Today is the 5th
death anniversary of Archcorepiscopa Dr. Curien Kaniyamparambil achen, fondly
known as Kaniyamparambil achen. The Simhasana Church in Thiruvalla, where I now
serve, has a long and deep relationship with achen as he touched the lives of
several generations of families here. He was a scholar without parallel in the Jacobite
Syrian Orthodox Church and respected among people from all denominations and
religions. He was known for his scholarship, humility and hospitality. But I would
like to touch upon a topic seldom discussed with regard to achen. He was a priest
who overcame disabilities, the lack of hearing being primary among them.
Looking back, I feel that
we never discuss the struggles and hardships of our ancestors and straight away
harp on their achievements as if no struggles were involved or that they were
so talented that they did not have to try too much. But achen had to overcome
his hearing disability which then expanded to tremor (uncontrollable shaking of
hands) and later on to finding it difficult to walk. Our communities want us to
believe that priests and ministerial candidates are perfect and should be
perfect. Medical check ups before bishop elections are only one example of
this. But the most perfect of ministries are done by imperfect men and women
and achen is a prime example of that.
I have heard other
priests and people making fun of achen’s hearing disability and calling him a
mute (pottan in Malayalam, which also has a derogatory meaning of being an
idiot). All because he could not hear properly and one had to strain their
voice while speaking to him! But instead of being bogged down and faltering
under the weight of ill timed and unjustified jokes, he wrote and spoke like a
man guided by the Holy Spirit. Many of us learnt to speak for long by listening
to him. Achen made his disability into his ability. While we were being
influenced by the sounds and temptations of the world, he sat for hours to read
and write.
His major achievement of
translating the Peshitta Syriac bible into Malayalam was done with these
disabilities. He found the strength to overcome his tremor when he wrote and it
came back when he had to do something else. He offered hundreds of prayers and
services by reading lips and the actions of those around him. For me he has
shown that one does not have to be ashamed of their disability but can rather
embrace it and make it their biggest ability and asset.
I am reminded of St. John
9:3 where Jesus answers his disciples and says that “neither the man nor his
parents have sinned, he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in
him.” The St. George Simhasana Church in Thiruvalla is indebted to achen for
showing us that we can overcome our disabilities and to know that our disabilities
have opened our eyes to see our abilities. There are so many children and youngsters
who think that they are not good enough and wont make the cut or mark in an
examination or test and that they are not perfect enough as their family and
society would want them to be. May God and achen be a source of inspiration so
that we never feel bogged down and dejected. We thank God for his life and
contributions and pray that several people will get the courage and strength to
do their education through achen’s blessed intercession. Dear achen, pray for
us, your beloved children.
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