Prominent Figures of the Kerala Church –35 Ramban John Melaampraampil

Prominent Figures of the Kerala Church –35
Ramban John Melaampraampil

Ramban John Melaampraampil, who initiated the first parish for the Malankara Church in America and organized a convention for Malankara Catholics, was born on June 10, 1923, in Podiyadi, near Tiruvalla, as the third child of Ummachan and Akkamma. He received his primary education at Podiyadi School and his high school education at the Hindu School in Kavumbhagom (the Hindu School is now managed by the NSS).

John Melaampraampil was born into the Jacobite Church. The acceptance of Mar Ivanios into the Catholic Church in 1930 was a major event. Following this, many joined the Catholic Church. In 1931, John’s family also joined the Catholic Church, following Mar Ivanios.

At that time, Joseph, a prominent priest in the Jacobite community, strongly opposed the re-unification movement. However, he soon joined the Catholic Church as well. During this period, John Melaampraampil completed his high school education and began his seminary studies at the St. Mary’s Minor Seminary of the Diocese of Tiruvalla. The Melaampraampil family was then wealthy, but John chose to abandon a high-status material life to pursue priesthood. He completed his theological studies at St. Paul’s Seminary in Thrissur.

On January 27, 1951, Tiruvalla Diocese Bishop Joseph Mar Severios (Joseph Achan from the Jacobite Church who joined the Catholic Church) conferred priestly ordination on him. Severios Thirumeni was someone John Melaampraampil held in great esteem. In 1951, John was appointed as an assistant vicar at the Nirayam Church. In September 1951, he was sent to Rome for further studies. He joined the Oriental Institute and specialized in Liturgy, obtaining a doctorate in Liturgy after four years. During his time in Rome, he established a good relationship with Cardinal Tisserant, the Prefect of the Oriental Congregation.

In 1953, when Cardinal Tisserant visited Kerala, he visited the Melaampraampil family in Tiruvalla. This visit, which was only to one residence, highlighted the Cardinal’s special interest in John Melaampraampil.

In 1954, John joined Oxford University in England to study Modern History. Before completing this study, he was assigned to teach at the Syrian Patriarchal Seminary in Beirut. Along with teaching, he aimed to gain significant knowledge in Syriac. After his time in Beirut, John returned to Tiruvalla.

In 1956, John was appointed as an assistant vicar at Tiruvalla Cathedral. On February 14, 1958, the boundary of the Tiruvalla Diocese was extended to Malabar, following an order from Rome. Subsequently, John was appointed as the vicar of the Maikavu Church in Malabar, where he also founded the Maikavu Mission. After three years, he became the vicar of the Thottapalam Church near Tiruvalla.

In September 1966, John went to America for further studies. He joined Boston University to study Ecumenism. He was the first Catholic priest to study at this Protestant university. After obtaining a doctorate in Ecumenism, he studied at the Worcester Ann Maria College, which focused on World Religions. It was the first Catholic college in America. He also earned an M.Ed. degree from Massachusetts College and subsequently served as a chaplain at the Brente Wood Convent on Long Island near New York. This church had about 3,000 members. John served as the chaplain for seven years and started a nursery school and educational institutions up to the college level there.

According to Chanda Bishop Mar Januarius, who attended the CBCI meeting in Kottayam in 1988, it was John Melaampraampil who inspired Rome to proclaim St. Thomas as the apostle of India. There is a historical context to this. A news item reported that Cardinal Gilroy of Australia was appointed as the papal representative to attend the 400th death anniversary of St. Francis Xavier. When this news came, Melaampraampil was in Milan. He immediately rushed to Rome and met Monsignor Montini (later Pope Paul VI). He discussed the arrival of St. Thomas in India with him, and soon after, a correction appeared in the official Vatican newspaper, Osservatore Romano. According to the people of Malabar, the celebration was for the 2000th anniversary of St. Thomas’s arrival in India. This correction stirred many.

After establishing the Bathery Diocese, John joined the Bathery Diocese. After two years of service, he returned to New York. He served in pastoral care in Manhattan. During his time working in the New York Archdiocese, a Malankara Mission was established in New York. He served for two years in Colorado, America. On June 28, 1991, he organized a convention for Malankara children in New York. While in charge of Malankara, he was appointed Ramban by the Syrian Patriarchate of Antioch.

Later, he spent some time in Colorado and then returned to Kerala, residing in Bathery, Kottayam, and Suryanellur. He currently resides in Kaippuzha near Kottayam, in the Ecumenical Heritage.

Born into a wealthy family, he dedicated most of his wealth to supporting the education of economically disadvantaged individuals. He finds satisfaction in the success of the children he taught, who have now reached prominent positions.