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St. Athanasious Paulose (Valiya Thirumeni)
(Defender of faith - Sathya Viswasa Samraksakan)
Malankara Metropolitan & Primate of the Jacobite Syrian Church (1918-'53)
Passed away on 25th January 1953 and laid to rest at the St. Mary's church, Thrikkunnathu
St. Athanasious Paulose popularly known as 'Valiya Thirumeni', is one of the luminous stars of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, who as the Metropolitan of the Church in India, successfully guided its destiny for nearly four decades. It was his firm faith, persistent efforts and ardent prayers that helped the Malankara Syrian community to sustain their ancient links with the Apostolic See of Antioch. Valiya Thirumeni was the founder father of many of the major spiritual organizations in the church like the Sunday School Association, the Mar Gregorios Students movement, the Brotherhood of St. Antonios and the St. Mary’s Sisterhood. Consecrated as Metropolitan for the Angamali diocese in 1910 by Patriarch Mor Ignatius Abded Aloho (Abdulla II), he became the Malankara Metropolitan of the Jacobite Syrian Church in 1918. After serving the Church in Malankara for more than four decades, he passed away on 25th January 1953 at the age of 84.
Known for his piety, integrity, sincerity and unflinching devotion to God, the spiritual father is remembered by the Malankara Church with great veneration. Valiya Thirumeni loved his people and defended the faith until his last, leaving behind him a magnificent saintly legacy. People revere him as a saintly father; he is the pride of the Malankara Jacobite Syrian Church. Fifty one years after his demise, on 19th August 2004, the Church beatified Mor Athanasius Paulose and since September 2009 the Holy Father’s name is remembered in the 5th Tubden universally along with his spiritual mentor, St. Gregorios of Parumala.
Child-hood
Born on 23rd Jan 1869 as the third child of his blessed parents, 'Mathai’ of Ayyambillil Thekkekarayil family and ‘Anna’ of Kuttikattu Pynadathu family of Nayathodu at Akaparambu, Angamali, Valiya Thirumeni was christened with the name PAULOSE at the Akaparambu Mor Sabor Mor Apfroth church. He had three sisters and two brothers. Since Thirumeni grew up in his mother's house (Pynadathu) at Akaparambu, as she was the only child of her parents, Valiya Thirumeni is often recognised as one from the Kuttikatt Pynadathu family.
Mor Sabor Mor Apfroth Church at Akaparambu
[Valiya Thirumeni's home parish]
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From childhood days Paulose had shown deep affection in spiritual matters. He was greatly interested in the study of scriptures and in religious practices. His extraordinary brilliance caught the eye of everybody. Ambatt Mor Koorillos Geevarghese, the then Metropolitan of Angamali diocese, came to know about him. Under his advice, young Paulose became a regular server in the altar of the Akaparambu Church.
1876 was an eventful year in the life of our Valiya Thirumeni. That year the Patriarch Moran Mor Ignatius Peter IV, who was on an Apostolic mission to India, visited the ancient Akaparambu Church and celebrated Holy Mass. When His Holiness was celebrating the Holy Qurbono, Kunji Paulo as he was fondly called, a child of mere 7 years old, was instructed by Ambatt Mor Koorilos Metropolitan to read the fifth ‘tubden’ (diptych) in Syriac. In his ringing musical voice while he was reading it, the Patriarch looked back at the enlightened child and specially blessed the boy after the Holy Qurbono, an essential pass to achieve higher levels of spiritual glory later in life.
On 21st April 1879 at the tender age of ten, young Paulose was ordained deacon by Ambatt Mor Koorilos, the first Metropolitan of Angamali diocese, under whom he had his theological and Syriac studies. His English education was at the Alwaye Government High School. Soon he was sent to the Syrian seminary at Kottayam where he was under the direct care of Pulikottil Joseph Mor Divanasios (Mor Dionysius V). By the time he completed the seminary course, he passed the matriculation exam from the C.M.S. School at Kottayam as well. Shortly thereafter he was appointed a teacher (‘Malfono’) in the seminary where he continued till 1895. It was in those days that he had a severe illness of typhoid which forced him to return home. In no time his health deteriorated and reached a critical stage and every member of his family was ardently praying for his speedy recovery. This grave situation continued for a few more days when suddenly a miracle happened after which his health started to improve dramatically. It was a moment of great happiness for everyone; they thanked God for answering their tearful payers. This was a turning point in the life of our Paulose; the miraculous recovery strengthened his belief in Almighty which prompted him to completely dedicate the rest of his life in service of God.
After recovery from his illness, Paulose returned to Thrikkunnathu and everyone there welcomed him with great joy. Later the diocesan Metropolitan Kadavil Paulose Mor Athanasious Thirumeni entrusted him with the responsibility of supervising the construction works of the St. Mary's church there.
Parumala Thirumeni ordaining Dn. Paulose a 'Kassisso' & 'Ramban'
On 25th November 1898, at the age of 29, deacon Paulose was ordained 'Kassisso' (Full Priest) by St. Gregorios Geevarghese (Parumala Thirumeni) and after three days, on 28th, he was elevated to the order of monk ('Ramban'), again at the blessed hands of Mor Gregorios assisted by Metropolitans Mor Divanasios Pulikottil and Mor Athanasious Kadavil. Since then he came to be called KOCHU PAULOSE RAMBAN.
Ramban Kochu Paulose in Parumala Seminary
Mor Gregorios Thirumeni who was in charge of Niranam diocese, was at that time in the midst of constructing a seminary building in the Parumala chapel premises. On his request Kochu Paulose Ramban stayed back at Parumala supervising the construction of the seminary building there. Kochu Paulose Ramban was actively involved in giving shape to Parumala dayro, staying there for almost three years. Those where the times when Mor Gregorios Thirumeni came to know more about the spiritual aspirations and lifestyle of Paulose Ramban. Parumala Thirumeni, in great admiration of the spiritual gifts latent in the Ramban, presented him with a 'Seelamudi' (head cover worn by bishops), 'Pathraseen' and a copy of the book detailing the service of ordination - the prophetic gifts which are not required by a Ramban but revealed the path the Ramban would tread later in life.
Years after when Paulose Ramban, who was by then rose to high priesthood and headed the Malankara church, decided to form a student’s organisation, it was named after St. Gregorios of Parumala which happens to be the first ever organisation in the name of Parumala St. Gregorios, anywhere in the world.
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Thrikkunnathu Seminary & Kochu Paulose Ramban
On his return to Alwaye, Kadavil Mor Athanasious Paulose Metropolitan entrusted Kochu Paulose Ramban the responsibility of completing the construction of seminary building there. Within the next three years the seminary which is now known as ‘Thrikkunnathu Seminary’, was opened. Later when our Kochu Paulose Ramban was ordained Metropolitan and assumed the charge of Angamali diocese, he expanded the Seminary building again. It was he who brought many people to Alwaye from nearby villages and gave them land to construct houses around the seminary. He even sold his ancestral property at Akaparambu for financing the construction of this Seminary building, thus replacing the old, fragile and worn out structure. Under him, Thrikkunnathu Seminary became a foremost centre for theological studies in the north. It remained as the ‘heart’ of the Malankara Church for several more years. Many of our spiritual heads of yesteryears, the late lamented Metropolitans Mor Gregorios (Vayaliparambil), Mor Sevarios (Mulayirickal), the Catholicos Aboon Mor Baselios Paulose II, the former Valiya Metropolitha of Knanaya diocese Mor Clemis Abraham were all students of this seminary.
Arrival of the Patriarch Mor Ignatius Abdulla II (Abded'Aloho) in Malankara
When Metropolitan Kadavil Mor Athanasious was called to eternal rest in 1907, there were only two Metropolitans remaining in Malankara, Pulikkottil Mor Divanasios and Murimattom Mor Ivanios, both of whom were in their very advanced ages. In order to ease their heavy load of diocesan administration that spread all over Malankara, they appealed to the Patriarch for consecrating more Metropolitans. The Holy Father approved their appeal and on 31st May 1908, Kochuparambil Paulose Ramban and Vattasseril Geevarghese Kathanar were consecrated Metropolitans by names Mor Koorilos and Mor Divanasios by the Patriarch Moran Mor Ignatius Abdulla II at the St.Mark's Syrian Orthodox Monastery, Jerusalem, as Metropolitans for ‘theebel’ (general). The delegation that went for the ordination had then, on behalf of Malankara Syrian Church, officially submitted the request to the Patriarch for H.H's Apostolic visit to Malankara.
Meanwhile there also aroused some dissatisfaction among the supporters of Wattasseril Methran since the Patriarch had not then yielded to their wishes to declare Wattasseril Metropolitan as the SUCCESSOR to the Malankara Metropolitan. His Holiness could not comply with the request as it being a violation of canon and practices of the Church (Pulikottil Mor Divanasios was alive then); so the Patriarch instead appointed Wattasseril Metropolitan as assistant to the Malankara Metropolitan. (Appointing a Patriarch/Catholicose/bishop as successor to another, who is functioning, is against the canonical traditions and hence is strictly followed by the ancient Churches). This incident is said to be the first cause of the unhappy revolt of Wattasseril Metropolitan, that happened some years later, against the Patriarch.
A year later on 11th July 1909, Pulikottil Mor Deevanasios was called to his heavenly abode while the Patriarch was in London on his way to India. Immediately Wattasseril Metran cabled to the Patriarch in London to issue orders appointing him as Malankara Metropolitan. Being informed of the matter by the Apostolic delegate Mor Osthatheos Sleeba, His Holiness issued orders appointing Mor Geevarghese Divanasios (Wattasseril) as Malankara Metropolitan. By the end of the year, the Patriarch arrived here from London via, Alexandria. Wattasseril Metropolitan and other church dignitaries received the Holy Father at Mumbai. But very soon Wattasseril Methran started rebellion by raising unnecessary allegations against the Patriarch when His Holiness warned him for ignoring the two co-trustees who were in charge of the Beth Gaza (Treasury) together with the Wattasseril Metropolitan. The events that followed led to the formation of a anti-Patriarch group within the Holy Church under Wattasseril Metropolitan and his followers. Wattasseril Methran already had a vengeance against the Patriarch since H.H. had not approved him as the successor of Malankara metropolitan at the time of his ordination itself.
The adamant attitude of Wattasseril Metropolitan that he is unquestionable to anyone and his willful actions violating the paternal instructions of the Holy Father, culminated in his excommunication from the Holy Church by the apostolic bull of 31st May 1911 - just on the day completing 3 years of the metropolitan's consecration.
Following this the Jacobite Syrian Church was compelled to remove Mor Dionysius from the trusteeship and in his place elected Kochuparambil Paulose Mor Koorilos, a pious and religious high priest, as the Malankara Metropolitan. However the relentless work and politically charged atmosphere that prevailed in the Church at that time took it toll and left a holy man like Mor Koorilos weak and sick. The never ending disputes, threats etc. weakened the peaceful atmosphere in the Old Seminary where he was residing and finally prompted Mor Koorilos to move to the nearby Panampady Church. However the health of Mor Koorilos deteriorated further and on December 14th, 1917, the saintly father was called to eternal rest and was entombed at Panampady St. Mary's Church near Kottayam.
Metropolitan Consecration
Since the passing away of Mor Athanasious Paulose Kadavil in 1907, Angamali diocese remained vacant without a shepherd. In August 1909 a general council of all the bodies of Angamali diocese was convened at the diocesan headquarters in Thrikkunnathu and elected our Kochu Paulose Ramban as their Metropolitan-designate. Consequently the diocesan body appealed to the Patriarch to kindly consecrate Kochu Paulose Ramban as their Metropolitan. Having received testimonies about the zeal in faith, purity of character and industrious nature of the Ramban, the Holy Father was only happy to accept the request.
Accordingly on 9th June 1910 Kochu Paulose Ramban was raised to high priesthood by name 'MOR ATHANASIOUS PAULOSE' at his home parish, the Mor Sabor and Mor Afroth church, Akaparambu. The visiting Patriarch of Antioch & All the East and the Supreme head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, Moran Mor Ignatius Abded’ Aloho (Abdulla II) led the metropolitan ordination ceremony. The very next year on 19th August 1911, when the Patriarch consecrated HOLY MUROON at the Mulanthuruthy Mar Thoman church, which was incidentally the second time in the history of Malankara Church, Mor Athanasious was blessed with the opportunity to assist His Holiness.
On 14th October 1911, the Patriarch left the shores of Kerala. Valiya Thirumeni (Mor Athanasious), the Antiochean delegate Mor Osthatheos Sleeba and Malankara Malpan Konatt Mathen Corepiscopa escorted the Holy Father to Mumbai and bid farewell with tearful eyes and a heavy heart.
As the Metropolitan of Angamali (which is still the largest among all the dioceses in Malankara), Mor Athanasious was then administering the diocese, staying at the partially completed Thrikkunnathu Seminary building. He was also at that time holding the additional charge of the diocese of Kochi.
Elevation as Malankara Metropolitan
Following the demise of Mor Koorilos Paulose Kochuparambil in December 1917, a special session of the Malankara Association was convened at Thrikkunnathu, which choose Mor Athanasious Thirumeni as the head the Syrian Church in India. Accordingly Mor Athanasious assumed the charge of Malankara Metropolitan from January 1918.
A year after on 26th Sep 1919, the 'Malankara Sunday School Association' (M.S.S.A) was formed at a meeting held at the Piravom Valiya church under the guidance of Mor Athanasius Thirumeni. His Grace became the first president of the Association.
Later on 6th May 1922, a special convention of the Students organization of the Jacobite Syrian Church was convened at the Cheruthottukunnel St. George Church of Angamaly diocese, again under the initiative of our Valiya Thirumeni. In that eventful meeting Thirumeni proposed the organization to be named after his spiritual mentor, St. Gregorios Geevarghese of Parumala. Thus the students wing of the Jacobite Syrian Church came to be known as 'Mar Gregorios Syrian Vidhyarthi Sangam' (Mar Gregorios Syrian Students Association - M.G.S.S.A). This was the first ever student’s organization that adopted the name of St. Gregorios of Parumala.
The other major spiritual organizations founded by Valiya Thirumeni were the ‘Brotherhood of St. Antonios’ and the ‘St. Mary’s Sisterhood’. He nurtured both the organizations with the aim of building a sound base for the monastic movement in Malankara. He also encouraged much on the development of a centre for theological studies at Thrikkunnathu.
On 19th March 1930, the apostolic delegate Saint Osthatheos Sleeba, who was like a fatherly figure and spiritual guide of our Valiya Thirumeni passed away and was laid to rest at the Arthat St. Mary's Syrian Simhasana church. Mor Athanasious Thirumeni along with the Apostolic delegate Mor Yulios Elias Qoro and other Metropolitans of Malankara Church led the funeral services of Mor Osthatheos Bava.
Mor Athanasious Thirumeni with Patriarch St. Ignatius Elias III
(Photo- St. Antonios Mission, 1930)
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Apostolic visit of the Patriarch St. Ignatius Elias III to Malankara
The very next year in 1931, Patriarch Mor Ignatius Elias III visited India to strive for peace in the Malankara Syrian church. Mor Athanasious being the loyal Metropolitan of the Malankara Church, accompanied His Holiness throughout the apostolic visit and participated in the discussions held in this regard. Several meetings were held within this period with the aim of achieving a long standing peace and the Moran Patriarch had even withdrawn the excommunication of Mor Divanasios Vattasseril. However the ever changing attitudes and subsequent decisions of the Metropolitan-supporters did not help much in achieving an amicable solution to the Church disputes. On 13th Feb 1932, the visiting Patriarch St. Elias III passed away before accomplishing His peace mission, and was entombed at the Manjinikkara Dayro, which has now become a famous Pilgrim centre. Malankara Metropolitan Mor Athanasious Paulose led the last ceremonial rites of the holy Patriarch along with the Patriarchal delegate and all the Metropolitans of the Malankara Church.
Historic Malankara Association of 1935
On 22nd August 1935 an historic Malankara Association was held at the Karingachira St.George church which once again unanimously elected Mor Athanasious Thirumeni as the Malankara Metropolitan and Metropolitan Trustee. Besides His Eminence, those who attended the Holy Synod and the convention were, Mor Dionysius Mikhail of Kottayam, Niranam, Thumpamon and Quilon dioceses, Mar Thimotheos Awgen of Kandanad (later Catholicos Awgen I) and Mar Dioscoros Thomas of Knanaya dioceses. The Malankara Syrian Christian Association also elected co-trustees for the Church. Kassisso Avira Joseph Pukkunnel was the newly elected priest trustee and Thukalan Pailo Avira, the lay trustee.
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Co-trustees elected at the Malankara Association of 1935 |
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Kassisso Avira Joseph Pukkunnel |
Thukalan Pailo Avira |
'Defender of Faith'
Malankara Church was fortunate and belssed for having Mor Athanasious Paulose as its Metropolitan for fourty-two years. Under his able guidance, the Church had overcome many adverse situations. Unflinching faith and relentless prayers were his greatest strengths. Like his predecessors Mor Athanasious Thirumeni, too was very determined in upholding the pledge he had given to His Holiness the Patriarch of Antioch at the time of his consecration. In recognition to his great efforts in upholding the true faith and traditions of the Holy Church, the Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem-I of the Apostolic See of Antioch & All the East conferred him with the title ‘Defender of True Faith' (Sathya Viswasa Samrakshakan). The title has become synonymous with his name since then.
Metropolitans ordained during the tenure of Mor Athanasious
The first metropolitan ordination in the Malankara Church after the elevation of Mor Athanasious to high priesthood was of Mor Severious Edavazhikkal, ordained as the first metropolitan of Knanaya diocese in August 1910. It was Patriarch Ignatius Abded Aloho who consecrated him metropolitan. The formation of Knanaya association and other progressive movements in the diocese were initiated by him. In 1926, three more Metropolitans were ordained for the different dioceses in Malankara by the Patriarch Mor Ignatius Elias-III. They were Mor Divanasios Michael for Kottayam, Niranam, Kollam & Thumpamon, Mor Awgen Thimotheos for Kandand and Mor Dioscoros Thomas for Knanaya diocese. Mor Dioscoros later joined the newly formed Syrian Catholic Church after resigning from all the bodies of Knanaya diocese. But what hurt our Athanasious Thirumeni the most was when Mor Awgen Thimotheos of Kandanad diocese, deserted the Holy Church in 1942, creating lot of troubles. This was a time when the church was crippled in a series of crisis. Following the defection, the Patriarch appointed Mor Athanasious Thirumeni as the diocesan metropolitan.
With the advancement of age Valiya Thirumeni found it extremely difficult to manage the affairs of all the dioceses and hence requested the Church to elect new Metropolitans for the dioceses. Consequent to this in 1945 the diocesan bodies of Angamali and Kochi met at Thrikkunnathu and Karingachira respectively and elected Fr. Geevarghese Vayaliparambil and Ramban Paulose Mulayirickal. The next year they were consecrated bishops by names Mor Geevarghese Gregorios and Mor Severious Paulose by H.H. Patriarch Aphrem-I at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Homs, Syria. Among the newly ordained Metropolitans, Mor Gregorios was to assist Valiya Thirumeni in the Angamali diocese and Mor Severious was ordained for the Kochi diocese.
In 1951, the Knanaya diocese received its third Metropolitan, with the ordination of Abraham Mor Clemis by Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem-I. In 1952 Paulose Mor Philoxenos was ordained for the diocese of Kandanad. He assumed the charge of the diocese just two weeks before the demise of Valiya Thirumeni. In 1974 Mor Philoxenos was enthroned as the Catholicos of the East and the head of the Malankara Syrians in 1974 by name Mor Baselios Paulose-II.
Demise of Valiya Thirumeni
After four decades of devoted service as high priest, Our Lord called His Eminence Mor Athanasius Valiya Thirumeni to his eternal rest in heaven on 25th January 1953. He was then 84 years. News of his death spread like wild fire and faithful from different parts of Malankara streamed into Thrikkunnathu to see once for ever their beloved shepherd and to pay their last respects. The very next day on 26th evening, the mortal remains of the Holy Father were interred at the northern side of the madbho of the St. Mary's church at Thrikkunnathu, Alwaye, confirming to his last wish. All the metropolitans of the Church, priests, and large number of people participated in the last rites.
Sacred Tomb of former Malakara Metropolitan St. Athanasious Paulose Valiya Thirumeni
at the Thrikunnathu St.Mary's church, Alwaye
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Mor Athanasious Valiya Thirumeni, the Saintly Father of the Malankara Church
Simplicity and hospitality were the hallmarks of Thirumeni. Whoever visited Alwaye Seminary went back praising Valiya Thirumeni’s hospitality. There are many incidences that describe the divinity in Thirumeni. Once a lady who was suffering from haemorrhage for several years and had spent a lot of money on medical treatments, approached Thirumeni who prayed for her and she was healed of the disease. Another known event is that of the miraculous recovery of a man called Varkey who was suffering from evil spirit for twenty years. This mentally ill fellow was cured immediately after our Saintly Thirumeni placed his Sleeba (Cross) on his forehead and prayed. Many such blessed events are recalled by the elders. Thirumeni's divine life of prayer and meditation was always an inspiration for all. Each and everyone who had met Valiya Thirumeni even once acclaim his prayerful life and courage he showed to protect the apostolic faith. He was also a well known Syriac scholar of Malankara.
Mor Athanasious College of Engineering at Kothamangalam, Mor Athanasious High School at Nedumbassery, Mor Athanasious English Medium School at Puthencuriz, are some of the major institutions erected to his memory; Valiya Thirumeni continues to live among us. The sandalwood cot presented to Thirumeni by his uncle is kept in a separate room of the office of his home parish, the Mor Sabor Mor Aphroth Church at Akaparambu. Many devotees visit the church, paying homage to the late lamented Thirumeni and pray for his intercession. In 2006 the first church in the name of blessed Athanasious, the St. Athanasious Cathedral, was founded at the church headquarters in Puthencuriz.
The year 2003 being the 50th anniversary of the heavenly abode of our Holy Father, the Malankara Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church once again recalled the services and achievements of Valiya Thirumeni by organizing several functions which were helpful for the welfare of the poor and needy. The commemoration ceremonies that continued throughout the year, coincided with Parumala Thirumeni's 100th Dhukrono celebrations organized by the Holy Church in 2002. The Church believes that by remembering its Holy fathers the faithful will be blessed and will also be an inspiration for the younger generations to lead a true Christian life. Celebration of Holy Qurbono on the 50th Dhukrono of Valiya Thirumeni was presided by His Beatitude the Catholicos Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas I and assisted by all the prelates of the Malankara Church at the Jacobite Syrian Chapel, Alwaye on 26th January 2003.
Conferring to the
wishes of the multitude of faithful, the Malankara Episcopal Synod in 2001
requested His Holiness the Patriarch, to beatify Mor Athanasious Paulose and to
remember the Saintly Metropolitan's name in the 5th TUBDEN (Diptych) along with
that of his mentor Chathuruthy St. Gregorios Geevarghese (Parumala
Thirumeni), Patriarch Moran Mor Ignatius Elias III (Majinikkara) and Maphryono Mor
Baselios Yeldho (Kothamangalam).
The Patriarchal Bull proclaiming the Canonization of Mor Athanasious Paulose being read by H.E. Mor Julius Kuriakose, the first secretary to
His Holiness the Patriarch of Antioch, in the solemn function held under auspices of the Catholicos Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas I
and the Metropolitans of Malankara, at the Akaparambu Mor Sabor Apfroth Jacobite Syrian Church on 20th August 2004
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Five years later on 18th September 2009, the Patriarch has signed the historic bull permitting to recite the name of ST. ATHANASIUS PAULOSE, in the 5th Tubden and henceforth the holy father's name started to be remembered in all the Malankara Jacobite Syrian churches worldwide after the names of St. Gregorios Abdul Jaleel and St. Osthatheos Sleeba. The concerned bull No.152/2009, dt. 18th September 2009, was read at the Kothamangalam Mar Thoma Church 0n 2nd october 2009 during the 324th memorial feast of Maphryono St. Baselios Yeldho in the presence of His Beatitude the Catholicos, the visiting Archbishop Mor Timotheos Mousa Al Shamani of Nineveh & the abbot of Mor Mattai Dayro, Mosul, Iraq and all the Metropolitans of Malankara Syrian Church.
The Malankara Episcopal Synod Secretary H.G Joseph Mor Gregorious Metropolitan reading the Apostolic Bull of
H.H. Patriarch Ignatius Zakka-I which allows to include name of St. Athanasius Poulose in Holy Diptych
The message was read during the 324th Dukhrono of St. Baselios Eldho at the Kothamangalam "Cheria Pally" on October 2, 2009
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References:
1. Very Rev. Kurien Corepiscopa Kaniamparambil,
(a) 'Aluvayile Valiya Thirumeni' (Biography of Malankara Metropolitan Paulose Mor Athanasius, 1954;
(b) Syrian Church history, 1982.
2. Dr. A M George, article from vision dt. Jan 2003; published in connection with the Golden Jubilee of Dhukrono of Mor Athanasious Valiya Thirumeni.
St. Athanasious Paulose - Biography of Valiya Thirumeni in Malayalam
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