The Feast of St. Mor Osthatheos Sleeba, the Delegate

Mor Osthatheos Sleeba, the saintly Syrian father venerated with great affection by the Malankara Syrian Christians, was born on 1 January  1854, in the village of ‘Kfarzo’ in Mesopotamia situated in the south-east Turkey. He belonged to the ‘Abakker’ family, his father was Salbi and mother Nabuna.  His baptismal name was ‘SALIBA’ (Sleebo/Sleeba).

At the age of seven Sleeba started his education under his uncle Kassisso Danaha.  Later his studies continued under Raban Shem`un at the Damascus church. Even while continuing his studies he worked in nearby villages for his livelihood.  In 1880, he was ordained Koroyoo (Deacon) by his Malphono (Malpan/teacher) who by then had been elevated as Metropolitan for the Damascus diocese by name Mor Athanasius Shem`un.

Deacon Sleebo, accompanied the newly appointed Patriarchal delegate, H.G. Shem`un Mor Athanasius to Malankara and reached Cochin on January 1, 1881.  They stayed in a small room at Kottayam Puthenpally and preached the Holy Gospel of Our Lord, both within our Church and outside.

After the demise of Mor Athanasius Shem`un, Deacon Sleeba worked with Mor Gregorios Geevarghese (Parumala Thirumeni).  Syriac was the medium that is believed to have brought both of them together. St. Antony of Egypt, the Coptic monk who lived in the 3rd century was of a great inspiration for both. Their intimate relationship continued until the last of Kochu thirumeni.

In 1906 a Patriarchal bull reached Malankara, requesting Dn. Sleeba to reach the Dayro at Mosul (Iraq) for his ordination as Metropolitan. Thus after 25 years in Malankara as a deacon, in 1906 Deacon Sleeba was ordained as Kassisso (Full Priest) at the age of 52 and two weeks later as ‘RABAN’ (Monk Priest/Ramban) by Mor Kurillos Elias Qudsho, at the Monastery of Mor Mattay, near Mosul.  In March 1908 Patriarch of Antioch & all the East Moran Mor Ignatius Abded’ Aloho (Abdullah II) consecrated Raban Sleebo as Metropolitan and was entrusted with the name OSTHATHEOS. After the Metropolitan consecration, Mor Osthatheos Sleebo, along with the other two newly ordained bishops and Ramban Augen, returned to India and assumed the responsibility of the Patriarchal representative in Malankara.

Unfortunately, a major split occurred in the Malankara Syrian community just two years later in 1911; Vattasseril Mor Dionysius emerged as the leader of the dissident group.  It was actually the disputes between Vattasseril Thirumeni and his co-trustees that led to the sad split. These disputes made the responsibility of Mor Osthatheos Bava even more greater; he along with the newly elected Malankara Metropolitan Paulose Mar Kurillos (Panampady) and  Paulose Mar Athanasius (Valiya Thirumeni) worked tirelessly to retain the true apostolic faith of the Syrian Church.

On 19th  March 1930 at the age of 76, Mor Osthatheos Bava passed away and his mortal remains were interred at the Arthat St Mary’s Simhasana church, Kunnamkulam.