Guinness book of world record holder under the entry – ‘longest religious service’ passes away (1984)
28 March, 1984: Rev. K. M. Jacob Kottara, Pooyappally (June 1881) passes away. Rev. K.M. Jacob, of Cherukarakunnil family of Kottara Bethel Mar Thoma Church, was born in June, 1881. He became a deacon of the church in 1897, and priest on 8 October, 1903.
He was the first convener of the Kottarakkara Mar Thoma Convention and was one of the founding members of the Jubilee Mandiram in Kottarakkara.
For certain parishes he was the Vicar for more than 40 years. Achen was called to his eternal home on 28 March, 1984. Achen served the Church for more than 86 years and his name is in the Guinness book of world record under the entry – ‘longest religious service.’
Rev. K. M. Jacob Kottara
Pages from History: Rev. P. C. Cherian passes away (1978)
21 March, 1978: Rev. P. C. Cherian passes away (b.18 Jan 1907). After passing his B.A., L.T., examinations he served St. Thomas School in Keezhillam as a teacher and headmaster. He became a deacon on 15th April 1938. He served as the vicar of Keezhillam and Thodupuzha parishes. His brother P. C. George was the founder of the Manganam Agathimandiram.
Rev. P. C. Cherian
Pages from History: Death of Rev. Dr. C. E. Abraham (1985)
18 March, 1985: Death of Rev. Dr. C. E. Abraham, Cheruthottathil, Kozhencherry (b.7 Jan.1898).
Rev. Dr. C. E. Abraham was a member of the Cheruthottathill family in Kozhencherry. He was ordained as deacon in 1920 and priest in 1930. He served as Professor/Principal of the Serampore Theological College from 1925-1959. In addition to that he also served as the General Secretary of the Mar Thoma Yuvajana Sakhyam and Evangelistic Association.
Rev. Abraham also served as a visiting professor for many foreign universities around the world. He wrote many books including “Church History” and “Builders of Indian Churches”. He was the Editor of the First Mar Thoma Church Directory. Rev. Abraham will be remembered as one of the most learned and farsighted priests of the Mar Thoma Syrian Church.
Rev. Dr. C. E. Abraham
Pages from History : Sale of indulgences & Johann Tetzel
15 March, 1517: Needing money to rebuild St. Peter’s basilica, Pope Leo X announces a special sale of indulgences. (The remission of temporal punishment still due for a sin that has been sacramentally absolved) A Dominican named Johann Tetzel led the way in promoting the sale in Germany and erroneously declared that indulgences would cover future sins (Leo’s forgave all past sins). The teaching angered the reformer Martin Luther, who soon posted his 95 Theses in response.
Johann Tetzel
Pages from History: Construction is completed on the Second Temple in Jerusalem (B.C 515)
12 March 515 B.C (Before Christ) – Construction is completed on the Second Temple in Jerusalem. The First Temple was built by King Solomon in seven years during the 10th century B.C in 957 B.C. It was the center of ancient Judaism and has remained a focal point for Jewish services over the millennia. The Temple replaced the Tabernacle of Moses and the Tabernacles at Shiloh, Nov, and Gibeon as the central focus of Jewish faith. This First Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 B.C, and was rebuilt seventy years later by Cyrus the Great in 516 B.C.
Centuries later, it was renovated by Herod in about 20 B.C, and this Second Temple was subsequently destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D. All of the outer walls still stand, although the Temple itself has long since been destroyed and for many years it was believed that the western wall of the complex was the only wall standing.
The Second Temple. Model in the Israel Museum. Photo by Ariely
Pages from History: Rev. John Varghese of Sihora Ashram passes away (1997)
7 March, 1997: Rev. John Varghese of Sihora Ashram (b.5 July 1915) passes away. Rev John Varghese B.A., B.D. was a member of the Valethu Thoppil Family of Puthencavu, near Chengannur. After his education in the Trivandrum Maharajas College, he became a teacher in Perumbavoor Ashram School.
Deeply influenced and inspired by Rev. Dr. C. E. Abraham, he went to Sihora in Madhya Pradesh in 1942. He is remembered today as one of the co-founders of the Sihora Ashram of the Mar Thoma Church.
Rev. John Varghese
Pages from History: Very Rev. P. J. Thomas passes away (1990)
7 March, 1990: Very Rev. P. J. Thomas passes away.
Rev. Thomas was a deep scholar and gifted linguist, besides being an ardent evangelist. He passed his B. D. degree examination from United Theological College, Bangalore with distinction and joined the ministry of the Church. The call came to him to take up the mission work in Ankola when he was Vicar of the Kottayam Jerusalem Mar Thoma Parish.
He readily accepted the challenge and went to Ankola with his family and established the Ashram there with two young graduates as fellow workers, Mr. Philip Oommen (now Philipose Mar Chrysostom Valiya Metropolitan) and Mr. John Thomas (late Rev. P. John Thomas). Rev. P. J. Thomas was designated Vicar General in 1976 after he came back to Kerala. He passed away on March 7, 1990.
Very Rev. P. J. Thomas
Pages from History: Death of John Wesley (1791)
2 March, 1791: Founder of Methodism, John Wesley (b.17 June 1703) dies in London. Thanks to his organizational genius, we know exactly how many followers he had when he died: 71,668 British members, 294 preachers, 43,265 American members with 198 preachers and 19 missionaries. Today the Methodists number about 30 million worldwide.
“John Wesley,” by the English artist George Romney, oil on canvas. Courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery, London.
Pages from History: 40 Years – No Salary – Selfless Parish Service – Rev. C M Joseph
26 February, 1876: Birth of C.M. Joseph Kathanar, Cheruvathur, Kunnamkulam (d..28 February 1943) was ordained deacon on 17 November 1900 and priest on 5 Jan 1901. During his 40 years of service as vicar of various parishes he did not take any salary or any monetary benefits. It was a totally voluntary service! He was the vicar of Kunnamkulam, Pzhanji, Trichur, Chennamkerry, Chalasserry, Varakkara, Vengoor, Kizhillam, Valakam and Kochi. With ten of his friends he formed an association” Kunnamkulam Mar Thoma Suriyani Suveshesha Prasangasangam” and he was the president for it for 35 years.
Rev. C. M. Joseph
Pages from History: Generosity Personified – Bishop Edward Alfred Livingstone Moore
25 February, 1925: Consecration of Bishop Edward Alfred Livingstone Moore (13 Nov 1870 – 22 Sep 1944) Fourth Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Travancore and Cochin. He was consecrated in England by the Archbishop of Canterbury. He arrived in Kottayam on 10th August, 1925. He had a great concern for the people from the backward community. He ordained Rev. P. J. Isaac and Rev. C. I. Mathai – both from the backward community. He served the diocese for 12 years. He was a very generous man who donated his full salary for charitable work in the diocese.
Bishop E. A. L. Moore
Nalloor Library 