“Shayana Namaskaram” writer Stephanos Kathanar passes away 20 Nov 1904
20 November, 1904: Death of Stephanos Kathanar – Author of “Shayana Namaskaram” (Mar Thoma Shayana Namaskaram).
Stephanos Kathanar (born on 14 June 1852) was a member of Kallarakkal Peedikayil family of Thazhahkkara, Mavelikkara. He became a deacon at the age of 8. He was an expert teacher of the Syrian Language.
In 1897, he established Thazhakkara Mar Thoma Church and started a library for the parish. Achen is the author of The Shayana Namaskaram– (prayer song usually sung with the evening family prayer or public worship) “njangalkullha karthave…” which is still used by many Kerala Christians. Many Malayalaee Christian groups also use it for their common evening worships during the lent season.
Stephanos Kathanar was called to his eternal home on 20 Nov 1904.
Achen’s grandson Dr. Samuel Mathai was the Vice-Chancellor of the Kerala University.
“Shayana Namaskaram” (Mar Thoma Shayana Namaskaram)
Njangalkulha karthave
Njaaniha nidraozhinjittu
Unharvode nin thiru munpil
Nilpaan enikku nee arulhaname
Veendum njaan urrangunnaalil
Eeyadiyaanulha urrakkam
Karththaave nin thiru minpil
Dosham koodaath aakaname
Enn unharchayyil njaan chathipedukil
Nin kripa mochanam ennikekum
Nidrayilum pizha vannaakil
Ardhramathe kshama nalkaname
Ninnude krushin shanthiaathaal
Nallayurrakam enniku nee thaa
Aaka swapnam ashuddhiyil
Ninenne nee rakshichchkollhanhame
Shanthiyerriya nidrayathaal
Shanthi therenam raa muzhuvan
Aakka ninavum dushtathayum
Adhikaaraththil amarthalle
Ninude adiyaar njaan athinal
Ente shareeram kaappaanaai
Velhivinude maalaakaaye
Enniku nee therenam karththave
Dweshetha pettorichayil nin
Enne nee rakshich kollhaname
Uyirekum nin dehaththe
Njaan anibhavichchen athinaale
Ashwasathil urrangumpol
Aashisabhayam nin raktham
Nin srishtika swaathanthryam
Nee kripayode nalkhaname
Ninakai mananja shareerathil
Ninte velamkaai vazhanhame
Ninte karunakal kottayathaai
Ente chutthilum aakaname
Nidrayil aandu kidakumpol
Bhadram kaavalu nin shakthi
Enteyurrakkam thiru munpil
Nal dhoopam polaakaname
Enne potthun udayavane
Ninnodu thanne yachippu
Enikullha shayanathinmel
Thinma pettavan anhayaruthe
Balavanaai njaan jeevipaan
Baliaayi jeevan anhachchavane
Enne vyasanaththil aakaaivaan
Saathaane nee vilakanhame
Karththave nin vagdatham
Ennil nirravettheedenhame
Ninte shleeba maranaththaal
Ente ayussa kakkaname
Njaan unharum neraththinkal
Ninne njaan kondaduvaan
Ente nidra velhayillum
Ninte upavi nee kattenhame
Nin thiru manasine njaan arrinju
Njaan athine chchaivanaayi
Ninte manogunam athinaale
Ennikku manogunam arulhuka nee
Nirappu niranjor anthiyathum
Neethi vilhangum raavum nee
Njangalude rakshakanaam maashiha
Naadha addiyaarku arulhaname
Velhivin velhiv nee aakunnu
Velhivil thanne parkunnu
Velhivinude suthar aayavarum
Ninne thanne namikkunnu
Ninnakku sthuthi nin anugrahangal
Adiyaarudemel irrakhaname
Iha lokathilum athu pole
Paralokathilum aakaname
En karththaave ninakku sthuthi
Ninakku sthuthi sthuthi ninakku sthuthi
Aayiranghalinmel aayiramaai
Alhavu koodaathe ninakku sthuthI
Prrarthanagal kelhkunnavane
Yachanakal nalkunnavane
Njangalhin praarthanakal kettu
Yachanakal nalkeedaname
9 November, 1964: Mrs. Kandamma Varghese (Mar Thoma Suvisesha Sevika Sanghom) passes away.
“The Mar Thoma Suvisesha Sevika Sanghom owes much to the self sacrificing work of Mrs. Kandamma Varghese who worked untiringly as the Organizing Secretary for over 20 years, traveling far and wide, organizing branches in the parishes, doing evangelistic work among Christians, building up the work in parishes.” ~ The Mar Thoma Church, Heritage and Mission – Alexander Mar Thoma Metropolitan.
Mrs. Kandamma was a modest person in wearing jewellery. She used to request people who had more than one gold chain to donate the second one for gospel work. Due to Kandamma’s loving approach to the wife of Diwan Bhadur Dr. V. Varghese sold her ornaments and donated the money for the construction of the Salem Orphanage in Tiruvalla.
The Mar Thoma Suvisesha Sevika Sanghom was established in 1919 during the Maramon Convention, under the leadership of Abraham Mar Thoma Suffragan Metropolitan, who gave the women’s organization continuous support and inspiration. Mrs. Kandamma Varghese (born 1876), Chruthuruthiyil, Thumpamon was the first traveling, organizing secretary of the Sevika Sanghom.
During the nearly 20 years of service she travelled far and wide to almost all corners of Travancore. In those days there were no proper roads, so she had to walk miles to her work and used bullock carts to visit distant places. One of her annual reports submitted to the Sevika Sanghom reads like this: “Visited Puthen Cavu, Kundara… (Names of so many parishes are given), etc. Conducted 101 special meetings for women, 38 meetings for girls, visited 236 Christian homes, 70 non Christian homes, personally interacted with 415 people, distributed 700 tracts, 90 gospel portions etc…”
After serving many years as a Traveling Secretary, she became the General Secretary of the Sanghom. She put a firm foundation for the smooth running of various departments of the Sevika Sanghom. When the Sanghom started the Salem Bhavanam (Orphanage) in 1923, Kandamma took up that responsibility as well. She adopted orphan children who were previously looked after by Mrs. Sosamma Eappen of Kotturethu Chengannur.
Kandamma spent her final days in Perumbavoor with her son Mr. C. V. Koshy who was the headmaster of the Ashram High school there. She was called to her eternal home on 9 November, 1964 at the age of 88. In her memory, the Mar Thoma Suvisesha Sevika Sanghom has collected a Memorial fund of Rs.15,000 (in 1964 this was a big amount) and the interest collected from this fund is still being used for the theological education of the women who are willing to do full time Gospel work.
She leaves behind a glowing legacy of her work in Kerala to inspire more young women of the church.
Read more details in our free pdf E-book which is also an excellent resource for Sunday Schools and church organizations.
Nalloor Library 