I met Dr Abraham Thomas for the first time when he came to welcome my family to America at Logan International airport. We were waiting for our friend, Dr. A. John Chandy. After a while, an unassuming gentleman came and asked us “Are you Avarachen and Sany?” We replied affirmatively. He then introduced himself as Abraham Thomas and told us that he is a friend of Chandy, who had asked him to meet us at the airport. He brought us to Chandy’s house and left. Later we came to know that Abraham Thomas was a deacon as well as doctorate holder.

This started my association with Very Rev. Abraham Thomas (Achen) more than 35 years ago. From that meeting, a friendship blossomed, that grew as time went by. We shared many joyous occasions and supported each other at tragic moments. Even when we encountered difficult situations, we were able to deal with them through patience and perseverance and they only strengthened the bond between us. And although our political views still remain poles apart, I can honestly say that Achen is one of the few people in this world that I truly admire and respect. My family wholeheartedly agrees with me on this. In the rest of the article I want to describe how Achen provided leadership and created an ideal Christian atmosphere in Boston for our children to grow up.

After his ordination as a Priest by H.H. Moran Mor Ignatius III, the Syrian Patriarch, in New York in 1971, he started conducting Holy Qurbana at the Bridgewater state college facility. On special occasions, Christians, irrespective of the denominations, as well as Hindus participated in the celebrations. As the number of worshippers on Sundays increased, the Service was moved to a rented place in Bridgewater and I had the privilege of being the first treasurer of the Bridgewater congregation. Even though the priests were not expected to pay the membership fees, Achen was the first to pay the dues as an example to others.

We used to have Holy Qurbana twice a month. People from Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Massachusetts traveled 60-100 miles each way to attend the Service. Since the rented place was used for other activities, we had to clean the place on Sunday mornings before the Service, and Achen and Santhamma were always the first to arrive and start cleaning. In the earlier days, Santhamma and Achen invited everybody to their apartment near by for lunch after the Service. After a few times, we felt uncomfortable accepting their overly generous hospitality and had to invent excuses not to go. Eventually, as the number of people in the congregation increased, that routine was abandoned.

After a while, three nuns from Kerala arrived in a convent in Boston. We then started
conducting Holy Qurbana, once a month, in the Convent chapel at Beacon Hill. This was continued for a while. The congregation was then named the Boston- Bridgewater congregation. Achen welcomed other Orthodox priests, who had moved to Boston area, to the congregation and shared the responsibilities. Clergy and Bishops from all denominations (Orthodox, Jacobite and Knanaya) were welcomed to our congregation. Achen had no hesitation in accepting them all. Under his leadership, we have given receptions to Bishops from both sides simultaneously. Every Bishop, who visited our congregation, was welcomed to Achen’s home.

After a while, the facilities at Bridgewater and the Boston convent were sold and we moved to the Boston University chapel and later to the Seventh day Adventist Church near Fenway Park. We had hopes that our successful experiment would become a model for all Christians in America and Kerala. Unfortunately, this did not happen and the congregation was split into St. Stephens Knanaya Church and St. Mary’s Orthodox Church in 1992.

The Boston- Bridgewater congregation was a unique experience for so many of us. We all learned that we could worship together and be friends in spite of our different affiliations. We felt that the main force for the success of this congregation can be attributed to Abraham Thomas Achen. Friends and foes alike admired his leadership qualities and I have been amazed at the ease by which he tackled difficult and sensitive issues.

The committee of the congregation decided to give a reception to Clemis Thirumeni and agreed upon the menu. Later, when Achen changed the menu, one of the committee members was furious and ready to fight tooth and nail. The next committee meeting was arranged immediately after the reception and Achen opened the meeting by saying that “old ignorant Achens, like me, sometimes act like this, but you should forgive him and not feel offended”. After this opening statement, there was no further complaint from the committee member and thus Achen diffused a potentially difficult situation. Achen’s ability to accept his mistakes with a smile and to offer an apology, when warranted, makes him a great leader.

Achen is also well liked by the children and young adults for his ability to communicate with them. My children have expressed their wish that Achen should officiate at their weddings. He is also unselfish. When he realized that his 60th birthday celebration conflicted with the wedding day of our son, Jay, Achen made sure that his reception was changed to another date. The wedding was on the same day as his 60th birthday and he chose to participate in the wedding even though that meant he would be away from his family. I am indebted to Santhamma and children for whole heartedly supporting his decision. Another example of his thoughtfulness became apparent when he was selected to be ordained as Cor Episcopa. Clemis Thirumeni wanted to ordain him the same weekend as he was selected. But Achen convinced Thirumeni that he had to let the members of the Boston-Bridgewater congregation know about his selection and thus gave us a chance to participate in the ceremony.

He is well respected and liked in the Boston community. He interacts and encourages others to interact with the community as a whole. He has always encouraged the growth of the Kerala Christian Conference (KCC). Achen and his family regularly participated in the Thanksgiving Ecumenical Service, as well as the weekend family camping, sponsored by KCC. He was the President of the Kerala Association of New England a couple of times. And he gladly offered the use of St Stephen’s Church facilities for the community.

When we decided to retire and move to a warmer climate, Achen and Santhamma were kind enough to arrange a send off party for us at his house. He made sure that we got a send off from St. Stephens Church. It was an emotional good bye for all of us after spending 28 years of our life in Boston area (more than anywhere else in our lives). We still miss New England and all of our friends there.

On the occasion of the celebration of Achen’s seventieth birthday, we wish him happiness, good health, and long life. May God Bless him and his family.