His decision to become a priest came about in his youth when he encountered H.G. Geevarghese Mar Philoxenos (PuthencavilKochuThirumeni).  When passing through Pampady in front of his mother’s house, Thirumenistopped and spoke to the young Thankachen (Mathew Achen), exhorting him to become a priest like his father, ParackelAchen.He has been influenced in his life by many pious and saintly men, key among them being H.H. Baselios Augen I, H.G. Geevarghese Mar Osthathios, and H.G. Mathews Mar Barnabas.

After completing his B.A. from SB College, Changanassery, P.K. Mathew joined the first batch of students (1959)at the Kottayam seminary after it was re-opened.  He studied under H.G. Yuhanon Mar Severios(then MalpanAchen), and H.G. Geevarghese Mar Osthathios (then M.V. George Achen), among others.  Recognizing the talents in the young student after one year of studying in Kottayam, M.V. George Achenhelped him to gain admission at Leonard Theological College, Jabalpur, with recommendation from H.G. Pathrose Mar Osthathios.  During his time there he became close with K.K. Mathews Achen (later H.G. Mathews Mar Barnabas).  He completed his B.D. degree and served as the SCM Secretary in Trivandrum for one year.  He wanted to pursue higher studies, so he went to H.H. Baselios Augen I (AugenBava).  AugenBavaencouraged this aim.  Thus, with the recommendation and blessings fromAugenBava, he completed his M.Th. from Serampore University, Calcutta.  He was ordained as a Kooroyo by AugenBava after completinghis M.Th.  When a unique opportunity arose, AugenBava sent Deacon Mathew to teach at Theological College of Holy Trinity, Haile Selassie I (present Addis Ababa) University, Ethiopia.  There, as a young associate of the great Professor V.C. SamuelAchen, he benefitted greatlyfrom this extraordinary Malpan’s guidance, supervision and discipline. During his time in Ethiopia, he returned briefly to India, to be ordained first as a full deacon by H.G. Mathews Mar Ivanios(ParettuThirumeni), then as a priest by AugenBava in 1968.  Mathew Achen wanted to pursue further studies, so completed an S.T.M. (Master of Sacred Theology) degree from the Near East School of Theology, Beirut, in one year, and earned a Ph.D. from McGill University, Montreal in New Testament studies. For eight years afterwards, he taughtat the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria. He was alsovisiting Professor of Biblical Languages at the Spiritan International School of Theology at Enugu, Nigeria and has published articles in books and international journals.Achenmore recently embarked on a task of creating a collection of literature on the Malankara Orthodox Church’s beliefs, traditions and its relevance today (parackelmathewachen.blogspot.com).

 Mathew Achen has been a very devout and faithful Orthodox priest, an excellent scholar, counselor, and defenderof the Orthodox faith. He was a strong proponent of the ecumenical movement and counted priests and members from other denominations and faiths among his friends.  Above all he was a truly noble soul who loved to tell stories from his life and cared for all his faithful and loved ones, unreservedly. 

 He is survived by his wife Ponnamma Mathew (retired teacher) from Venmony (Kandalore House) in Kerala and three daughters, Dr. Anu Mathew (w/o Varghese Abraham (Unni), Maryland, USA),Renu Mathew (w/o Bejoy Philip, Montreal, Canada) and Sneha Susan Mathew (w/o Sanjay Markose, Montreal, Canada).His greatest pride was his six grandchildren –Mariam (Ammu), Anna, Anika, Tarun, Joshua and Nathan,who will miss their Appacha as will his congregations andmany friends and relatives around the world.

 Funeral arrangements will be posted at http://www.stthomasosc.org/.

 Let us pray for the soul of this noble and valiant servant of God.May his soul be welcomed in Paradise with hosts of Saints and Angels.