sometime in the 1950s(if I heard correctly).
Many important delegates from the WCC (World Council of Churches)
were present.
One day Thomas Achen felt that one side of his face had become numb.
He felt weak, and ill. His eyelids were drooping. He had double
vision. He was examined by a doctor from Vellore. The doctor was
concerned and asked for some reports. The medical reports confirmed
that Thomas Achen had a brain tumor. The doctor called achen and
told him that he was diagnosed to have brain tumor. He showed achen
the reports and showed him exactly where the tumor was. He told
achen,"You can come to Vellore and undergo an operation. But I need
to tell you the risks involved -
1) You may die on the operating table 2) You may become disabled 3)
If you do not undergo the operation, you may have another 6 months
at the most to live. Now you choose what you want to do. If you
choose to have the operation, contact me in Vellore and we will have
it all set up"
It was a very difficult choice for Thomas Achen. He finally made up
his mind to go and have the operation and take the risk. At about
this time, an American couple who were delegates at the conference
and who were pleased by the service of Thomas Achen at the conference, offered
him a scholarship to come and study in the States. Thomas achen said he was
interested in the offer; and made plans to go to Vellore.
Thomas Achen went to his home in Airoor in Kerala, and made his
parents aware of his situation - that he had a brain tumor, and that
he was planning to have an operation in Vellore, that there was a
big chance that he may not come back from Vellore alive. He told
them, that in that situation, they should bury him in Vellore, and
not bother to bring his body back to his hometown, to save the
expenses.
He met the then Bava and told him of his situation - that soon Bava
might have to find a replacement for him in Delhi. Bava prayed for
him, then told him - "Go into the chapel and tell God your
situation. If He wants your service here, you will not die, and if
He wants you with Him there, you will go away from us". So Thomas
Achen went into the chapel and prayed.
He took the train to Vellore, and met the (seminary?, I think)
inmates at Vellore. He told the achen there about his situation and
prepared a place for his burial there in Vellore. The next day, he
got up, he did not feel any of the symptoms he felt earlier, like
the drooping eyelids, numbness, double vision etc. Achen remembered
an old saying that when you are closer to death, every thing
suddenly feels calm and normal! He was terrified and he hurried to
the hospital where he had already made an appointment. The nurse
came to examine him. She looked at him and asked -"Where are the
drooping eyelids?" "Do you feel numb in the face?" "Do you see
double?" Achen could only reply "No!" to all her queries. The
perplexed nurse ran out and came back with the doctor who examined
him in Delhi. After examinations, the doctor asked"Where is your
brain tumor?" "I dont know" replied Thomas Achen!
For two months, the doctors did several tests on Achen. Then one
day, 18 of the doctors in Vellore, came into his room. The doctor
who examined him in Delhi said,"There are some things which the
Medical Profession does not understand..this is one of those
things..I saw the brain tumor in your head in Delhi..now I dont see
it!"
Later Thomas Achen contacted the American couple and took the
scholarship and came to the States.He believes that it was the prayers of many
people that healed him from his brain tumor.
This Thomas Achen is now known to us as H.G. Thomas Mar Makarios,
Metropolitan. He is the first Metropolitan of the American Diocese, as also
the first Metropolitan of the Bombay Diocese ( - then called the Outside
Kerala Diocese if I am not mistaken). May God who healed him miraculously
from brain tumor fifty years ago, grant us the privilege to enjoy the physical
presence and blessings of this great father of the church for many more years to
come.
===========
I heard this incident from Thirumeni while Thirumeni was speaking to
the youth here in Austin Church last weekend (2004). There may be factual
errors in the message, since I am writing from memory. One purpose
of me writing this message is to point out that physical healing does happen
in our church, though we do not publicise it as much as some other
Christian Brethren.
Quotes of Makarios Thirumeni:
============================
"The church needs to change - Just like the 4th century church was
not exactly a carbon copy of the 1st Century church, so also the
21st Century church cannot be an exact carbon copy of the 1st
century church or the 20th century church. Change is not a threat.
Change is Growth and growth is change. The church needs to continuously adapt
to the new society."
"Love others, your church 'inspite of' them, not 'because of' somethings in
them. You should not love anyone 'because of' something, but rather you
should love 'inspite of' everything, that is true love"
Regards,
Mathew Samuel
Austin, TX
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianOrthodox/message/7473
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