St. Paul of Thebes – First Christian Hermit | 15th January

St. Paul of Thebes, is the first Christian hermit, was born in Thebes (Thebiad), Upper Egypt, about 228/234 A. D. and died about 340. He was distinguished from the still earlier ascetics, of whom very little is known. St Paul the monk was the first of those men who retired to the desert to spend their lives in solitude, prayer and fasting. He was soon followed by a large number of such hermits – the most notable amongst them being St Anthony.  

In his fifty third year a raven started bringing him half a loaf of bread. Ravens ministered to him, as to Prophet Elijah. Thus, the life of prayer and penance became St. Paul’s second nature, and he remained in this secret garden of delights for the remaining 90 years of his life. St. Paul was accompanied by two tamed lions, who, when he died in St. Anthony’s presence, clawed into the ground to make his grave.

O God, who willed that St Paul achieved a high degree of sanctity through a life of solitude, prayer and penance in the desert, grant that through his intercession, we, who are striving to develop in ourselves the spirit of prayer and service, may come ever closer to you in love. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen

He was born to wealthy, aristocratic, landowner parents, who died when he was 15. He was then taken care off by his married sister. He was already well educated in letters, proficient in Greek and Latin and in Christian faith. During the Caesar Decian and Valerius persecution, around 245 – 250 A.D.; when he was about 20 years, he hid in a friend’s farm. Our Lord himself had advised, “When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next.” (Matt. 10:23).

Later his brother-in-law, tried to covet his property and wealth, was about to betray him to the government, Paul fled once more, now to the wild desert. After travelling a long distance, he found a cave wherein he stayed. He retired to a desert cave, and there lived until his death. He lived by eating dates, from an ancient palm tree and drinking water from a nearby spring and wearing clothes made of palm leaves.  

God did not permit Paul to die utterly unknown to the rest of humankind. When he was 113 years, he received in his seclusion Saint Anthony, who was himself 90 years old, whom he trained to become his successor in the establishment of the hermit life. St. Paul had died while kneeling in prayer. While St. Anthony was wondering how to dig the grave without a shovel, two lions came up, mourned over the body of St. Paul, and then dug a grave for him. Their task finished; they came up to Anthony as if to seek a blessing from him. He blessed them and dismissed them. He then laid the aged saint into the grave they had dug. But he kept for himself, as a precious relic, the tunic made of palm leaves that Paul had worn. Ever after, St. Anthony would wear this tunic on the solemnities of Resurrection and Pentecost. His day is commemorated by Orthodox and Roman Catholic Church on January 15.

A prayer to St Paul the First Hermit 

Compiled by Jacob P Varghese 

Denaha - Jesus, the Voice, and the Dove - Jan 6

"And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matt. 3: 16-17; Mk. 1: 9-11, Lk. 3: 21-22, and Jn. 1: 32-34).

The Spirit of God (Holy Spirit) hovered over the water, at the beginning of the Creation of the World. Here the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove descends to anoint the Son of God. The feast of Baptism of Jesus is commonly known as Epiphany by the Western Christians and properly named Theophany (God revealed) by the Eastern Christians. Both words mean to reveal the divinity of Jesus Christ. The word ‘epiphany’ comes from two Greek words, epi and phainen, and can variously mean, ‘to shine upon’, ‘to reveal’ or ‘manifest’ and ‘Theophany’ which means ‘manifestation of God’. In our Church tradition, this day is called as ‘Denaha’, the ‘Syriac equivalent of Epiphany meaning the dawn or to shine.

We commemorate the Baptism of Jesus Christ in River Jordan, by St. John the Baptist. The feast of Denaha on 6th January is an auspicious feast, having unique and important place in the liturgical cycle of the Orthodox Churches. In the early days of Christianity, nativity of Christ, visit of magi and Lord’s baptism was celebrated together on 6th January. Later, 25th December was declared as the date for the celebration of Christmas, separating the Nativity from the Feast of Light, by twelve days.

John’s Baptism was a baptism of repentance. Jesus was without sin. Why was Jesus baptized? Why was Jesus baptized at the hands of a man who preached a baptism for the forgiveness of sins? Jesus Himself did not need baptism, however in being baptized our Lord accomplished and fulfilled many things.

a.He revealed as the Son of God (Jn. 1: 34). Jesus does not become Son of God on this day. The Holy Spirit has always rested on Him. He is revealed to us all, as the Son of God, on this day. “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” He is revealed by the Father and the Holy Spirit, as the Son of God. The time had come to reveal the Gospel through His Life, Death, Resurrection, Ascension and Glorification beginning first with His baptism.

b.The great mystery of Holy Trinity was revealed for the first time, though there were many shadows of Holy Trinity earlier. Incarnate Son, Jesus is baptized; the Father speaks (Voice); and the Holy Spirit descends (Dove). In the Old Testament times, God was only identified or revealed as Trinity, indirectly. It was at the time of baptism of Jesus in River Jordan, the Holy Trinity was revealed to the world explicitly and vividly. This is the importance of Epiphany.

c.In the opening of heaven reconciliation between Creator and creation through the Redeemer by the testimony of the Holy Spirit took place. He opened the heaven to a world separated from God through sin. The dove signaled to Noah that the God’s wrath against man had ceased. Here the Holy Spirit announces that Christ has reconciled us to God by cleansing the sin away in the waters of baptism.

d.Baptism of Jesus' was an anointment of Christ, by the Father with the Holy Spirit. In the Old Testament, prophets, priests, and kings were always anointed in some way to signify that they were chosen of God (Exodus 28:41; 29:7; I Kings 19:16). The oil used was symbolic of the Holy Ghost. Jesus was anointed by the Spirit of God Himself, instead of being anointed with oil that was symbolic of the Holy Ghost, signifying that He came to fulfill the roles of prophet, priest, and king (Psalm 45: 7-8; Isaiah 61:1).

e.To reveal Jesus to Israel (Jn. 1: 31). God has been gradually revealing Himself to the universe for ages through His prophets and high priests (Heb. 1: 1). But all these were only partial and His complete revelation came through Jesus Christ, His Son. Son is the complete manifestation of God the Father, the radiance of His glory and exact representation of His being (Heb. 1: 3).

f.He fulfilled all righteousness (Matt. 3: 15). The words for righteous in both Hebrew and Greek mean "doing what God requires; responding to the revealed will of God." Righteousness is what results when God or human beings fulfill the conditions imposed upon them by a relationship. All of this lies behind Jesus' response to John. He was informing John that the baptism would play a role in the accomplishment of the Holy Father's will. All God’s righteous requirements were fully met in Christ. Jesus is responding to the revealed will of God, participating in God's righteous work of saving God's people.

g.He revealed His Messiahship (Jn. 1: 41). The only purpose of John’s baptism was to publicly testify Jesus as Christ, the anointed, before commencement of public ministry. He came to bear witness to light, Jn. 1: 8. “I did not know him, but that he should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water” Jn. 1:31. He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, “Upon whom you see the spirit descending and remaining on him this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God,” Jn. 1: 33-34. The baptism of Jesus fulfills the need as the Messiah is identified to John the Baptist, by a special Theophany of the Holy Spirit.

h.To carry out the succession and culmination of O. T. Aaronic priesthood which John the Baptist, had inherited through his father priest Zachariah to Jesus Christ. According to Levites the transfer of priest hood can be done only after the age of 30. Remember the hymn we sing in the kukillion commemorating the departed clergy.

i.The Baptism of Jesus marks the inauguration of Jesus' earthly redemptive ministry, as well as the decline and decrease of John the Baptist's ministry.

j.Many titles have been given to Jesus: Son of David, Son of God, Messiah, Savior of the world; but now, Jesus is revealed as God's ‘Beloved One’.

k.The sacrificial offerings must be washed. This was a Jewish Law. Jesus Christ was washed in the River Jordan and gave Himself up as a sacrificial offering on Mount Calvary.

l.Since water baptism is the symbolic act of washing away and burying of sin, Jesus’ baptism symbolized our sins he would wash away and bury with Himself. St. Gregory of Nazianzus says that by entering into the waters of Jordan God purified the whole element of water, which suffered defilement by the fall of man, thus reverting to the original status.

m.He entered the waters, sanctifying and hallowing the water itself. During the service on Denaha (and in the Sacrament of Holy Baptism) in Orthodox Churches, there is the sanctifying of waters by invocation of the Holy Spirit that appeared in the form of a dove over Christ at the time of His Baptism. The believers receive sanctified water at the end of the special service of Epiphany and with it sanctify the homes of the faithful. While some preserve it for the entire year partaking of it at times of illness and other personal or family adversities.

n.In baptism we are promised that same Spirit which descended upon Jesus in the form of a dove - God's Spirit.

o.He identified with His people by descending into the waters, with them.

p.The raising of Jesus from the waters of Jordan, heaven’s opening, the Spirit descending and the Father’s voice from heaven symbolized His coming, Resurrection, Ascension and Glorification.

q.Tradition says that when Lord Jesus stepped in the Jordan water, darkness was drawn back and brightness came over the water. Thus the light of the world, our Lord came to the world to eradicate the darkness of all types.

The Baptism of Jesus was a very public one and was recorded for all generations to know about and understand. 

                                           - Compiled by Jacob P Varghese 

Coonan Cross Oath - 03 January ( Koonen Kurishu Sathyam )

The Coonan Cross Oath was taken in 1653, Saint Thomas Christians, reacting to the persecution of their Church by the Portuguese colonials and Roman Catholic Church who sought to bring it under Portuguese issued by the Pope of Rome. Those who swore the oath vowed that neither they nor their descendants to come would have anything to do with the Portuguese and that they would never bow down before them. The Saint Thomas Christians remained in communion with the Orthodox Church of the East until their encounter with the Portuguese Catholics in 1498. With the establishment of Portuguese power in parts of India, clergy of that nationality, in particular certain members of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), attempted to Latinize the Indian Christians. They ruled the Christians with an iron of rod and attempted to abolish Suryani language and introduce Latin. Those who differed in the minutest trifle were persecuted.

On hearing about the persecution suffered by his flock in Malankara, the Patriarch of Antioch, Mar Ignatius Ahathalla, set out to Malankara in 1652. He arrived in Surat and proceeded to St. Thomas Mount, Mylapore. He was captured by the Portugese enroute and was taken to Madras. Two Syrian Christian deacons from Malankara, Chengannur Itty and Kuravilanagad Kezhakkadethu Kurian, who were on pilgrimage to Mylapore heard about the incident. They managed to meet Mar Ahathalla and secured a letter from him appointing Archdeacon Thomas as the episcopa of Malankara [with the condition that a proper ordination would be obtained as soon as the situation permitted]. In the meantime, Mar Ahathalla was brought to Cochin. On hearing about his arrival, hoards of Syrian Christians rushed to the Cochin Port to free their holy father. They were unable to free Mar Ahathalla. He was taken to Goa in a ship and burnt on the stake. But news spread that he was drowned in the Arabian Sea with a millstone tied to his neck. As the news of this cruelty spread, the Syrian Christians were on the verge of an emotional outburst.

On Friday, 3rd January 1653 AD at Mattancherry Church yard, under the leadership of Archdeacon Thomas and a Knanaya priest, Anjilimmoottil Ittythomman Kathanar (Rev. Itty Thomas), about 25000 Syrian Christians held on to a rope tied to a leaning cross (an ancient Assyrian cross that had become leaning with the passage of centuries) and pledged to expel the Jesuits, never surrender to any ecclesiastical authority or Portuguese Archbishop of Goa, Francis Garcia under the Roman yoke, but always remain to the Archdeacon until they got a bishop from the Eastern Church, maintaining their ancient rites and traditions. Rev. Itty Thomas was the main organizer of the rally for Koonan Cross Oath. According to the tradition out od the 2,00,000 Malankara Nazaranis only 400 remained with Roman Archbishop Garcia. This historic event is known as the Koonen Kurishu Sathyam (The Leaning Cross Oath, The Slanting/Bent Cross Oath). There began the division in the Church of the St. Thomas Christians which remained monolithic till that time.

Immediately after the Coonan Cross oath, they assembled at Alangatt, and twelve priests of Syrian community consecrated the Archdecon Thomas of Pakalomattom family, who had received a order of authority from Patriarch Ahathalla and declared him the episcopa of Malankara, giving him the name Mar Thoma I (1653 - 1670), the first in the long line up to Mar Thoma IX till 1816. He was thus the first indigenous bishop of Malankara church. And once again, Malankara Church became the integral part of the Syrian Orthodox Church, adopting its rituals, rites and liturgy as before.

This revolt thus split the Church into two: one group continued to recognize the prelates appointed by Rome (Pazhayacoor Suryanis) and the other broke away from Rome (Puthencoor Suriyani). This latter group came to be known as the Syrian Orthodox Church of India. Those remained with Romans came to be known as Syrian Roman Catholics (now Syro-Malabar Rite, with liturgical language as Syriac). 

Compiled by Jacob P Varghese

03 January- Commemorating His Holiness Baselios Geevarghese II Catholicose and Malankara Metropolitan (16 June 1874-03 January 1964). Entombed at Catholicate Palace, Kottayam.

In the words of His Grace Dr. Paulose Mar Gregorios Metropolitan(of blessed memory):

“Kallasseril Bava (His Holiness Baselios Geevarghese II Catholicose and Malankara Metropolitan) was a Metropolitan whom I respected most. He was a spiritual man to the core. When His Holiness makes entry into the Holy Altar, we realize that Thirumeni sees God. His Holiness was extremely conscious that he was standing before God. He was a Metropolitan who led a holy life being aware of presence of God….For the right progress of our Church, we must have Metropolitans like these. On the other hand, the notion that Metropolitans are symbols of power and authority, have established lots of institutions, have constructed many buildings (I too have constructed a few buildings) are all senseless. These do not stand as their positives. 

When they stand before God at the end, there would not be any queries about the number of buildings constructed. The main thing is your spiritual life must be a life of prayer for all the community and you must be a symbol of the presence of Christ. Life of Metropolitans must be such that the believers feel presence of Christ in them. Priests also should be partakers in this experience. Believers must have the feeling of Christ when they see a priest. This is very important. When there are priests and Metropolitans possessing holiness and love, Church progresses. Church can have no progress with buildings, money or structure. Spiritual quality is what counts.” (Ref: A Pilgrimage to The Light, Joice Thottackad, Nov 2020, Gregory of India Study Circle, Pg 405).

By the prayers of our holy father among the saints- His Holiness Baselios Geevarghese II Catholicose and Malankara Metropolitan, Lord have mercy upon us and help us.

In Christ,

Rincy John