Do you know what is the position of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church's Holy Synod and/or its Catholicos Moran Mor Baselios Mar Thoma Didymos I regarding Mother Susan and stigmata in general?
It doesn't matter if the language of documents aren't in English - if it's Malayalam, Syriac, or Hindi; we can forward it to the appropriate people to translate for us.
The Catholicose, the Bishops and the priests of the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church (thank you for your clarifications about that for the members of the forum) have given entire and complete approbation to both Mother Susan and the phenomenon of the stigmata. They have all witnessed the ongoing passion ecstasies innumerable times over the decades. Both the hierarchy and the clergy are in frequent attendance at Mar Gregorios Ashram and are regularly in touch with the beloved Mother. They often approach Mother to seek God's guidance and consolation in their difficulties.
After Mother Susan received the stigmata when she was 13 years old, it was the local Bishop who favored and protected her. Initially, as you would expect, there was a period of intense testing and discernment of the phenomenon according to their standards. Their conclusions were always favorable to Mother Susan. They asseverate that the miracle of the stigmata is of Divine origin. Mother Susan was placed in a Catholic convent as that was the best place at the time to educate here.
The Catholicose Baselius Marthoma Didymus I also is entirely favorable to Mother Susan and the Mar Gregorios Asram. The Synod of Bishops also. Frequently the Bishops and the Catholicoses attend and participate in religious functions and feast days at Mar Gregorios Ashram.
For many years, when Mother has traveled outside the country, she always has a letter of recommendation and approval from the Catholicose to ease introductions into the foreign Churches.
When Father T. K. Mathew, now Monsignor or Rembachen, was elevated to that higher church office about two years ago, 5 bishops of the Holy Synod concelebrated the Holy Mass (Qurbana). About 1750 people and pilgrims were in attendance.
Because the orthodox priests of the Malankara do marry and must support their families and because the church remains poor and can provide only limited support, Mother Susan has for years, through the generosity of her benefactors been able to provide support for them through stipends for Holy Mass.
When I became involved several years ago, the papal representatives of the Catholic Near East Welfare Agency met Mother Susan at my requeat. They are entirely favorable to her although they make no comment on the stigmata. I speak to those representatives in both New York and Fort Cochin, India on a regular basis. We are quite friendly.
I am expecting shortly to have a copy of the official letter of approval and recommendation issued by the Catholicose. I will make an effort to post a copy of that.
In the case of the Roman Catholic stigmatist Saint Padre Pio, the Vatican and diocesan hierarchy did persecute and sequester him for years before he was liberated even to perform his priestly functions. That has never been the case with Mother Susan. She has always been sheltered and protected and encouraged by and deeply invovlved with the hierarchy and clergy. Many regard her as their spiritual mother or Ammachy.
This has been rather long-winded, I know. The history is fascinating and I am privy to a great deal of it. I hope that I have satisfactorily anwered your questions.
"I pray that they all may be one, Father, as I am in You and You are in me." The Lord Jesus the Christ
Do you know what started the squabble in India between the Malakara Syrians and the Malankara Syriac? I do know that at one time when the Roman Catholics were threatening and persecuting the Malakara Syrians, Mar Gregorios did go to Antioch with some of the his Church's treasure to seek protection.
I know that the St. Thomas shrine, one of the most ancient and renowned of the Christian churches in India is presently in the hands of the Syrian Jacobite CHurch of Malabar.
MAR GREGORIOS ("MAR" MEANS SAINT IN INDIAN) IS THE ONLY AND PRINCIPLE SAINT OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCH IN INDIA.
Here is the hagiography of Mar Gregorios from the site of the Malankara Syriac Orthodox Church, a canonical Orthodox CHurch under the jurisdiction of the Syriac Patriarch Of Antioch.
Quote
About Parumala Thirumeni (Mor Gregorios)
Thirumeni was blessed with the order of 'Korooyo' at the tender age of ten by Palakunnath Mor Athanasius at the Karingachira St.George church. At the age of 18, he was elevated as 'Shamshono' and later as 'Kassisso' and 'Corepiscopa' by Yuyakim Mor Kurillos, the then Patriarchal delegate of the Holy See of Antioch. Later he stayed at the Vettikkal Dayro and led a strict monastic life. In 1872 he was ordained as Ramban Geevarghese (Monk-Priest) by Pulikottil Mor Dionysius.
As the majority of the people in Malankara then were disturbed by the new protestant doctrines propagated by Mor Athanasius, a meeting was held in Sep 1872 under the chairmanship of Chathuruthy Geevarghese Ramban and prayed to the Patriarch His Holiness Peter III to save the Church from the crisis.
His Holiness Mor Ignatius Peter III, the Patriarch of Antioch arrived in 1875 and convened the famous Mulunthuruthy Synod. Patriarch appointed Geevarghese Ramban as his private secretary as well as interpreter. In less than a year the Patriarch's esteem of the Ramban grew so high that His Holiness decided to elevate him to the order of a bishop.
On 3rd and 10th Dec 1876, the Patriarch consecrated four Metropolitans at the St.Thomas North Paravur church. 'Mor Gregorios' was the youngest of all and was only 28 and hence came to be known by the endearing name "Kochu Thirumeni". He was born and brought up at his ancestral house, 'Chathuruthy' in Mulunthuruthy, hence is also often called as "Chathuruthy Thirumeni". The name 'Mor Gregorios' entrusted on him on his ordination by His Holiness the Patriarch, was as a special privilege; as it being the honorable title of the Metropolitan (Archbishop) of Jerusalem diocese under the Holy See of Antioch.
At the behest of Mor Gregorios, all the newly ordained Metropolitans undertook a forty day lent at Vettikkal Dayro before assuming charge of their respective dioceses. As Metropolitan of Niranam diocese, Mor Gregorios stayed at Parumala Seminary. In his bishopric, he established various churches and was the motivator to establish schools in different parts of Malankara. During this period he was closely and intimately associated with varied activities and development of the Malankara Jacobite Syrian Church. He was admired for his organizing ability and was very popular with the masses. Later he administered the Thumpamon and Kollam dioceses also. His Grace tried to preach the Holy Gospel of Our Lord to the backward communities and many were accepted into our fold. He also worked hard to uplift this marginalized people.
While staying at Parumala Seminary, he taught Syriac to deacons. His ability to tack Syriac hymns was extraordinary. Even in the midst of administrative duties in the dioceses, he gave maximum importance to prayers and lent. He used to get up at 4 am for prayer. His Grace observed prayers seven times a day as taught by the Holy Church. He was very particular about observation of lent with fasting, particularly on Fridays and Wednesdays.
His Grace's long standing desire to visit the Holy Land was fulfilled in 1895, nineteen years after his enthronement as Metropolitan. During his Pilgrimage to Jerusalem, he stayed at the "Sehion Malika" (Monastery of St.Mark), the diocesan headquarters of the Syrian Orthodox Metropolitan and visited almost all the important places of Christendom and celebrated the Holy Qurbono of the Passion Week at the altars of the Suryani Church. On his return, His Grace collected a certain amount from all the Parishes in Malankara and sent a Silver Cross as offering to the Jerusalem Church.
At the age of 54, Thirumeni became seriously sick. He knew that his end was near. While the Metropolitans and priests and others were praying, Kochu Thirumeni uttered "My Lord" and closed his eyes. Kochu Thirumeni, passed away on 2nd November 1902 and his mortal remains were entombed at the St.Peter's Church, Parumala. http://www.mgsosa.com/
There is an Archdioces of the Malankara Syriac Orthodox Church of North America which has 22 parish in the USA and 2 in Canada, both in Toronto. They have a church magazine in English on line here: http://www.socdigest.org/ called Shroro: The Syriac Orthodox Christian Digest
Thank you so much, Miller, for the information. I read the history once, but with the English translation of the Malayalam and all the unfamiliar words it was difficult to retain.
I did not know that it was the protestants causing the trouble at that time. In downtown Fort Kochin, about a 45 minute drive from Mar Gregorios Ashram, is the historic Church of Saint Francis of Assisi. It is absolutely fascninating to see its history. Vasco de Gama, the explorer who conquered some of India for the Roman Catholics was buried there in 1503. Then when the British conquered the Anglicans took it over. Also interesting is that now many of the fundmentalist protestant sects have established charitable institutions in that area, Pentecostals and the like.
You know, Mother Susan's grandfather, an attorney, was a friend of Mar Gregorios.
When God directed the stigmatist to go to the district Mulanthuruthy in Kerala, India to establish the Mar Gregorios Ashram, it was because her patron Saint, Mar Gregorios had died there. Mother Susan was born and raised in the Parumala district where Mar Gregorios died. Here family still resides there where the tomb of Mar Gregorios is. It was there in Parumala that the stigmata first appeared on Good Friday in the local Malakara Church.
Mother Susan was given some of the sacred relics of Mar Gregorios. These are preserved and enshrined and venerated near the altar at the Mar Gregorios Ashram which she founded. After Holy Mass (Qurbana) Mother venerates the relics. Even at her age - she will be 81 in July of this year - she does prostrations. I don't know how she gets back up on her feet. They are always bandaged.
Thanks again for clearing of that piece of history for me.
NOTICE: In addition to my devotion to and contacts with the living Orthodox stigmatist, Mother Susan of India, I have also maintained an abiding interest over many years with the life of Saint Padre Pio, the renowned stigmatist of the Roman Catholic Church.
At the beginning of March, I was informed that the body of this stigmatist, already canonized, had been secretly exhumed from his crypt in the Church of San Giovanni Rotondo in the south of Italy. The exhumation was ordered by the Vatican's Congregation for the Causes of Saints.
My conversations with the Franciscan Capuchin organization in Italy have indicated to me that the mortal remains of Saint Pio were found in a remarkably incorrupt state some 40 years after his death. The Archibishop of Manfredonia, who observed the exhumation, noted in particular that the hands which bore the sacred wounds of Our Lord for some fifty years appeared fresh, "as if they had just been manicured". The limbs were remarkably supple. And the face and beard remained largely intact. There was some damage to the skull due to the fact that the plaster inside his crypt was still somewhat moist when the crypt was sealed.
These relics have been taken under guard to a secret location where they are being readied for the planned public veneration.
My information is that plans are for a public veneration of the preserved remains of Saint Pio in the Church of San Giovanni Rotondo where Padre Pio live his religious life and apostolate. The viewing will begin on or around April 29th. I am able to post updated information once I have it from Italy.
Further information is available at these websites:
www.padrepio.it [padrepio.it] - the official website of the Franciscan Friars Capuchin Minor of the Province of Sant' Angelo and San Pio
www.padrepio.org [padrepio.org] - the American organization will have simultaneous events which feature some of the relics of the Saint which were gifted to them by the Capuchin Fathers.
Mother Susan, the living orthodox stigmatist of India, is aware of the Italian stigmatist Saint and I have apprised her of these events.
An incorrect website was listed in the previous post. The correct website is:
www.teleradiopadrepio.it [teleradiopadrepio.it] - for official news and internet broadcasts regarding the exhumation and planned public veneration of the incorrupt mortal remains of Saint Padre Pio, stigmatist. Italian language only.
Do you know what started the squabble in India between the Malakara Syrians and the Malankara Syriac? I do know that at one time when the Roman Catholics were threatening and persecuting the Malakara Syrians, Mar Gregorios did go to Antioch with some of the his Church's treasure to seek protection.
Dear Richard, I think the term "Malankara Syriac/Syrian" causes more confusion to readers. For our purposes let's just call the autonomous church in India the "Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church". And the one under the Patriarch of Antioch the "Malankara Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church". Agreed?
I know the quarrels started with the native India Church bishops claiming independence and the Syrian Patriarch claiming temporal and spiritual authority. Eventually these spilled into conflict to the parish level, with individuals choosing sides.
As to Mar Gregorios of Parumala, as far as I know, in his time there was no persecution of either Orthodox church by Roman Catholics. St. Gregorios did go to Antioch, become a monk and personal secretary to the Patriarch of Antioch.
Both Orthodox jurisdictions have parishes in the USA and Europe, the US bishop for the Malankara Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church is His Grace Mar Tithos Yeldho. The US bishop for the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church is His Grace Mathews Mar Barnabas.
Thank you for your clarifications. You are correct and I do agree. Please forgive my confusion. I still have trouble with all the Malayalam terms and that sometimes throws me off and sabotages by general comprehension.
Did you see the post on the same thread from Miller? I was incorrect in stating that the difficulty was from the Roman Catholics. That was centuries earlier during the Portuguese invasion. Miller posted a wonderful short biography of Mar (Mor- variant) Gregorios. It was the Protestant influence which precipitated the upset during the life of Mar Gregorios. The accounts that I have read indicate that there was quite a bit of violence and warring in the street and Mar Gregorios' reputation rose as he was able to have a quieting and calming influence of the mobs. Apparently he was quite monkish and really prepared a solitary to a public life.
For my part, while I have absorbed some of the history, I intend to return to India soon to serve God at Mother Susan's Mar Gregorios Ashram. I have excellent relations with the Catholics at the papal agency level and also with Hindus and Moslems in the historic town of Fort Cochin which is nearby. Although the words and history and ideas are important, I believe that actions are preferable to words.
Also, thank you for your information about the inter-communion agreements. I was unaware of that.
I noticed that you are from Steubenville. I studied theology at the Franciscan University of Steubenville in the '80's and remain in touch with my Dominican and Franciscan friends there. They are aware of the orthodox stigmatist about whom I have made the postings. Please send me a PM so that I can put you in touch with them.
In addition to the videos about Mother Susan, the living Orthodox stigmatist which I created and posted on YouTube, (noted by "Chladean Catholic" in a post above) and in addition to the information which I posted above at this Forum concerning the recent exhumation and upcoming public veneration of the incorrupt mortal remains of Saint Padre Pio, I would like to share with you this video of Saint Pio's last celebration of Holy Mass in the Church of San Giovanni Rotondo in the south of Italy.
It is of interest that it has been verified and published that the sacred wounds which he bore for 50 years did heal over in the last days of his life.
After the Mass, Padre Pio, then 81 years old and feeble, was attended by his Capuchin brothers. Late in the evening, in bed, he called his brother who was nearby and asked to make his confession. He asked forgiveness from all his brothers for the trouble he had caused them. His breathing became labored and the doctor was called. As he had always suffered from asthma, they assumed it was one of his attacks and administered a shot. Padre Pio did not respond. Realizing that it was more serious they did administer emergency cardiac treatment to try to revive him. As he went to his eternal reward, he repeated "Jesu, Maria".
The stigmatist Saint Padre Pio said, "I will not enter heaven until all my children have gone in before me".
Mother Susan, the living stigmatist of the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church has told me that the Holy Spirit told her of her spiritual children, "We are all one body. In the next life we will all be together".
So be it. Amen. Ameen
Here is the link to the video of Saint Pio's last Mass:
I hope I will not offend you if I say that this type of spirituality is not something I as an Orthodox Christian can embrace. I am not, of course, passing any judgment on the sanctity of either Padre Pio or Mother Susan, but the phenomenon of stigmata is not something which seems to fit easily into Orthodoxy. Orthodox spirituality has a different, perhaps more sober, character and is distrustful of emotionalism. I hope that does not sound dismissive or triumphalist, before becoming Orthodox almost 5 years ago I was Roman Catholic, so have experienced both traditions. It appears from your videos that Mother Susan is doing an excellent work with the poor and the disadvantaged, but the stigmatic aspect is something with which I have to confess to being uncomfortable.
Is it your Orthodoxy that makes this type of thing uncomfortable for you, or is it uncomfortable for you personally? Some people are uneasy watching the Passion of the Christ, but I don't think its because of their Church affiliation but individual personality.
The Byzantine Forum provides
message boards for discussions focusing on Eastern Christianity (though
discussions of other topics are welcome). The views expressed herein are
those of the participants and may or may not reflect the teachings of the
Byzantine Catholic or any other Church. The Byzantine Forum and the
www.byzcath.org site exist to help build up the Church but are unofficial,
have no connection with any Church entity, and should not be looked to as
a source for official information for any Church. All posts become
property of byzcath.org. Contents copyright - 1996-2024 (Forum 1998-2024). All rights
reserved.
