LL Paulose Mar Severios – Mar 17

Paulose Mar Severios was born on 6 November 1910, to Ittoop (Kunjittoop, Kunjittappan), Mulayirikkal of St Mary’s Church, Cherai and Elijiya (Elachi), Vallathukaran, Nedumbassery. He was affectionately called Kunju at home and he had two brothers, Yacoub and Varghese. Paulose used to stammer in his childhood and started talking as well as walking only by the age of three. He attended school only when he was eleven years old and for the next three years, he learned Syriac from Fr. Varghese, Murimattom, the parish priest of Ayyampilly Church. When he was fourteen, he joined Rama Varma Union School, Cherai to pursue English education.

Mar Athanasius Paulose of Alwaye ordained him deacon (Kooroyo) at St. George Church, Arakkunnam in 1926. He continued his High School education thereafter and passed school final examination in 1929. He shifted his stay to Thrikkunnath Seminary, Alwaye as desired by Paulose Mar Athanasius. Deacon Geevarghese Vayaliparambil and Deacon Paulose Mulayirikkal were classmates at the Seminary. He improved his knowledge in Syriac under the tutorship of Malpan M. T. Ittira. Mar Athanatius ordained him priest in 1930.

Father Paulose became an expertise in the rendition of Syriac songs and transcribing Syriac books. He also assist the junior deacons in their studies. Fr. M. I. Paulose, Mulayirikkal and Fr. M. Kuriakose, Vanchithattil were elevated to the order of Rambans by Mar Athanasius Paulose at Thrikkunnath Seminary, Alwaye on 19 August 1934. Rev. Paulose Ramban shifted his stay to Koratty in 1939 and constructed ‘Sinai Ashram’ in the name of ‘Mar Kuriakose Sahado’. The Syrian Christians in Mambra used to go to Thabore Church in Peechanikad to participate in the Holy Eucharist until then. A Church as well as a church building came up during his five years stay at Koratty.

Mar Athanasius Paulose of Alwaye, the spiritual mentor of Paulose Ramban, endeavoured to lift him to the rank of the Metropolitan. He was elected to the office of Metropolitan in 1944 at the representative meeting of the Kochi diocese held at Karingachira Church.  Even though there were some impediments for the same the Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem I consecrated him under the name Mar Severios and Fr. Geevarghese, Vayaliparambil under the name Mar Gregorius at the St. Mary’s Church, Homs, Syria on 4 August 1946.  For sixty years from 1886 to 1946 (at the demise of Mar Deevannasios Shem’vun), the Cochin diocese was under the administration of Malankara metropolitans. Hence, the diocese had no assets or institutions of its own. The diocese had rejuvenation from the time Mar Severios took up the reins of diocesan administration.

On 28 February 1951, laid the foundation stone of Sion Seminary at Koratty and the construction work started and was inaugurated on 17 April 1958. Mar Paulose could acquaint himself with many in Malankara due to his stay and training with Mar Athanasius at Alwaye. He established a strong friendship with the delegate of Antioch, Mar Yulios Elias Qoro. Mar Severios arrived on 14 March 1962 at Kunnamkulam by night to conduct the feast of Mar Ostahatheos Sleeba on 19 March. Mar Severios walked to Arthat Valiya Pally, on 16 March 1962, when he experienced chest pain on the way and returned to Simhasana Church on Saturday 17 March and he succumbed to it. His mortal remains were interred on the right side of the Arthat Puthen Palli. His commemoration is observed on 17 March.