Veanattukalathil Rev. Fr. Dr. Zach P. Zachariah

Veanattukalathil Rev. Fr. Dr. Zach P. Zachariah Achen was born in Kurichy, Kottayam, Kerala as scion of the eldest branch in the Kallasseril-Puthenpurackal-Kolathukalathil clan. This clan has given fathers to Malankara Orthodox luminaries including Kallasseril H.H. Moran Mar Baselios Geevargheese II (Kurichy or Valiya Bava), Neyserril H.G. Paulose Mar Pachomios and mothers to church pillars including Vattasseril St. Geevarghese Mar Dionysios, Thevervelil H.G. Geevarghese Mar Dioscoros, and Kanianthara H.G. Job Mar Philoxenos. After completing his schooling, he was ordained Kooroya (Sub-Deacon) by his paternal great uncle Kurichy Bava. He completed his Bachelor of Arts degree from CMS College Kottayam and received Semassen (Deacon) ordination from H.H. Moran Mar Baselios Augen.

Kurichy Bava raised the profile of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church globally by personally attending the Lambeth Conference of 1930 in the United Kingdom; traveling to Jerusalem, Syria, and Serbia; and hosting American civil rights icon H.E. Iakavos (Coucouzis), Greek Primate of America. As a result, many Malankara clergy were offered opportunities to study abroad. In this context, Dn. Zachariah matriculated at Holy Cross Orthodox Seminary near Boston, Massachusetts in 1968 and received his Bachelors in Divinity. He travelled to continue studies in Clinical Pastoral Education in North Carolina and obtained Masters in Ministry from Christian Theological Seminary Indianapolis, Indiana where he also garnered an outstanding Hoosier citation from Senator Richard Lugar.

He then moved to Houston, TX to continue Advanced Clinical Pastoral Education at the Texas Children’s Hospital/ Texas Heart Institute/ St Luke’s Episcopal Hospital in 1974. Providing leadership for the Malankara Orthodox Syrian community nucleus, he served as 1st President of the nascent St. Thomas Orthodox Church in 1974. In 1975, he married Susan Alexander, daughter of Kodiattu Rev. Fr. Alexander. In 1977, he was ordained Kathanar(Priest) by Metropolitan of America Kuttikandathil H.G. Thomas Mar Makarios, becoming the 1st priest ordained by H.G. Mar Makarios. H.G. Mar Makarios appointed him Vicar of Dallas St. Mary’s Orthodox Valiyapally in 1980. In 1981, Zachariah Achen was made vicar of St Gregorios Orthodox Church Houston. For several years, Achen and family would drive to Dallas 2 weekends per month to serve the needs of Dallas faithful including hosting the Apostolic visit to Dallas of Vattakunnel H.H. Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Mathews I.

All the while Zachariah Achen also tended to his itinerant St. Gregorios flock as it rented worship spaces from church halls to office buildings, while working full-time as a chaplain in the Texas Medical Center, and raising his family. Recognizing the needs of the growing St. Gregorios parish, Achen spearheaded the fund-raising efforts for a permanent worship center. By God’s grace; intercession of Parumala thirumeni, all Saints and Church Fathers; and donations from parishioners and well-wishers inspired by the pastor of the St Gregorios flock, 33 member families were able to construct a worship space to accommodate more than 200 persons without accruing debt. May the Triune God be praised for this unprecedented and lasting success! Consecration of the St. Gregorios Orthodox Church Houston occurred in November 1986 by Catholicos designate H.G. Mathews Mar Coorilos and HG. Mar Makarios.

Zachariah Achen’s career took him to Scott & White Hospital in Temple, TX, requiring Achen to drive 6 hours each weekend to serve St. Gregorios church’s spiritual needs. His stewardship did not flag as during this period the church hall was constructed and consecrated. Achen’s leadership was particular on being traditional and yet innovative: on one hand he prohibited use in the sanctuary of permanent seating or musical instruments, but on the other hand mandated, against objections, St. Gregorios be the 1st parish in American diocese to have Holy Qurbana twice per month in English, so that the youth should never feel ‘second-class.’ Achen was devoted to the youth of St. Gregorios, ‘his kids,’ featuring them on 2 invited faith and worship television broadcasts on KTRK ABC13, attending ecumenical religious festivals as far away as San Antonio, and encouraging their participation in Christmas caroling, and beyond. Achen required General Body Assembly decisions to be by consensus and not by vote and likewise insisted Church cleaning and maintenance be performed by parishoners in order maintain a sense of ‘family’ and ‘sweat equity,’ leading in this theme by his own example.

Throughout his career, Zachariah Achen’s position as chaplain allowed him to facilitate medical care for many persons such as Elanjickal Sri John Jacob, Kerala Minister of Food and Civil Supplies, along with others. Achen returned to Houston with a promotion in chaplaincy education at the world-leading MD Anderson Cancer Center. Following the lead of Kurichy Bava, Zachariah Achen was dedicated to growing the Malankara Orthodox community in Houston. As an early naturalized American citizen, Achen sponsored many Malayalee immigrants to the Houston area with citizenship and employment recommendations, who in turn sponsored their family members, and thereby expanded the Houston Malayalee community exponentially. He placed a spotlight on the Malankara Orthodox church by serving as president of the Houston Orthodox Clergy Association, serving on the Board of Directors of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox School, and being invited to officiate Malankara Church Vespers at the world-famous Rothko Chapel. Achen completed his Doctor of Ministry from Austin Presbyterian Seminary, Austin TX. On December 27th, 1994 Zachariah Achen entered eternal life and became the 1st Malankara Orthodox clergy to be interred in American soil.

May those who have benefited from the efforts of Veanattuakalathil Rev. Fr. Dr. Zach P. Zachariah remember him in prayer!