(Right) Thresiamma tried to calm Annie, offering a touch of love and saying, 'Let's forget and forgive, and entrust everything in God's hands.'Malayattoor, Kochi: It was a sublime act of humanity when an elderly woman visited the family of a man who stabbed her son, a priest, to death and declared that she forgave the alleged murderer.
The mother and siblings of the late Fr Xavier Thelakat, who was the rector of St Thomas International Shrine on Kurisumudy, Malayattoor, visited the family of Vattaparamban Johny on Sunday to share their grief and pacify them.
Thresiamma, the mother of Father Xavier Thelakkat, his elder sister Thresia, brother Sebastian, paternal uncle Pappachan, and cousins Vinoj and Biju, reached the house of Johny, who is accused of having stabbed the priest to death on the hill that millions of pilgrims climb every year.
Thresiamma hugged Johny's wife Annie the moment she saw her. Both were in tears, but the aged mother tried to calm Annie, offering a touch of love and saying, 'Let's forget and forgive, and entrust everything in God's hands.'
Annie, mother of two daughters, wept bitterly, unable to find words. All she could do was join her hands, begging for pardon.
Annie had to be rushed to a hospital later as she collapsed after the visitors left, unable to bear her agony. She received primary care.
Fr John Theykanath, the St Thomas Church vicar, and the trustees of the church were with the rector's family.
Fr Thelakkat was stabbed to death on Thursday as he was walking down the holy hills, Kurisumudy. Johny later told the police that he did not intend to murder the priest, but only wanted to attack him out of fury for having suspended him. He was caught from the Kurisumudy forest area a day after the murder.
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