St. Abdul Jaleel Mor Gregorios Bava

During the 15th and 16th Centuries, Malankara Jacobite Syrian Church, was subjected to different kinds of religious persecution and suppression from external forces. With a view to redeeming the syrian Christians of Malankara Church, the Holy Patriarch of Jerusalem (Fifth Patriarch), Abdul Jaleel Mor Gregorios Bava was sent to Malankara (Kerala) from the Holy Throne of the Antioch.

Abdul Jaleel Mor Gregorios Bava belong to the city of Moosal. He was the Bishop of the City of Ameed (Dayarbaker) and nearby places for ten years. Thereafter, His Holiness was elevated to become the Patriarch of Jerusalem (Fifth Patriarch). His Holiness, tidring over the hazards of journey, usual in those days, ultimately landed near Ponnani Fort in Kerala in A.D. 1665. Mor Gregorios Bava with his statesmanship reunited the two warring groups of Syrians and established a degree of peace and reconciliation in the Malankara Sabha. He travelled the length and breath of Kerala, visiting various Churches and preached to the people and brought the faithfuls to the true faith under the Holy Throne of Antioch. His Holiness also revived the spiritual traditions and faith of the Syrian Christians. His Holiness ordained Thomas Arkadeyacon as Marthoma, the first, in 1665, A.D. With this single act, His Holiness reestablished the Malankara-Antioch relationship which was cut off during some time. His Holiness and Marthoma, the first, together ordained Marthoma, the second. But for His Holiness timely action, the Malankara Sabha in its present form should not have been in existence. As His Holiness was responsible for the re-establishment of Jacobite faith, He was known as "Yakoob Burdana" of Malankara. 
 


 
Holy Tomb


  
Holy kappa
Due to the abound love and respect showered on Him by the faithfuls of the St.Thomas Jacobite Syrian Church, N Paravur, His Holiness stayed on for about 7 years here and exercised his temporal and ecclesiastical powers over the Malankara Sabha. On the 27th April, 1681 A.D. (M.E. 857 Medom 14th, Friday), His Holiness was called to eternal rest and entombed in this Church.

He knew in advance the exact hour of his demise and accordingly, in the presence of thousands of devotees, He wore His official robes, and went inside the Church and breathed His last. At the time of His demise, as a wonder, it is said, that the Church bells chimed on its own and the big granite cross standing on the western courtyard of the Church bowed in reverence and stood erect again. There was also unprecedented brightness both inside and outside the church at the time of His demise. 

Historians like Whitehouse Padiri had recorded the miraculous powers of Mor Gregorios Bava. There is a never ending stream of pilgrims from all religious faiths around the year, make their way to His Holy Tomb. Many of the believers will vouch for the miraculous recovery from cronic diseases, child birth, dispossession from evil spirits etc. 
The death anniversary of Mor Gregorios Bava, which falls every year on Medom 14th (April 27th) is the biggest perunnal of this ancient church and is being celebrated as a  festival of Paravur and Malankara Sabha. The Kerala Government has declared Paravur Town as a festival area for this Perunnal. Over a lakh of devotees from all religious faiths from the far corners of the country and from abroad visit His Holy shrine on this day and also participate in this perunnal and feast in order to get the blessings from the miraculous Holy tomb of the Saint. In addition, thousands of pilgrims from different parts of Kerala tread on foot covering many miles enroute to reach the Holy tomb every year. The Holy feast is being conducted here without a break for the past 320 years at the expense of this church.



On the festival day, viz. 27th April, His Vestments, Holy Kasa and the Golden Cross which is kept in Arulikka worn by His Holiness, which contains 12 Holy relics in separate compartments, are ceremoniously taken out and exhibited for public veneration. 

The holy Arulikka which has 12 partitions of which 11 contains the holy mortal remains of Saint. The middle partition contains the holy part of the cross in which Jesus Christ was crucified.

His Holiness Abdul Jaleel Mor Gregorios Bava was elevated as a Saint on 7th April, 2000, by His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka Iwas, Prince Patriarch of Antioch and all the East.

For those devotees who wants to become an integral part of the annual Bava Shardha Perunnal (death anniversary of the saint) may remit Rs. 101/- per "Ohari" (Share) in the name of one person, to the vicar, St. Thomas Jacobite Syrian Church, N Paravur, Pin 683513, Kerala, India.

Devotees can also sponsor various items for the conduct of the Perunnal, viz. food articles, illumination, band, fire works etc., for which they may get in touch with the Manager, St. Thomas Jacobite Syrian Church, N Paravur, Pin 683513, Kerala, India. All cash offerings may kindly be sent in the name of the St. Thomas Jacobite Syrian Church. Due to pressing demands from devotees, the church authorities have since printed donation coupons of various denominations towards the construction of Abdul Jaleel Mor Gregorios Bava "Kurishumthotty", for which official receipts will be issued by the church.