15. Obituary: Revd Dr. M. V. Abraham

OBITUARY

In the Blessed Memory of Revd Dr. M. V. Abraham

Revd Dr. Abraham Philip, Kottayam

The Revd Dr. M. V. Abraham (1931-2021) departed from us, all of a sudden on 23rd August 2021. He completed ninety years during last May. Having reached the age of ninety years is a rare milestone in one’s life. During his professional and pedagogical career spanning over 64 years duration, he has influenced a number of his fellow clergy, bishops, professional colleagues, students, parishioners and family.

M. V. Abraham achen hailed from Ashtamudy, Kollam. Under divine providence he chose a career in the service of the Master and was ordained in 1957. After serving in a few parishes, in 1964 the Church sent him to Princeton Theological Seminary, New Jersey, for higher studies. On his return he could serve in parishes in Bangalore and New Delhi and in 1971 he began his teaching career at Bishop’s College, Calcutta. In 1973 he could proceed to the Ecumenical Institute, Tantur in Israel for advanced studies in New Testament, and he could spend time at Tubingen University, Germany; and Oxford, England. From June 1976 Achen began teaching until his retirement from active service in 1996. He taught at Leonard Theological College Jabalpur (1976-86), Trinity Lutheran Seminary at Columbus, Ohio (1980), United Theological College, Bangalore (198691), and Mar Thoma Theological Seminary, Kottayam, (1991-96), where he was also the principal. He also taught at the postgraduate level and guided doctoral research scholars through the FFRRC for another two decades. During these years he could write many books, which are now very useful for theological students. Two books that are very widely read are Treasure in an Earthen Vessel, a book of meditations jointly authored by Achen and Kochamma, and The Master’s Voice (a collection of Achen’s sermons).

M. V. Abraham Achen had a reputation as a good parish priest, reflective of his calling. A Christian minister always will have to look to his Master, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the exemplar of ministry. He was a coworker with Christ. During his pedagogical years, he has been known to be well prepared for his lectures, well read and organized. The same applied to his sermons, and he is known to have exhorted his students to be well prepared when preaching in the churches they serve. Though he was born with a stammer and had impaired verbal skills, by the grace of God he recovered from it in early childhood, through much prayer by his mother. From then, he has gone on to be a silvertongued orator and prolific writer. A combination of humour and insight always made for better oratory and consequently, better reception by the audience.

Achen’s wife, (Late) Mary Abraham (Molly Kochamma) was a constant source of inspiration, encouragement and support to him through their 39 years of marriage. Achen is survived by his two children Georgie and Roshini. Now both are in the US. His son Dr. George Abraham, MD, MPH, FACP, FIDSA, is Chief, Department of Medicine, Saint Vincent Hospital; and Professor of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School. At present he is the President of American College of Physicians (ACP). His wife Dr. Viji Susan is also a medical doctor at Boston. They have two daughters Diya and Sreya. Achen’s daughter, Dr. Roshini Sarah Abraham PhD, D (ABMLI), FAAAAI, was Professor and consultant in Clinical Immunology at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota for more than two decades. Recently she has moved to another prestigious institution at Ohio: Nationwide Children’s. She is also a recipient of several important awards. MVA Achen has a great heritage, which he has passed on to the posterity. Just like his parents, his children also have inherited a great concern for the mission of the church.

I started knowing Achen from my student days at Jabalpur during the seventies of the last century when I was a student at Leonard Theological College. Besides, he was my mentor for my doctoral research and dissertation during the turn of the century. With regard to Achen’s classes, I quote the Church of South India