Bishop Makarios Memorial Sculpture Unveiled and Dedicated

MAY 16, 2009

"Untitled" by Mark Chatterley

Alma College Campus, Michigan

Created by Michigan artist Mark Chatterley, the amazing and beautiful sculpture depicts a figure with winged arms raised. It looks at once traditional and futuristic. Palms are in prayer and the wings are actually made up of figures that get progressively smaller. The statue is one of only two statues in the Midwest dedicated to leaders from India – the other is to Mohandas Gandhi in Milwaukee.

The sculpture has been installed in a public area in the middle of the Alma College campus, with ample lighting for evening visiting. Benches have been placed facing the sculpture to sit and meditate. The sculpture installation was not the only legacy of Bishop Makarios established; perhaps the most visible. The Bishop Dr. Thomas Mar Makarios Scholarship Fund has been established to honor his teaching at Alma College. For more information, please call the Advancement Office 1-800-291-1312

Photos in sculpture collage by Teresa Paprock and John Brian Paprock

Entries about the dedication ceremony and the texts of remarks from distinguished representatives can be view on this blog, click on the links below:

Bishop Makarios Memorial Dedication Program - photos of program

Saundra Tracy, Alma College President complete text of opening remarks at the dedication including complete text of Dr. Ross Mackenzie of Union Theological Seminary whose remarks that were read aloud

Orthodox Memorial Service - photos collage of the prayer service

Dr. Madhavan Anirudhan is the founder President of FOKANA
complete text of remarks read aloud at the dedication

Dr. Ronald L. Massanari, Professor Emeritus, Department of Religious Studies at Alma College - complete text of his remarks at the dedication

Bishop Makarios Memorial Dedication Program

Over 200 people of all ages, religions and ethnic groups attended the event, which featured a bagpipe prelude by Alma College piper and student Alyse Redman and Malankara Orthodox memorial prayers for the late Bishop [see collage in separate entry]. The bagpipes honored the Scottish heritage of Alma College, while the memorial service introduced non-Orthodox audience members to the particular beauty and ceremony that is Oriental Orthodoxy.

A recent graduate of Alma College, Ann Armbuster, performed a cello solo from Handel’s Xerxes. Dr. Ron Massanari, a professor of religion at Alma and colleague of the Bishop, spoke tenderly about his love for the Bishop, choking up with tears on a couple of occasions. Presbyterian Chaplain Carol Gregg gave an opening invocation and Reverend Jesse Perry, a Baptist minister, said he was honored to give the benediction.

Collage of photos by Teresa Paprock

Upper Left - Bagpipe prelude, Alyse Redman

Upper Mid - Alma College President, Saundra Tracy (text of remarks in separate entry)

Upper Right - a view from the sculpture of some of those attending

Mid Left - Invocation, Presbyterian Chaplain Carol Gregg

Middle - Michigan artist Mark Chatterley

Mid Right - Cello Solo, Ann Armbuster

Lower Left - Fr Lazarus

Lower Mid - Professor Dr. Ron Massanari

Lower Right - Benediction, Reverend Jesse Perry

Dedication Remarks: Saundra Tracy, Alma College President

Here is the complete text of Alma College President Saundra Tracy's opening remarks followed by some remarks of other distinguished people. We are grateful to President Tracy's allowance for the remarks to be published as well as the extraordinary manner in which the dedication ceremony was held at Alma College, Michigan. Photo by Teresa Paprock


Welcome today to his beloved campus, and may the Bishop’s presence be felt here among us.

Welcome this afternoon to Alma College for this very special gathering. This college community wanted a way to preserve the memory of Bishop Thomas Makarios – to keep his spirit among us long into the future. Of course, his spirit will be kept alive in the lives and works of the many Alma students who he taught, mentored.

But we wanted something tangible as a reminder of his faithfulness, and the wisdom he shared with us all. The idea of a beautiful work of art, visible to all who stepped on this campus, seemed just right. This, the wonderful sculpture we dedicate today will remind all who pass this way of the life and work of this extraordinary man.

I read to you the words of Dr. Ross MacKenzie, professor emeritus of Union Theological Seminary and the academic advisor for Bishop Makarios during his doctoral program sent to us by Dr. Anirudham, leader of the Diaspora Keralite-Indian Community in North America. (READ Excerpts from letter)




Below is the complete text of Professor MacKenzie's remarks. We are grateful to him for allowing us to read his edifying words.

Dr. Anirudhan's remarks can be read in a separate entry http://orthodoxmissionamerica.blogspot.com/2009/06/bishop-makarios-memorial-dedication-dr.html




Dr. Ross Mackenzie.
Professor Emeritus, Union Theological Seminary
Richmond, Virginia
Historian Emeritus, Chautauqua Institution
Chautauqua, New York


At this time, when Alma College unveils a figurative sculpture that represents the spiritual ideals of the late Bishop Thomas Makarios, I eagerly add my own tribute of praise. He was for nearly five years a graduate student at Union Theological Seminary in Virginia. The thesis, which he completed in our Department of History, represented one of the continuing ideals of his life—ecumenical relations. Bishop Makarios, however, was not just a gifted scholar. One of my happiest memories of the student I knew then as Father Thomas was to watch faculty children on the seminary campus follow after him like the Pied Piper of Kottayam, and sit with him to hear the magical stories he spun about the bountiful part of the world that lies between the Western Ghats and the Arabian.

During my time in South India I told him that in the United States, the shortest distance between two points is a straight line from A to Z; whereas in the boundaries of his church, the line moves like a zigzag from Y to B to M to Z. That is how we traveled, and everywhere the people welcomed him as priest and friend, whether for ceremonies of the church or celebrations of ordinary life. Never a Sunday came without his celebrating the Holy Qurbana, a Eucharistic service of exquisite beauty.

During the months in which I served as visiting professor at his Orthodox Seminary in Kottayam, South India, I visited the village in which he had grown up. We went first to the ancient church of St. Mary in which he had been baptized, confirmed, and ordained. After lunch with his then elderly parents, the two us of walked through the natural beauty of the Kerala estate in which he had been brought up, in a family of five, with two other brothers who became priests, a sister who became a nun, and a sister who taught in a church school. He paused on the walk, looked around, and whispered, “God, I love this place.” I had never heard the gentle priest speak with such passion. You may reckon it as true that he whispered that also about Alma College many a time.

When I learned of the accident in England, from the injuries of which he died seven weeks later, I shared the deep grief of his whole church and of this academic community. I honor Alma College for showing its own deep affection for a priest among priests, for a hierarch who was also at one time my own bishop, and for a red-robed friend and advisor to hundreds of students, members of the faculty and of staff.

So let us hear, to close, these words from the Holy Qurbana that he knew by heart and sang countless times: “Grant, O Savior, that the faithful departed may be raised from the dead imperishable, garlanded with the glory of the Lord.”

Dedication: Orthodox Memorial Service

On May 16, 2009 - Orthodox Memorial Prayers with incense. Wuind prevented a traditional lighting of the oil lamp. Six different priests sang in the service that was led by Father Lazarus, Bishop Makarios' brother. This collage consists photos taken by Teresa Paprock Kochamma.

Dedication Remarks: Dr. Madhavan Anirrudhan

[Dr. Anirudhan intended on being at the dedication, but business and travel complications prevented his appearance. He sent these remarks to be read at the ceremony on May 16, 2009. They were read aloud by Alma College President Saundra Tracy. We are grateful to Dr Anirudhan for the honor of presenting his words for our edification. File photo.]


Mar Makarios Metropolitan
From Dr. M. Anirudhan

Dr. Madhavan Anirudhan is the founder President of FOKANA, an academician as a nuclear Chemist, the corporate head of research for one of the largest multi-national companies and now President and CEO of ESSEN Nutrition Corporation of Chicago and a social worker among Indians in North America.

He was awarded Bharathiya Pravasi Samman Award by the President of India, Dr. J Abdul Kalam in 2006.

He wanted to share few of his memories of his grace Mar Makarios Metropolitan to this august audience.

Message


I have been associated with all the religious denominations from India serving in this country. And almost all have very broadminded for people from other faiths. His grace Mar Makarios stands on the top of the line in this category with distinct difference.

When the Federation of the Kerala Associations of North America, known as FOKANA, was established bringing a national organization for the 500,000 Keralites of USA and Canada, Mar Makarios worked for its formation along with Hon. K R Narayan, former President of India who was then the Ambassador of India at Washington D C.

When we were finalizing the constitution of FOKANA, its membership was centered on all the secular Kerala organizations in North America. A demand was made by several Kerala religious organizations for membership. We consulted Mr. K R Narayanan. He told us that this is a delicate matter, ask the advise of Mar Makarios Thirumeni. We approached his grace. He reminded us how the founding fathers of America made this country a place of equality for all faiths - the greatness of America in not mixing the Church and the State. The people of Kerala origin in North America should have the same idealistic world in their national organization. We finalized the constitution of FOKANA in that spirit. Later Hon. Mr. K R Narayanan remarked to me “Among so many religious priests that columns the spiritual world of Malayalees Mar Makarios stands alone.”

In the late 80’s the Indian state of Punjab was disturbed with violent intolerance of religious friction. We organized a religious harmony seminar in Chicago. Dr. Karan Singh, Maharaja of Kashmir, one of the greatest living scholars of the Eastern Philosophy was the guest of honor. We brought His Grace Mar Makarios to represent Kerala. Dr. Karan Singh asked us that who are the representatives of the other two religions from Kerala. I said “His Grace Mar Makarios Metropolitan”. Dr Karan Singh got puzzled. Other states participated had Hindu scholars and Muslim scholars. That evening witnessed Mar Makarios Metropolitan as the star speaker. During the concluding remarks, Dr Karan Singh exclaimed, “When all the India burns with religious fanaticism, there is one exception – the State of Kerala. We always wonder why Kerala is different. We heard Mar Makarios Metropolitan. Now I understand why. “

His Grace Mar Makarios was distinctly different! In epic proportions!

Mar Makarios Thirumeni was awarded THE FOKANA LIFETIME AWARD IN 2002 IN CHICAGO at Sheraton Convention Center, the greatest honor FOKANA ever awarded to anybody. Over 5000 Keralites witnessed this ceremony where it was stated to His Grace:

“By accepting this honor, you are bestowing the greatest honor to 33 millions Keralites around the world.”

Indeed He did. His Grace brought Honor and Belongingness to us!

Thank you very much.

Dedication Remarks: Dr Ronald Massanri

[This is the complete text of Dr. Massanari's remarks at the dedication. We are grateful to him for allowing us the edifcation of his speech.]



Dr. Ronald L. Massanari
Professor Emeritus, Department of Religious Studies
Alma College, Alma, MI 48801
May 16, 2009


To all friends of Bishop Makarios, greetings:

For some twenty-five years, Alma College was graced by the quite visible presence of Bishop Makarios. After the Bishop’s tragic death, the College decided that, in addition to establishing a scholarship in his name, it would commission a commemorative sculpture for the Bishop. Therefore, after preliminary discussions during the summer, on a bright sunny day Carrie Parks-Kirby from the Art Department, Renu Paul the Bishop’s assistant, President Tracy, and I went on an adventure to find a sculptor who could bring into form something of our memories of the spirit and meaning of Bishop Makarios. What became evident was that we needed to put this spirit and meaning of the Bishop into words so an artist could give shape and form to these memories.

As we talked about how to give voice to these memories, we decided that a more symbolic representation of those attributes characterizing the life and spirit of the Bishop would be more appropriate than a literal presentation of the Bishop. We acknowledged that his flowing red robes, snowy white beard, and monastic head covering were a significant part of our memories of the Bishop, but we wanted something more than the obvious. We concluded that a figurative and more symbolic representation would allow each of us to engage the sculpture in our own ways, depending on how we knew and experienced the Bishop. As we told stories about and reflected on experiences with the Bishop, especially related to the fact that he was an effective educator, spiritual mentor and leader, confidant and friend, and a genuine and influential presence in the lives of so many of us, these attributes surfaced: (1) his compassion and empathy that was manifest in his embracing and accepting personality, (2) his openness to and understanding of differing perspectives and positions that was evident in his encompassing vision of reality, (3) his embodied spiritual presence that informed a profoundly pastoral life style, and (4) his contemplative approach to life and living where all meaningful things were sacred and a mystery.

What resulted from this process with the sculptor Mark Chatterley is an art work that gives shape and form to these attributes in a way that opens up the spirit and meaning of the Bishop that engages each of us. For example, the primary figure is linked to diverse figures presented in similar form indicating an embracing presence and communal interrelationship. The spiritual or vertical dimension is intriguingly balanced with the natural or horizontal dimension in a way revealing that all is sacred.

For me the sculpture stimulates memories of a colleague in the Religious Studies Department who engaged students and his colleagues in effective and influential ways because he cared deeply for others and their struggles to make sense of life and living. On an even more personal note, the sculpture activates memories of the Bishop as a member of our family and the fact that our children had the unique opportunity of growing up with the Bishop frequently in our home. During our many discussions around a table of extra spicy food, we witnessed a compassionate understanding in his approach to questions of life and living. He would often remind us that while some things could be explained, the realm of meaning and purpose was ultimately a mystery. He was a dear friend and spiritual mentor for our family. These and many other experiences with the Bishop determine how I see and engage this sculpture.

We tried to articulate those attributes that not only characterized the Bishop but would allow different people to encounter this sculpture and relate it to their own experiences, even if they did not know the Bishop. Mark Chatterley’s sculpture in memory of Bishop Makarios not only embodies and informs these attributes but with creative imagination presents a symbolic representation of the spirit and meaning of the Bishop. While we genuinely miss his actual presence, through our engagement with this sculpture, Bishop Makarios continues to be present with us at Alma College.











[after this, the dedication program was ended with a benediction from Baptist minister, Rev. Jesse Perry - photo by Teresa Paprock]