Philipose Mar Chrysostom Mar Thoma Metropolitan Chrysostom in Greek means 'golden-mouthed.' Philipose Mar Chrysostom Mar Thoma Metropolitan has proven himself worthy of his name with a hundred years of playful yet profound words.
The spiritual leader of the Malankara Mar Thoma Church spoke to Onmanorama ahead of his 100th birthday. Excerpts from the conversation.
Happy to score a century
My father lived up to 103 years. Now, I am turning 100. But I do not believe that I have made any significant contribution to the world. I was born in an ordinary village. I was not ambitious. I never chased anything. But god made me do so many things. I am happy.
Incidental calling
I passed BA during World War II. The Church started a mission those days – the German Mission. I joined the mission and went to Karwar in Karnataka. Then I went to Bangalore to study theology. The churches in town did not have a priest to celebrate mass. The people in the area requested the Metropolitan to ordain me as a priest. That’s how I became a priest.
Legendary humor sense
I do not have a golden tongue but I love talking to people. I was not a public speaker when I was a student. But I used to talk a lot. I am just speaking about the things I have learned from those interactions and experiences. I always liked interacting with individuals and society.
Surviving cancer
I was a cancer patient in the Vellore hospital when someone gave me a book, ‘The Joy of Cancer.' The message was to conquer cancer without letting the disease conquer us. That influenced me. My illness was diagnosed at an early stage and treated. I was completely cured. We would be shattered by fear of death the moment we are diagnosed with cancer. Do not let that happen. Be brave. That is very important to be free from the disease.
Spirituality as commodity
It is good to bring relief to the diseased. However, I am not for any healing that impoverishes them. For instance, it is not a mistake to kill a poultry bird in my house and eat it. But if I were to kill my neighbor’s chicken, it is not right. It is the same act but one is right and the other wrong. Spiritual healing is just like that. It is not a good trend to exploit spirituality with an eye on making easy money.
New generation
The new generation should live as new generation. If you ask me whether I want Tata’s latest model car or a slightly older Benz, I would go for Benz. Old does not mean bad. Let me thank everyone who has been so kind to me on my 100th birthday. Let us pray to god that the church and society be reformed in the coming days.
100 years of accomplishments
Philipose Mar Chrysostom was born to K E Oommen and Sosamma at Kallooppara on April 27, 1918. He went to UC College in Aluva and the Union Theological College in Bengaluru before going on missionary work to Ankola in Karnataka.
He was ordained in 1944 and made an episcopa in 1953. He pursued higher studies in the St Augustine College in Canterbury. He served as the principal of the Kottayam Mar Thoma seminary and the national president of the Church Council.
He was promoted as a Metropolitan in 1999. He retired on October 1, 2007. He is the longest-serving Catholic bishop. He has retired to Maramon with the title of Valiya Metropolitan.
