Condolences from Archbishop H.E. Mor Theethose Yeldo's

About Mor Julios Yeshu Cicek of Blessed Memory

(Posted in the SOCM-Forum)

Dear All,

By this time you might have known the sad demise of our beloved brother in Christ, Mor Julios Yeshu Cicek, Metropolitan of Middle Europe. The Syrian Orthodox Church in India cannot forget this pious Metropolitan who visited India several times and blessed our faithful people in Malankara. He had great appreciation for the Church in India and it is through his generous assistance that we could establish our Theological Seminary in Mulanthuruthy. His vision for the Ministry is well demonstrated through his achievements in the growth of the Syrian Orthodox Church throughout the European Countries. Being the first Archbishop for Europe, he had to struggle a lot in organizing our parishes in different parts of the country. If we look at the St. Ephrem Monastery in Holland and the St. Augin Monastery in Switzerland, we can see the leadership he gave to bring- up the youth and children of our Church in the true Faith and Tradition.

My personal experience with His Eminence starts in 1982, while he was  accompanying His Holiness the Patriarch in his Apostolic visit to India. Being a candidate for the diaconate, I was introduced to His Eminence at that time. The next several encounters with His Eminence were at the St. Ephrem Patriarchal Seminary in Damascus, while I was a student there. He used to visit the Seminary every now and then. The students were very happy at his visits because he used to bring gifts to each student. He used to show the list of books published by him and to ask us to select any one of them as a free gift. (Some of them were very expensive- even over $100). He used to ask the students about their ambitions. I still remember his questions, " Who wants to become a monk and who wants to become a Kassiso (married priest)?". He encouraged several students to seek the life of a monk. He loved all Seminarians whether they are in Damascus or in India or In Holland or In Germany or in Swiss.

During my studies in the United States, H.E invited me to visit our Monasteries and Churches in Europe. I remember with gratitude the happy and pleasant experiences I had at our Monasteries in Holland, in Germany and in Swiss. In fact, I have learned to speak in Syriac, mainly during my stay at these Monasteries. The important thing I noticed with Mor Julios is his prayer life and his hard-working nature. If he is present in the Monastery, he would be at the Chapel for every Prayer Services. And at the other times, he would be busy with his publishing work or with the Archdiocesan work in his room. He has published quite a lot of books from our Seminary in Holland. Once I asked His Eminence why he is working so hard, he smiled and replied, "If you are not working, you are not eligible to eat". A simple truth that God has stated in the Garden of Eden!

The final meeting with His Eminence was at Damascus, few days after my Consecration as Metropolitan. He was so sad for being unable to attend my Consecration (He was present when I became a Ramban in 1998). To me, he remains as a guide in showing me that the position of a Bishop is a calling to work harder for the Church and the people and not to enjoy a luxurious life.

We express our deepest condolence at the demise of our beloved spiritual father. May God give rest to his soul in the bosom of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob.

+ Theethose Thirumeni

MOR THEETHOS YELDHO

Archbishop of the Malankara Archdiocese of

Syriac Orthodox Church in North America