Kottayam Feb 7 2006:
A touching and poignant condolence meeting was held in Kottayam
today, Sunday Feb.5, 2006 condoling the passing away of our
beloved Bava Thirumeni. In a well attended meeting held at
Baselius College, Speaker after speaker brought alive their
unfaded memories of association with the departed. In the
Presidential address, H.H. Didimos Bava Thirumeni highlighted
the warmth of affection received from Mathews II Bava . Almost
like a pet student, Bava Thirumeni attended on him and it was at
the height of that concern that the departed Bava Thirumeni
adorned his successor with the staff and chains on the day of
enthronement.
Mar Thoma Metropolitan Mar Chrisostam who inaugurated the
meeting, in his inimitable way narrated a dream he had on the
evening of January 27. God announced in heaven that He had
called to rest Baselius Mar Thoma Mathews 11 and would be
reaching heaven soon. As everybody waited, Bava Thirumeni
reached and the first two persons with whom Bava shook hands was
Yoohanon Marthoma Metropolitan and Alexander Marthoma
Metropolitan. So much was Bava’s relation ship with Mar Thoma
Church. He also confessed that Mar Thoma Church lost an eloquent
speaker for all their functions who was invited without a second
thought and now with the demise of Bava they have to sruggle to
find the right person.
Bishop Mar Powathil, higlighted the good human being in Bava
Thirumeni and unfolded his association for the last 25 years.
Bishop Sam Mathew drew the big picture of an Ecumenical stalwart
in Mar Thomas Mathews II who played a big role in settling the
Nilackel issue.
Thiruvanchoor
Radhakrishnan, the Health and Irrigation Minister of Kerala
pictured Bava Thirumeni as a big humanist. Suresh Kurup, Member
of Parliament of Kottayam, recalled with gratitude when His
Grace Mathews Mar Coorilos went to the bedside of his father who
was admiited in the Madras Medical Mission Hospital for Heart
Surgery and prayed and thereafter, the hospital authorities
treated them with extra love and concern. Sri. Narendranath
Kurup, the N.S.S. General Secretary, recalled that occasion when
Bava Thirumeni was the Chief Guest for the Mannam Birth Day
Celebration and how Bava captivated the gathering with his
eloquent speech.
Almost choked with emotion Thomas Mar Makarios Thirumeni
recalled how Bava compelled him to conduct the Thailabhishekam
for patients before Bava was taken to the Operation Theatre for
Heart Surgery in the U.S.A. Thirumeni also recalled how Bava
Thirumeni when he was Angel Achan asked him to join Othera
Dayara on frugal food. K.M. Mathew, Chief Editor , Malayala
Manorama and Dr. Alexander Karakkal also spoke on the occasion.
Fr.Dr.O.Thomas moved the condolence resolution and Sri P.C.
Abraham Padinjarekara, the Lay Trustee offered floral tributes,
Pushparchana , on the photograph of the Bava Thirumeni . The
dedication song by Fr. M.P. George added to the solemnity of the
occasion which certainly must be cherished by our Bava in the
Heavenly Abode.
( Indian Orthodox Herald News Release,
February 07, 2006 )
