Bill Text: NY J00570 | 2021-2022 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Mourning the death of The Very Reverend Father Yohannan Sankarathil Chor Episcopos

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2021-04-06 - ADOPTED [J00570 Detail]

Download: New_York-2021-J00570-Introduced.html

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Senate Resolution No. 570

BY: Senator THOMAS

        MOURNING  the  death  of  The Very Reverend Father
        Yohannan Sankarathil Chor  Episcopos,  distinguished
        citizen,  religious leader and devoted member of his
        community

  WHEREAS, It is the sense of this  Legislative  Body  to  bring  full
recognition  and  just  tribute  to  those  men  and  women of religious
commitment who accept the responsibility of moral leadership and  render
the wisdom of human understanding; and

  WHEREAS,  This  Legislative  Body is moved to mourn the death of The
Very Reverend Father Yohannan Sankarathil Chor  Episcopos  who  died  on
Saturday, March 20, 2021, at the age of 85; and

  WHEREAS,  Yohannan  Sankarathil  was  born  on March 1, 1936, in the
ancient  'Sankarathil'  (Sankarapuri)  family  of  priestly   tradition,
Kumbazha,  Pathanamthitta,  Kerala,  India, to Sri. Kunjummen Mathai and
Aliyamma, who called him Kunjunjukutty, the youngest of  four  brothers;
and

  WHEREAS,  At the young age of 12, Yohannan Sankarathil began serving
at the Altar (Madbaha) with the blessings of the late  H.G.  Geevarghese
Mar  Philexinos  Metropolitan (Puthenkavil KochuThirumeni), and ordained
Deacon by the late H.H.  Baselius  Geevarghese  II,  the  Catholicos  on
August  29,  1953;  on August 21, 1970, he was priested by the late H.G.
Daniel Mar Philexinos, Metropolitan of the Thumapamon Diocese; and

  WHEREAS, On  April  26,  1980,  Reverend  Yohannan  Sankarathil  was
consecrated   Cor-Episcopos  at  the  home  parish,  St.  Mary's  Valiya
Cathedral, Kumbazha, by the late H.H. Baselius Mar Thoma Mathews I,  the
Catholicos of the East; and

  WHEREAS,  For  many  years,  Reverend  Yohannan  Sankarathil was the
secretary to the late H.H.  Baselius  Geevarghese  II,  the  Catholicos,
Augen  I,  when H.H. was Metropolitan and as the Catholicos of the East,
and continued with H.H. Baselius Mar Thoma Mathews I; he also served  as
Editor of 'Malankara Sabha' the official organ of the Malankara Orthodox
Church; and

  WHEREAS,   Yohannan  Sanikarathil  came  to  the  United  States  on
September  12,  1970,  for  higher  theological  studies  at  the  Union
Theological Seminary, New York; immediately after graduating S.T.M. from
the  U.T.S.Seminary,  he  was  appointed  by  H.H. Baselius Augen I, the
Catholicos, the first appointment of one of our priests  in  the  United
States,  on  August  2,  1971,  to  organize  parishes for the Malankara
Orthodox Church in the United States, one of which was  the  St.  Thomas
Orthodox  Church,  New  York (at present The St. Thomas Orthodox Church,
Yonkers); and

  WHEREAS, A well-educated  man,  Yohannan  Sankarathil  attended  and
earned  degrees  from  Pathanamthitta Catholicate H.S. B.A. (Economics),
M.A. (Malayalam and  Sanskrit)  Kerala  University;  G.S.T.  (Theology),
Orthodox Theological College, Kottayam, Kerala; S.T.M. (Theology), Union

Theological  Seminary,  New York; M.S. (Counseling Psychology and Family
Counseling)  Long  Island  University,  New  York;  M.T.R.  (Therapeutic
Recreation),   New  York  University,  New  York;  M.S.  (Rehabilitation
Counseling),  Hofstra University, New York; D.Min. (Doctor of Ministry),
Canada Christian College, Toronto,  Canada;  A.C.P.A.  Trained  Chaplain
(Clinical  Pastoral  Counseling);  and  Certified  Drug  and  Alcoholism
Counselor; the New York Union Theological Seminary honored him with  the
title 'Ecumenical Fellow'; and

  WHEREAS,  From  1975 until his retirement in 2000, Reverend Yohannan
Sankarathil worked at the New York State Psychiatric Hospital;  he  then
became fully engaged in church and community activities, playing a vital
role  in  the  formation  and  growth  of  the  American  Diocese of the
Malankara Orthodox Church; served as the Diocesan  Council  member,  the
first  Secretary  of the Clergy Association of the American Diocese, and
Secretary of the Clergy Association and Managing Committee member of the
Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church; and

  WHEREAS, In 1979, Reverend Yohannan Sankarathil  served  as  General
Convener  of  the  reception  committee  that  made arrangements for the
five-week American visit of the Catholicos of the East; and

  WHEREAS, Widely acknowledged as a learned  Theologian,  a  prominent
convention  speaker  and  retreat father and eminent organizer, Reverend
Yohannan Sankarathil is survived by his wife, Elcy Yohannan Sankarathil,
and their two sons; and

  WHEREAS, This distinguished man of  God  always  gave  guidance  and
wisdom to the many entrusted to his care and administered abundantly and
unstintingly to the spiritual and corporal needs of all; and

  WHEREAS,  Armed  with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of
compassion, Reverend Yohannan Sankarathil Chor Episcopos leaves behind a
legacy which will long endure the passage of time and will remain  as  a
comforting memory to all he served and befriended; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor the life and accomplishments of The Very Reverend Father  Yohannan
Sankarathil  Chor  Episcopos,  and to express its deepest condolences to
his family, colleagues and friends who mourn  his  passing;  and  be  it
further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted  to  the  family  of  The  Very  Reverend  Father   Yohannan
Sankarathil Chor Episcopos.