination of Bishops including that of His Grace Mor Gregorius Geevarghese Chathuruthil helped to restore true faith in the Church. Mor Dionysius Joseph and Mor Gregorius Geevarghese reported to the Patriarch, the difficulties faced by the Church in the wake of the Protestant teachings (that the intercession of St. Mary is wrong and that the prayers for the departed are baseless). The Patriarch of Antioch intervened to protect the true faith, in the 19th century as it was done in the 17th century. In 1880, the Patriarch Peter IV ordained Samuel Ramban Bishop by name Athanasius Shemavoon and sent him to Malankara. His disciple Sleeba was ordained Deacon and accompanied Mor Athanasius Shemavoon. They reached Kochi on 1 January 1881. At that time, Kottayam Old Seminary and Cheriapally were in the possession of Protestant people. Therefore, a new church (Puthenpally) was established for the worship of the faithful. Mor Athanasius Shemavoon and Deacon Sleeba stayed at Puthenpally, Kottayam. In 1889, the Court Order came in favour of Mor Dionysius Joseph. Subsequently, Mor Athanasius Shemavoon and Deacon Sleeba moved to Old Seminary, Kottayam. On 11 June 1889 Mor Athanasius Shemavoon departed for his heavenly abode while staying at Old Seminary, Kottayam. The mortal remains were interred at Puthenpally, Kottayam. Deacon Sleeba lost his teacher in a foreign land. He was not discouraged at the loss, but continued to work in the vineyard of the Lord. Mor Gregorius Geevarghese (Chathuruthil) had a special affection for Deacon Sleeba. In 1895, Mor Gregorius visited the Holy Land for which all the arrangements were made by Deacon Sleeba and he accompanied the Bishop on his visit. Deacon Sleeba visited Mor Gregorius at Parumala on several occasions. On 2 November 1902, Mor Gregorius entered eternal rest. Deacon Sleeba again felt a big vacuum. However, he continued with the gospel work. Deacon Sleeba could speak Malayalam although with a foreign accent. In 1906, Deacon Sleeba returned to Mosul, Iraq along with Deacon Mathew (Chettalathumkara) who later became Catholicos Augen. Both of them stayed at the monastery of Mor Mathai, Mosul. Mor Coorilos Elias Kudso, the Reesh Dayro, ordained Deacon Sleeba Ramban. After two weeks Ramban Sleeba was ordained Priest. In March 1908, His Holiness Patriarch Abded Aloho II ordained Kassesso Sleeba Bishop by name Osthatheos at the church of Forty Martyrs at Mosul and appointed him the delegate of the Holy See of Antioch in India. Mor Dionysius Joseph was in his old age and Mor Ivanios Murimattathil retired from his administrative duties. In these circumstances in 1908 the meeting of the representatives of the Church met and elected Kassesso Geevarghese (Vattasseril) and Ramban Paulose (Kochuparambil) to be ordained Metropolitans. They went to Mosul and the Patriarch Abded Aloho II ordained them Metropolitans at Jerusalem. The three newly ordained Bishops including the delegate, Mor Osthatheos, came to Kerala along with Ramban Augen. Mor Dionysius Joseph departed for heavenly abode on 10 June 1908. Mor Osthatheos Sleeba, the delegate of the Holy See of Antioch, carried out the administrative duties of the Church. Mor Dionysius Geevarghese Vattasseril was designated as the Malankara Metropolitan in a meeting held at the Old Seminary, Kottayam. It is in the year following his assuming the charge of Malankara Metropolitan that Mor Dionysius Geevarghese rebelled against the Holy See of Antioch. Later, Vattasseril Bishop’s rivalry against Mor Osthatheos caused Mor Osthatheos to change His Grace’s stay from Old Seminary where he had been staying for a long time. In 1910, Bishop Vattasseril initiated a move to destroy the age-old apostolic succession of St. Peter in the Church. This issue caused a problem in Arthat Valiyapally. Those who believed in the Apostolic succession of St. Peter and the supremacy of the Patriarch of Antioch wanted to establish a church at Arthat, Kunnamkulam. A few faithful executed a gift deed of land in favour of the Holy See of Antioch and the possession of the property was handed over to His Grace Mor Osthatheos Sleeba, the delegate. Mor Osthatheos Sleeba laid the foundation stone of the Arthat St. Mary’s Syrian Simhasana church on 9 October 1920. His Grace celebrated Holy mass in a temporary shed. The Holy relic of Mor Kauma brought by Mor Osthatheos healed many ailing people. Several miracles are being reported through the intercession of Mor Osthatheos. During this period His Grace founded churches at Malel Cruz and Vadavukodu. His Grace was suffering from hernia. The physical health of His Grace deteriorated and since 1927 Mor Julius Elias was helping him to discharge the duties of the delegate. On 13 March 1930 His Grace was given the unction for the sick. On 19 March 1930 at 9.00 p. m. His Grace departed for eternal rest. The mortal remains of His Grace were interred at the Arthat St. Mary’s Syrian Simhasana church founded by him on 21st March 1930. His Grace Mor Osthatheos Sleeba was declared saint by the Apostolic Bull No. E 71/2000 of the Patriarch of Antioch, Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas. Webpage on Saint: syrianchurch.org/StSl/Mor_Osthathious_Sleeba.htm
Posted on: Wed, 19 Mar 2014 03:40:44 +0000
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