St. Ignatius Elias III

St. Ignatius Elias III - The Man of Peace.

(1867-1932 A.D)

His Holiness Ignatius Elias III was born in the Shaker family on 30 October 1867, in Mardin, Turkey, to Rev Abraham Cor-Episcopus and Maryam. Nasri was the name given to him by his loving parents. He had three sisters and four brothers. Their house was close to Forty Martyrs church, one of the most well-known Syriac Orthodox churches. This blessed Church and his devoted family influenced Nasri since childhood.

In 1889, Patriarch Ignatius Peter IV ordained him as a monk and a priest in 1892, and he accepted the name, Elias. He began his monastic vocation at Mor Hananyo Dayro, also known as Kurkkuma Dayro. Raban Elias was appointed administrator of the Diyarbakir diocese by Patriarch Ignatius Abded Masih II in 1898. During the Diyarbakir massacre, he provided safety to Syrian and Armenian refugees at the Mor Kuriakose church. During this time, Raban Elias resolved several disputes in Midyat amongst various clans. He skillfully handled the jurisdiction, garnering his public support and a reputation as a skilled leader and negotiator. While Raban Elias continued to serve in Diyarbakir, Patriarch Abded Masih II's actions led to a situation in which the Metropolitans passed a Synod decision in 1903 requesting the Sultan to allow them to replace the Patriarch with any other capable Metropolitan. As administrator of the Diyarbakir diocese, Raban Elias also wrote a letter to the Governor of Diyarbakir regarding the same.

Along with Raban Sleeba ( Mor Osthatheos Sleeba), Raban Elias was ordained as a Metropolitan in the name Mor Ivanius Elias by Patriarch Ignatius Abdulla II in March 1908. The charge of the Diyarbakir diocese was given to him by the Patriarch. Mor Ivanius Elias was later transferred to Mosul in 1912, replacing Mor Athanasius Thomas, who had taken the head of the Diyarbakir diocese. Mor Ivanius Elias Metropolitan, who was already renowned as an able mediator, was instructed by His Holiness Patriarch to deal with a conflict with the Syrian Catholic Church in connection with the deposed Patriarch Ignatius Abdulla II. Other than that, during the First World War and Sayfo, Mor Ivanius Elias was in Mosul and made a tremendous effort to comfort victims and refugees who poured in from other parts of the Ottoman Empire are some remarkable works Mor Ivanius accomplished as Metropolitan.

Mor Ivanius Elias was nominated as the Kymakham (Administrator and Presiding Metropolitan of the Holy Synod) on 27 February 1916, following Patriarch Abdulla II's Heavenly dwelling in November 1915. Following that, a Holy Synod gathered on 17 October 1916 and elected Mor Ivanius Elias as the 119th Patriarch of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church with seven out of nine votes. Since his installation, Patriarch Ignatius Elias III has labored relentlessly in his devotion to God, the Church, and his people. Patriarch Elias III headed the Church through tough times like many patriarchs preceding him, and home and external political difficulties confronted him. 

As Patriarch of the Church, Ignatius Elias III maintained cordial connections with governmental officials. The Patriarch met Kemal Pasha, popularly called Ataturk, the Turkish Republic's head, multiple times, and Kemal Pasha also visited Dayrul Zafaran (then Patriarchate) and extended all possible support. However, the political environment at the time was not beneficial to the Syriac Orthodox Church. Patriarch Elias III took a pro-Turkish position out of concern for the protection of Syriac Orthodox Christians along the Turkish border. Still, neither Turkish authorities nor Western forces backed the Syriac Orthodox church.

During this time, issues arose in the Malankara Church. The faction of Vattasseril Mor Dionysius Geevarghese (present-day Indian Orthodox) within the Church yielded a schism. Mor Dionysius paid a visit to Patriarch Elias III in Dayrul Zafaran in August 1923 and stayed for nearly two months. He went there to have the ex-communication lifted. After several dialogues, Patriarch Elias III said, "We forgive your sin and accept you in respect of the Holy Spirit. We do not require any documentation from Mor Dionysius, and We will also accept the Metropolitans with him. However, the bishops with Mor Dionysius should submit a registered deed (Shalmosa) and revoke the 'five charters' issued by the ex-Patriarch Abded Masih II. Mor Dionysius accepted these proposals, and the Patriarch later instructed Mor Dionysius to complete the remaining requirements in India to keep peace within the Malankara church.

Even as the Church was going through all these crises, the Holy Father tried to carry out his Pastoral Mission gracefully. He consecrated bishops, including Mor Severius Ephrem (later Patriarch Ephrem Barsom), Mor Julius Elias Qoro, Patriarchal delegate to Malankara, and nine more bishops. Soon enough, terrific persecution broke out, and many Syrian Christians, fearful of the conflict in Turkey, was forced to flee to another nation as refugees from their homeland, where they had resided for centuries. Eventually, the Turkish leadership took a firm stance against all religious institutions. Patriarch Elias has been through the most arduous periods in his ministry and was forced to depart the Patriarchate in Mardin.

The Patriarch then proceeded to Syria and initiated plans to relocate the community that had fled Edessa during the conflict and re-establish the Aleppo diocese. After that, he went to Jerusalem, set up a new church in the name of St. Mary, also consecrated Mor Dionysius Michael, Mor Dioscoros Thoma, and Mor Themotius Augen (later Catholicose Augen) as Metropolitans for Malankara. During his stay in Israel, the devastating news that two of his bishops had been murdered in Turkey due to torture and conflict was a massive blow to Patriarch Elias III's health. After that incident, Patriarch came to Mosul, stayed almost two years, and convened a synod in 1930 that was noteworthy for making changes in the Canon.

Meanwhile, the situation in Malankara has worsened. Responding to a request by Metropolitans in Malankara, Lord Irvin, the then Viceroy of British India, invited Patriarch Elias III to visit India and resolve the long-standing factional strife between the Malankara church's two divisions. However, the Patriarch's doctors tried in vain to discourage him from traveling because of his medical concerns. His sister, too, was unable to persuade the Patriarch not to travel. Nevertheless, His Holiness told them, "Death is unavoidable whether here or in India; I would rather give my life for the benefit of our children in Malankara," demonstrating his devotion to the Malankara church.

After months of exhausting travel, the Patriarch and his entourage arrived in Malankara on 21 March 1931. Over the next few months, he made repeated attempts to bring peace to the Malankara Church; in this process, he visited various churches throughout Kerala. Patriarch Elias III was residing at Alwaye Thrikunnathu Seminary; Mor Dionysus called on the Patriarch and pleaded with him to rescind his ex-communication. The selfless Patriarch ordered that he withdraw the ex-communication of Mor Dionysius. In this regard, he sent a Holy Bull to all churches.

On the other hand, Mor Dionysius did not keep the promise he made in Mardin, Turkey. Despite the Patriarch and Mor Dionysius meeting on several occasions, the anticipated reconciliation was yet to occur. Nevertheless, the peace talks failed, and the Patriarch felt depressed and decided to return.

However, God had other plans, Rev Kuriakose Elavinamannil, a famous priest from Manjinikkara St. Stephen's Church, invited the Patriarch to their Church in Manjinikkara. Patriarch Elias III welcomed the invitation and then proceeded to Manjinikara. Upon arrival at Manjinikkara, Patriarch stated, "This place provides us immense comfort; we prefer to dwell here solely permanently." On 12 February 1932, while living there, His Holiness urged the priests who visited him not to return for a few days. In the evening, after the prayer, the Patriarch received the Qandilo. The following morning, after the Holy Eucharist, he delivered a passionate sermon regarding his efforts to bring peace to Malankara; later that afternoon, he attained his heavenly abode.

On 14 February, grieving believers interred the remains of Patriarch Elias III in a plot of ground north of St. Stephen's Church. It was the first time in history that a Syriac Orthodox Patriarch was laid to rest outside the Middle East. Mor Julius Elias Qoro, the Delegate of the Holy Throne of Antioch, supervised the construction of Mor Ignatius Monastery church and the mausoleum of Patriarch Elias III. His mausoleum remains an elevated monument of Antioch's Prelate's sacrifices to nourish the Church in Malankara. Even now, the grave is a source of hope for countless people. Every year, one of the highlights of the feast of St. Ignatius Elias III is the pilgrimage on foot, which has grown to be one of the world's longest and largest pilgrimages on foot.

His Holiness Patriarch Ignatius Elias III's life was too accurate in interpreting the verses of the gospel of St Matthew Chapter 5, verses 3 to 11. The Saintly Father, impoverished in spirit, lived in grief and suffering without losing his meekness, lived with justice, kindness, and purity of heart, and tried to restore peace. Still, he blamed for slanders and false accusations. Even though he still derided for his goodness, his reward will undoubtedly increase in heaven. 

St Ignatius Elias III, Pray for us…