LL Mar Yuyakim Koorilose – Sep 2

Yuyakkim Mar Koorilose was born in the Hbab village of Turkey in February 1810, as the son of ‘Malkibar Israel’. He was called in childhood, as Yuyakkim (Joachim). He had 5 brothers named Elia, Israel, Mordechai, Zakariah, and Gabriel and two sisters named Satta and Hedna.  He was ordained a Deacon on August 6, 1839 and very soon tonsured a monk. Patriarch, Elias II appointed him as the secretary to him. He continued till his ordination as Metropolitan at the ancient Deyrul-Saffron Monastery (Kurkumo Dayro) on 18 February 1845.

In 1846 Patriarch deputed his former secretary, Metropolitan Mar Koorilos Yuyakkim, to take care of the Church in Malabar in its struggle against the protestant missionaries and also to investigate the alleged reformist inclination of the bishop Mar Athanasius. In august 1846, he reached Malabar. When Mar Koorilose initiated stern actions against divisive forces, the British rulers of India who under influence from the European missionaries, caused serious hardships for him. In 1848 he was deported from the states of British Travancore and Cochin under the influence of these protestant missionaries who feared that even the presence of the Metropolitan would be a great obstacle in attaining their goals. However, since he was armed with the power of God, no forces could ban him for long; after a few years of exile he was back. His life in India was always of tension and struggles. In 1865 he got a sincere companion in Mar Dionysius Joseph Pulikottil, who was ordained by the then Patriarch, in his struggle against the influential European missionaries.

Mar Koorilose Yuyakkim was a highly educated person in Theology and Holy Scriptures. He was an excellent speaker, as well as a master in Syriac music and calligraphy. He has written many letters and poems in Syriac. In fact, he was the first to help in publishing some of our Church’s prayer books in Malayalam in 1859. St. Gregorios Chathuruthil, popularly known as Parumala Thirumeni, had his theological and Syriac studies under Mar Koorilos Yuyakkim. Parumala Thirumeni travelled extensively with Mar koorilos to various Churches as his secretary. Later it was Mar Koorilos who elevated Chathuruthil Geevarghese (St. Gregorios of Parumala) to the order of Kassissa and Corepiscopa.

Having good knowledge in medicine, many people used to approach the Metropolitan for treatment. There are many stories about the instances where people were cured of many deadly diseases. There was a general belief that abundant Godly gift is bestowed on him due to his prayerful life. As the time passed this belief got strengthened and after his death his tomb became a place of pilgrimage. It is this faith that is bringing many to the tomb of Mar Koorilose Yuyakkim.

After hard struggles and sincere services for our Church in India, in different ways, spiritual and cultural, the Mar Koorilos Yuyakkim, at the age of 56, departed from this world on September 2, 1874.   It is said that His Eminence was aware about the actual time of his death.  A few hours before the time of his death, he took bath and entered the Church wearing all the vestments.  It was just before midnight.  He then chanted the ‘Viswasapramanam’ (Nicene Creed) thrice on his own and later lied down in the Church. A few hours later, at 3 in the morning, the Holy Father left his abode.  The mortal remains of Yuyakkim Mar Koorilos were later laid to rest at the Mulanthuruthy Mar Thoman Church where he had, by his own choice, spent his last days.