Parumala Thirumeni was born on 15th June 1848 and is the first canonized saint of the Malankara Orthodox Church. He was the youngest of his parents and lost his mother, Mariam at a very young age. Later, he was under the care of his elder sister, also named Mariam. Geevarghese was foldly called as Kochaipora. He was very interested in spiritual matters, practiced lent and fasting, and used to recite Syriac hymns beautifully. This came into the attention of his uncle, Malpan Geevarghese, who led the young Kochaipora to be a qoruyo at the age of 9 and learned under the Malpan. A smallpox outbreak took the life of the Malpan, and Deacon Geevarghese, who was taking care of the Malpan also got infected with smallpox. However, he got a divine vision from St. Mary and promised to devote his life to the Lord and was miraculously healed from the disease. He was later consecrated a priest at the age of 18 in 1865, a Ramban in 1872. Later, at the young age of 29, in 1876, the Patriarch of Antioch, HH Ignatius Peter IV consecrated the Ramban as a Metropolitian – Geevarghese Mar Gregorios. He was given the charge of the Niranam Diocese. He later on took the charges of Kollam and Thumpamon as well. As he was the youngest of the newly consecrated bishops, he was fondly called as “Kochu Thirumeni”. He then started to stay in a barely inhabited island called Parumala on the banks of the Pamba river, and later built a seminary and a church. He started to be known as “Parumala Kochu Thirumeni”.
He was a man of prayer and fasting and the monastic life of St. Antony influenced him. He said that “Prayer brings truth, religious faith, honesty and respect among the people”. He also taught that “Prayer is the inspiration of childhood, the refuge of youth and peace during old age”.
He made is long term wish of visiting the Holy Land in 1895 and later wrote a travelogue about it, which is the first travelogue in Malayalam language. He was also a key member of the leadership of the church. He was the assistant of the Malankara Metropolitan at the time.
Due to the intensity of the constant fasting, his physical body became weaker and weaker, and his spirit more strong in God. Around 5 days before his death, he summoned his disciples, among them Vattasseril Malpan and Punnoose Ramban, later Geevarghese Dionysius V and Catholicose Geevarghese 2nd, and handed over the keys to the seminary etc. He remained silent for a couple of days and on the third day asked the date. When they replied, “eighteenth” in the Malayam calendar, he cried and sighed “My Lord, I must endure this pain for two more days”. He was given Kantheela on the 2nd November 1902 and His Grace submitted his spirit to the Lord by midnight by crying out aloud “My Lord”, while Punnosse Ramban and Geevarghese Ramban were reciting prayers.
Even after 120 years since, the endless number of pilgrims visiting his tomb and requesting his prayers is the greatest testimony of his faith, prayerful life, healing and great intercession. Parumala Thirumeni’s continuous prayer for our church is guiding us every day and let his prayers be a stronghold to us.
