SAINT GREGORIOS OF PARUMALA

"Prayer is the inspiration of childhood, the refuge of youth and peace during old age. ST GREGORIOS"

TODAY IS NOVEMBER 2 , AN IMPORTANT DAY IN THE LIFE OF ANY ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN  IN INDIA. TODAY IS THE DAY WHEN THE GREAT SAINT , ST GREGORIOS OF PARUMALA DIED. HE IS ONE OF THE MOST WORSHIPED SAINTS BY THE INDIAN ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS. I AM A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH SITUATED IN JANAKPURI, NEW DELHI WHICH IS NAMED AFTER THE ST GREGORIOS. THE SCHOOL IN WHICH I STUDIED FOR 14 YEARS SITUATED IN DWARKA NEW DELHI IS ALSO NAMED AFTER ST GREGORIOS. SO THE SAINT'S PRESENCE WAS ALWAYS IN  MY LIFE AND WILL BE IN THE FUTURE. HIS REMEMBRANCE DAY IS CELEBRATED IN OUR CHURCH WITH POMP AND JOY WHICH NEARLY LASTS FOR A WEEK. NOT ONLY THE CHRISTIANS BUT PEOPLE FROM OTHER RELIGIONS ALSO ATTEND THIS FUNCTION  AS THEY HAVE ALSO STARTED BELIEVING IN SAINT. HE IS THE SAINT OF PARUMALA , A PLACE IN KERALA. HE IS ALSO POPULARLY CALLED PARUMALA THIRUMENI.

PAINTING BY RAJA RAVI VERMA

SAINT WAS BORN ON 15 JUNE 1848 IN KERALA. HIS BAPTISMAL OR REAL NAME WAS GEEVARHESE(GEORGE). HE IS THE FIRST SAINT OF INDIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH. HE WAS DECLARED A SAINT ON NOVEMBER 2 1947 BY HOLY EPISCOPAL SYNOD OF INDIA EXACTLY 45 YEARS AFTER HE DIED. THE PARUMALA CHURCH IN PARUMALA IS AN INTERNATIONAL PILGRIMAGE CENTER WHERE THOUSANDS OF BELIEVERS GO BY TRAVELLING ON THEIR FEET AS THEY BELIEVE. 

ORIGINAL PHOTO

HE WAS DIFFERENT FROM OTHER CHILDREN. HE WAS NOT INTERESTED IN LAVISH CLOTHES OR PLAYING GAMES WITH FRIENDS , INSTEAD HE DEDICATED HIS TIME IN PRAYING , FASTING, KNOWING THE LIFE OF SAINTS.HE RESPECTED HIS TEACHERS SO MUCH THAT HE NEVER SAT IN FRONT OF HIS GURUS. HE STARTED HIS PRIESTHOOD LIFE ON 14 SEPTEMBER 1858 AT THE AGE OF 10.

BURIED IN SITTING POSITION

THE SAINT WAS AFFECTED BY A DEADLY DISEASE OF THAT TIME SMALL POX.  AT THAT TIME HE HAD VISIONS OF ST MARY THE MOTHER OF LORD JESUS STANDING NEAR HIM. ST MARY ASSURED HIM THAT HE WILL SOON GET WELL AND HE SHOULD DEDICATE HIS LIFE TO GOD. LATER ON ST GREGORIOS DID THE SAME. THIS VISION IS ONE THE REASONS FOR SAINTHOOD. HE LEAD SUCH A STRICT RELIGIOUS LIFE THAT CHRISTIANS AND NON CHRISTIANS BOTH FOLLOWED HIM LIKE THEY DO NOW.HE USED TO TIE A CLOTH AROUND HIS BELLY SO THAT HE COULD LIVE WITHOUT FOOD FOR A LONG TIME AND FAST AS LONG AS HE WANTS.

TOMB

PATRIARCH PETER III OF SYRIA GAVE THE TITLE 'GREGORIOS'  TO  THE SAINT. HE BECAME A BISHOP AT THE AGE OF 29 WHICH IS AND WAS A YOUNG AGE FOR CONSECRATION.ONE DAY IN THE SEMINARY WHERE SAINT STAYED WERE LEFT WITH NO FOOD FOR THE NEXT DAY . THEY DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH MONEY, BUT THE SAINT STAYED CALM AND TOLD HIS DISCIPLES TO PRAY. THE NEXT DAY FEW PEOPLE REACHED THE SEMINARY WITH LOTS OF FOOD AND A FEAST WAS BEING ARRANGED THERE. HE FOUGHT AGAINST THE CASTE SYSTEM AND BAPTISED THE LOW CASTE TO JOIN THE CHURCH. HE WAS THE FIRST BISHOP FROM INDIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH TO VISIT THE HOLY LAND OF JERUSALEM  WHERE JESUS CHRIST HAD SPEND HIS LIFE.

SAINT OPENED MANY ENGLISH MEDIUM SCHOOLS IN KERALA. HE WANTED TO MAKE EVERYONE EDUCATED.THE MAJOR SCHOOL BEING MGM HIGH SCHOOL THIRUVALLA,KERALA.EVEN WHEN HE WAS NEAR HIS DEATHBED ,HE PERFORMED THE HOLY SERVICE AND PEOPLE WERE CRYING SEEING HIS CONDITION. HE WAS A FORGIVING AND A HUMBLE PERSON. HE FINALLY WENT ON TO HIS HEAVENLY ABODE ON 2 NOV 1902 AT THE AGE OF 54, HE WAS SUFERING FROM ULCERS WHICH INCREASED DUE TO HIS FASTING HABITS.HE WAS BURIED IN SITTING POSITION AS IS THE CUSTOM

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