Pages from History:- Birth of Bartholomew Ziegenbalg (1682)
10 June, 1682: Birth of Bartholomew Ziegenbalg.
Ziegenbalg was born in a little Saxony town called Pulsnitz in southeast Germany. His parents were God fearing Christians with a missionary outlook.
With the help of King Frederick IV of Denmark, Ziegenbalg and his friend started their sea journey to India on 29 Nov 1705 and reached the coast of present Tamil Nadu, a place called Tranquebar on 9 July 1706.
They were the first protestant Missionaries to India and hence 9th July is celebrated as the birthday of Protestant Missions in India. Ziegenbalg passed away on 23 Feb 1719.
Pages from History: William Carey passes away (1834)
9 June, 1834: William Carey often called “the father of modern Protestant missions” dies, having spent 41 years in India without a furlough. His mission could count only about 700 converts, but he had laid a foundation of Bible translations, education, and social reform.
He also inspired the missionary movement of the nineteenth century, especially with his cry, “Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God “. As per his will he was buried in the Serampore Cemetery with the following inscription on the tomb stone “William Carey, Born 17 Aug 1761, Died 9 June, 1834; A wretched, poor and helpless worm, on thy kind arms I fall”.
William Carey: The Shoemaker Who Became the Founder of Modern Missions; (John Brown Myers; London 1887)
William Carey’s tombstone at the Serampore Christian burial grounds (Photo from http://www.careyfamilynetwork.co.uk)
Pages from History : 6 June, 1844: Formation of YMCA
6 June, 1844: Formation of Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA).
The Young Men’s Christian Association was founded in London, England, on June 6, 1844, in response to unhealthy social conditions arising in big cities at the end of the Industrial Revolution (roughly 1750-1850). Growth of the railroads and centralization of commerce and industry brought many rural young men in need of jobs to cities like London.
They worked 10 to 12 hours a day, six days a week. Far from home and family, these young men often lived at the workplace. They slept crowded into rooms over the company’s shop, a location thought to be safer than London’s tenements and streets. Outside the shop, things were bad -open sewers, pickpockets, thugs, beggars, drunks, lovers for hire and abandoned children running wild by the thousands.
In India, YMCA was introduced in the last quarter of the 19th century. National Council of YMCA’s in India was established in 1891.
Pages from History: Anglican Church ordains first priest from Pulaya Community (1931)
31 May, 1931: Anglican Church ordains first priest from Pulaya Community. Due to the work of CMS missionaries many people from the backward classes were converted to Christianity. But Syrian Christians were not willing to worship with them or accommodate them in their churches or society.
Special churches were made to for them and they were treated as untouchables by the high Class Syrian Christians. On 31st May, 1931, Mr. P. J. Isaac a member of the Pulaya community was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Moore in an effort to eradicate this social evil.
Pages from History: 12 May 1820: Birth of Florence Nightingale
12 May, 1820: Birth of Florence Nightingale. Florence Nightingale was named after the city, Florence, Italy, where she was born on 12 May, 1820, in a very wealthy family. She was the founder of the nursing profession. At the age of 16, Florence heard the voice of God telling her that she had a special mission in life. She helped the British Army in the Crimean war.
Her efforts to formalize nursing education led her to establish the first scientifically based nursing school—the Nightingale School of Nursing, at St. Thomas’ Hospital in London (opened 1860). Based on her studies, a Sanitary Department was established in India in 1868. She was called to her eternal home on 13 August 1910.
Florence Nightingale
Pages from History: Dr. Sosamma Philip – Medical Missionary Passes away. (4 May 2008)
4 May, 2008: Death of Dr. Sosamma Philip, Medical Missionary. Dr. Sosamma (b.9 Nov 1917) was the daughter of Late Rev. M. C. George Kasseesa (17 Apr 1874 – 23 Oct 1923) of Maliyekkal House, Kuriannoor. The Late Most Rev. Dr. Alexander Mar Thoma Valiya Metropolitan (10 Apr 1913-11 Jan 2000) was her elder brother. Dr. Sosamma passed her final school examination in 1933, but couldn’t afford a college education. She joined the Under Graduate Teacher’s Training Course in Tiruvalla and then became a teacher at Kuriannoor Middle School.
The family had to sell a portion of their ancestral property to pay for her dowry. In 1940, she married Dr. P. V. Philip (Palathinkkal, Kottayam), who was working with the Mission Hospital in Karappuram, Cherthala. But unfortunately, Dr. Philip died after nine months of their marriage. She also lost her mother, three months later. Dr. Sosamma had an earnest desire to continue Medical Work of her departed husband. She joined Alwaye U. C. College and passed her intermediate examinations and applied for a seat in Christian Medical College, Vellore. As she did not get admission, she joined the American College in Madurai and finished her B.A. and then joined the Nicholson School, Tiruvalla, as a teacher.
But the desire for a medical education was burning in her heart, so she applied again and this time secured an admission in Christian Medical College, Vellore. Immediately after getting her Medical degree, she joined the Karapuram, Cherthala Mission, where her husband worked. After further passing her specialization courses in Chicago, she worked with the Kumbanad and Kattanam hospitals for many years. In 1967, she joined the Mar Thoma Sihora Ashram Hospital in Madhya Pradesh and remained there till her retirement, 30 years later in 1997.
As recognition of her work and social service, the Church awarded her the “Manava Seva Award”. After her retirement, she returned to stay with her relatives in Kuriannoor. She was called to her eternal home on 4 May 2008 and was buried beside her parents at the St.Thomas Mar Thoma Church Cemetery in Kuriannoor.
Dr. Sosamma Philip, Medical Missionary.
Pages from History: Ordination of Mr. M. N. Abraham (1911)
30 April, 1911: Ordination of Mr. M. N. Abraham (30 Oct 1880-1 Sep.1947) Metropolitan Titus II ordained Mr. M. N. Abraham and Mr. M. P. Pothen as deacons on Sunday 30 April 1911 at the St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church in Tiruvalla.
M. N. Abraham later became Abraham Mar Thoma Metropolitan and M. P. Pothen a missionary in Honavar, Karnataka.
Abraham Mar Thoma Metropolitan (Mr. M. N. Abraham)
Pages from History: John Milton sells the copyright of Paradise Lost for £10
27 April, 1667: Blind, bitter and poor, Puritan poet John Milton (9 Dec.1608 – 8 Nov.1674) sold for ten pounds the copyright of Paradise Lost. The book influenced the English thought and language nearly as much as the King James Version and the plays of Shakespeare.
The theme of the epic appears in its opening lines: “Of man’s disobedience and the fruit / Of that forbidden tree, whose mortal taste / Brought death into the world, and all our woe, / With loss of Eden.”
Pages from History: Birth of Mathews Mar Athanasius Metropolitan (1818)
25 April, 1818: Birth of Mathews Mar Athanasius Metropolitan (d.16 Jul 1877) He became Bishop at the age 24 in February 1842. He was the Metropolitan of the Mar Thoma Syrian Church from 1842 to 1877.
As the head of the church he worked hard for the education of the clergy and raising the moral standards of ordinary people. He was one of the ablest bishops the Syrian Churches ever had.
Mathews Mar Athanasius Metropolitan
Pages from History: Birth of Freedom Fighter (Advocate) Rev. C.V.George B.A., B.L
16 April, 1913: Birth of Rev. C. V. George B.A. B.L, Chandanakuzhiyil, Ettichuvadu, Ranny. Rev. George was an Advocate (Lawyer). Before his ordination, he was in jail for almost a year for his participation in the Freedom movement of India. He became a priest in 1947.
From 1947-1950 he was the General Secretary of the Mar Thoma Sunday School Samajam. He was the only Mar Thoma Priest who is recognized and awarded as a freedom fighter by the Government.
He was also the founder president of the Ranny Medical Mission. He passed away on 31 Oct.2001 and was buried at the Nazareth Mar Thoma church cemetery in Ranny.
Rev. C.V.George
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