LL HG Mathews Mar Barnabas – Dec 9

LL HG Mathews Mar Barnabas was one among the twins born to Kuruvilla and Mariamma, a couple of the Kidangethu Thombra family in Kallarackaparampil house at Vengola on August 9, 1924. Mathukutty, as he was fondly called in childhood, was the youngest one among four brothers and two sisters. His sister, Rev. Sr. Mary, was one of the founding nuns of the Bethlehem Convent in Kizhakkambalam, near Alwaye.

It is said that Mathukutty had the inclinations to become a monk, at the age of seven, and started to practice vegetarianism. Young Mathukutty and his twin brother used to stay in the Gethsemane monastery (Dayara) at Piramadam, near Muvattupuzha during their vacation, while his peers would seek the pleasure of games and other recreation. Here they experienced the monastic life under the guidance of their uncle Rev. Fr. K. P. Paulose, a then well known orator and scholar. His Grace’s grandfather and uncle were Orthodox priests who were of good learning and leadership. Their earnestness to the service of the church and dedication to the Orthodox Christian way of life inspired the young Mathukutty, who then accepted the monastic life. HG’s mother also inspired him profoundly. She was very pious and devoted woman, who would do anything for the church and faith. Her uncompromising habit of fasting and love for the poor, made a deep impression in the mind of her son.

He was ordained as Qorooyo by HH Moran Mar Baselios Geevarghese II, Catholicos of the East, at his home parish, St. Thomas Cheriapally at Thuruthiply Church in 1943. LL HG Augen Mar Timothios Metropolitan ordained him as Deacon at Moovattupuzha Aramana Chapel and in 1951 he was ordained as Priest by Metropolitan Augen Mar Thimotheos (His Holiness Catholicos Baselios Augen I. Rev. Fr. K. K. Mathews celebrated the first Holy Eucharist at St. George Orthodox Church, Kadamattam. He was elected as a Bishop designate by the Malankara Syrian Christian Association held at Mavelikkara on 16th May 1977. On 15th May 1978, he was consecrated as an Episcopa (Bishop) by L.L. H.H. Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Mathews I, Catholicos at Pazhanji Church with the with the ecclesiastical title Mathews Mar Barnabas and in Feb 1981 His Grace was elevated as a Metropolitan and appointed as assistant bishop of the Angamaly and Kottayam Dioceses. In 1982 he was appointed as the metropolitan of the newly formed Idukki Diocese. In 1992, H.G. Mathews Mar Barnabas was appointed as the diocesan metropolitan of American Diocese.

As a Deacon, he was a teacher at Kurppumpady M.G. M. High School in 1947. He taught there for two years and continued to teach for another two years at the MD Seminary High School, Kottayam, until he was ordained to priesthood. He also was a lecturer in Lecturer in Greek, Church History and Counseling at the Orthodox Theological Seminary at Kottayam for five years. During this period (1967-1972) he was the Resident Faculty Member at the Seminary and full-time Warden. He also cherished the years when he served as Chaplain in the Kolenchery Medical Mission Hospital from 1972-1978.

His Grace was the shepherd of the various Dioceses in Kerala for 14 years and in the Dioceses in USA and Canada for 18 years. Metropolitan Mar Barnabas had been the Shepherd to Kottayam, Angamaly and Idukki Dioceses. He became the first Metropolitan of the newly formed Idukki Diocese on 1st June 1982. Under His Grace’s leadership in the newly formed Idukki Diocese, a Diocesan Center and Metropolitan’s Residence, a small and simple Aramana was erected at Kunkiripetty. He led that Diocese efficiently and organized new parishes and visited the flock regularly. The Idukki Medical Mission at Nettithozhu is another significant achievement for the Church which was under His Grace’s leadership. Along with the administration of the Diocese, His Grace served as the President of Akhila Malankara Marth Mariyam Samajam, Balika Samajam, Malankara Sabha Masika, OSSAE, Abandonment movement of liquor, the organization to enhance the moral values etc. and enabled them all to grow systematically and faster. He was the Vicar of the churches at Secunderabad (1951-’55), Valayanchirangara (1955-’57), Calcutta (1957-’61), and Jabalpur (1961 -’63.). While he was the Vicar in Calcutta, he started congregations in Patna, Darbanga, Kharakpur, Asensol, Durgapur, Rourkela, Sindri, and Ranchi.

Thirumeni was the first Metropolitan of the newly formed “North East American Diocese.” Mar Barnabas is instrumental for the multifarious growth of the Indian Orthodox Church in USA and Canada in the period between 1992 and 2009. Mar Barnabas has authored more than 25 enduring and scholarly books in English and Malayalam languages. ‘A hand book of Holy Eucharist: A meditative study’ is the first book. ‘Prayers for various occasions’ is another remarkable book. Another important work is the ‘meditations for all the days of a year.’ In 2011 His Grace has published his small autobiography with the title ‘Beneficence of God’

HG chose his name to be Barnabas at the time of his consecration after St. Barnabas who accompanied St. Paul during his missionary journey, a name that fits this bishop, because of his fervor for the holy Gospel of the Lord. A Metropolitan, who did not carry a golden staff or a golden cross, but following the Lord’s simplicity, he held a staff and Cross made up of wood. A Metropolitan at the age of 54, proved the fullness of his conviction, journeying in the path of the Cross winning many hearts of the faithful, by his simple but meaningful life style with piety and devotion. HG, whose life was an open book, lived on simple frugal food; led a model life giving priority for hard work, benevolence and encouragement in the public service. His Grace tasted and enjoyed the streams of the mercies and compassions of Lord His Grace had to face the fierce tribulations and afflictions of health. His Grace submitted all of them to God Almighty and faced them calmly and patiently.

A man of prayer in close constant communion with God accepted the virtues of life like love, endurance, patience as the mark and sign of his shepherd-ship all along his life. He never could kept any grudge for anyone, but talked straight and criticized anyone with a ‘nothing to lose attitude’, regardless of his face or position. Bandaging the wounded, visiting the sick and the needy was a way of his life; whose actions spoke louder than words. His compassion for the sick and suffering is well known. Nothing prevents him from visiting the sick people when he visits the parishes. He always traveled light with simple possessions. His life-motto was helping others. He put his heart and soul to live his divine call, a true shepherd, very vigilant about his calling. This enabled to fill the minds and hearts of so many with odor of simple life and gentleness of pious and distinguished life. His austere and simple way of life always earned him immense respect from everyone who meets him. His humility is such that he never holds on to the high esteem of “Episcopacy”. His needs are few and so, he is never a burden for the people whom he leads.

HG Mar Barnabas returned back to home land Kerala on May 25, 2011, to the monastery of St. Kuriakose in Pampady, Kerala. His Grace Mathews Mar Barnabas moved on from this world on Sunday December 9th, 2012. His Grace is entombed at his home parish, Sts. Peter & Paul Orthodox Church, Valayanchirangara, Kerala, India.

His Grace’s example of love, prayer, and charity continues to reign in the hearts of his spiritual children. May his holy intercession before Christ our God, be a fortress for our Church, the Diocese, and our families.

May the precious memory of our most beloved Father in Christ, His Grace Mathews Mar Barnabas, Metropolitan be eternal!