Theme:
Saints
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.”
1 Peter 2:9
Introduction: Fall retreat material is created for a one day event, with one or two general sessions (can be split by age groups) to discuss one main topic. This year, we will be focusing on Saints, who they are, and how they lived. Activities and music will be available, songs will be selected from the Holy Qurbono service specifically about a saint.
Dsicussion/Opening Questions:
- Who can name a Saint?
- Who can say why they became a Saint?
- How many Saints do we have?
About 400 saints from West and East Syriac traditions. https://syriaca.org/saints
What is A Saint?
The Syriac tradition considers holy people or individuals who are venerated as saints. The syriac word for saint is Qadishe.
Who are considered Saints?
A saint is an individual who is considered virtuous and holy. They have lived a heroic life, unwavering in their faith to God during challenging times, suffered tortures, and gave up their life for others (martyred).
Why are Saints Important?
Saints serve as role models for us to imitate a life well lived, maturing in faith, and as intercessors of our prayers to God.
The life of a Saint:
Male Saint- Mor Gregorios
St. Gregorius Geevarghese Chathuruthil also fondly remembered as Parumala Thirumeni was born on 15 June 1848. His parents were Chathuruthil Mathew and Kallarackal Mary. He was the youngest in his family and had four siblings (Kurian, Varkey, Mary and Eli). Parumala Thirumeni started his preliminary education under the guidance of Onakkavil Ayya. After completing his primary education he studied theology and Syriac from his paternal uncle Rev. Geevarghese. Thirumeni led a prayerful and pious life from a very young age. At the age of 10, in the year 1858, he was ordained a subdeacon by His Grace Palakkunnath Mathews Athanasius.
Thirumeni was ordained as a priest in 1865. In 1872, he was elevated to the status of ramban, and then three years later in 1875, he became ordained as Mar Gregorius Metropolitan, becoming the youngest Metropolitan at 29 years old. This then earned him the title of Kochu Thirumeni.
Thirumeni was very strict in his life, following fasting, prayers, and humility. On Wednesdays and Fridays, along with any lent days, he would fast until the evening. He would wake up early, at 4am, and start his prayers and teaching deacons prayers and leading by example how to live a religious life. Thirumeni made sure those who came to the church hungry were fed, when small pox disease was being spread, no matter their background, Thirumeni visited and prayed for the sick in the region.
Quotes Said by Parumula Thirumeni:
- “He who prays to God everyday would never be without truth, morality, faith and devotion, and would never turn against his master or society”
- “When we pray with a heart full of devotion, God accepts it and we receive blessings in return”.
Female Saint and Child– St. Yulithi and St.Kuriakose
St. Yulithi was born into a royal family and lived during the third century A.D. She was married to a chief of the army of Turkey. They had a son, Kuriakose (Quryaqos in Syriac Aramaic) means “belonging to the Lord”, born in A.D. 301 in Iconia, Turkey. St. Yulithi raised St. Kuriakose in the christian faith, believing in the one true living God. After the death of her husband in A.D. 304, she took her 3 year-old son across the Roman empire to escape the persecution of christians. They lived as strangers among the citizens of Tarsus. The governor of Tarsus, Alexandros, was a cruel man known to persecute and kill christians with his bare hands. St. Yulithi and her son St. Kuriakose was caught by Alexandros’ army and brought before him (Rajan, Fr. K.M., 2007; Rajan, G. 2020).
Alexandros asked them to deny Jesus Christ and offer incense to a Roman god Sraphiyon. They were given wine and meat offered to the idols. Both mother and son were steadfast in their faith and refused to give into the Roman governor’s demands. St. Kuriakose said “your idols are made of stone and wood. My real God is Jesus Christ. I am Christian, I am Christian.” They were chained, imprisoned, and tortured. The types torture included pouring sulphur and salt in their nose, nailing the body from shoulder to toes, thrown down from height, and beheaded. During his time in prison, St. Kuriakose converted four hundred thirty prisoners to christianity (Rajan, Fr. K.M., 2007; Rajan, G., 2020).
Governor Alexandros sneered and taunted them, saying, “if your God is capable of saving you, let Him save you from me.” An angel of God came and pulled out the nails from St. Kuriakos’s body and nailed it to Alexandros’ neck. He cried out saying that he believed in a living God. St. Kuriakose extended his hand and Alexandros was free of pain. He truly did not believe in God and on July 15 A.D. 304 beheaded St. Yulithi and threw St. Kuriakose from a height and was martyred. The Feast of Mor Quryaqos and Morth Yulithi are celebrated on July 15 (Rajan, Fr. K.M. 2007).
There are many places in Europe and the Middle East named after Cyricus (Kuriakose). During the reign of the emperor Constantine, the relics of St. Yulithi and St. Kuriakose was found. A monastery was dedicated to them in Constantinople and a church in Jerusalem. In India, there are churches dedicated to St. Kuriakose like in Anandapally, Melpadam, Mundukuzhy, and Puramottam (Varghese, J.P. 2021).
“O Martyrs, you saw Him who hung on the Cross; sitting at the right hand of God weaving your crowns; therefore you thought nothing of every torture; and cleansed your limbs in the blood which flowed from your necks; blessed are you who trampled all pain; and did yearn for the love of Christ; your memories are honored in heaven and on earth”.
Qolo, Wednesday Ramsho of the Syriac Orthodox Church
Blessed are you, O’ Saint Kuriakose and Saint Yulithi; You trampled all pain and yearned for the love of Christ. You savored who God is. You died to live again and to become living together and again, with Christ and in Him.
May your memories be honored in heaven and on earth. May your prayers help us always, and by your prayers, may we learn and yearn to live together and again with Christ. ♰ https://urhotheway.com/2020/07/13/sts-yulithi-and-kuriakose/
Activities Regarding Saints: Ages 3-8
- Saint Julia coloring page
https://www.thecatholickid.com/saint-julia-coloring-page-cnt-mls/
Activities Regarding Saints: Ages 9-12+
- Song: Kuriakose Sahada Pray for us–https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAhAEb_gjOY
- Present a Saint
- Have the students pair off into partners or groups and assign them a saint to learn about, give them 20 minutes or so to find at least 5 details to present.
Songs:
Bhoovilashesham
| Bhoovilase-sham Dhaivathal preritharaya Sleehanmar poi Jathikalidayil Bhoothala seemayatholam Nallevan-geliyon Kaikkolvor kkokkeyezhum Bhagyamithe-nnariyichu Swargamaha-rajyam | Those apostles; Chosen, sent by God, they went To ev’ry place, Through all the world Gentiles heard from them the news The Gospel grace. They proclaimed-the kingdom, Heav’n’s rule-of freedom, For the faithful bliss. |
Paulose Sleeha
| Paulose sleeha Dhannian cholkette nithevam Ningale njangalareecha vayee nEthiraayaaranum chonaal Vanavanengilu maa dhoothan Thanelkum sabhayin sapam Palatharamupadhe sangalaho Paril mulachu parakkunnu Daivathin upadesam thott- Avasanippippon dhannian | Paul the Blessed Saint, the Lord’s Apostle, said If one come to preach to you Other doctrine than we knew, Be he man or angel bright, Curs’d be he in Church’s sight; Doctrines all diverse arise, Shooting up with many lies; Blest is he who first and last Trusts God’s truth and holds it fast. |
References
Gateway to the Syriac Saints: A Database Project- https://syriaca.org/saints/
Rajan. Fr. K. M. (2007). Mor Quryaqos & Morth Yulithi in Martyrs, Saints & Prelates of the Syriac Orthodox Church, Volume 1, pg.66-67. The Travancore Syriac Orthodox Publishers, Kottayam, Kerala, India & SOCMNet.org
Rajan. G. (2020). Sts. Yulithi and Kuriakose- https://urhotheway.com/2020/07/13/sts-yulithi-and-kuriakose/
Urho, The Way-https://urhotheway.com/
Varghese, J.P. (2021). Holy Martyrs Kuriakose and Mother Yuleeti-July 15. https://oneinchrist.in/holy-martyrs-kuriakos-and-mother-yulletti-july-15/
Urho, The Way-https://urhotheway.com/: https://urhotheway.com/2020/11/03/parumala-thirumeni/