Hanna Cheriyan Varghese's Eulogy

As I begin, let me first and foremost convey to Prof. George and to Georgina, Johanna and Sharmin, to the rest of the family and relatives, the deepest sympathies and condolences of the President of the Council of Churches of Malaysia, Rev. Dr. Thomas Philips, and on my own behalf.

And as I speak on behalf of the CCM it is also in order that I express the same on behalf of the World Council of Churches, the Christian Conference of Asia, the Asian Christian Art Association, Ron O’Grady the Co-Founder and Jonathan Book of the Overseas Ministries Study Center of New Haven, USA.

Just by expressing the long list, would indicate to all of us gathered here for the many lives Hanna had touched through her gift of Art and the love she had exuberated in her person.

All of us would remember Hanna as an unassuming, gentle, tranquil and creative person. She was born with the gift of art. She began to define her world through art from the tender age of six. Along the way she experimented with various forms of Art, finally specializing, and making her impact through batik work.

Hanna was surrounded by a supportive and religious family, who are all active members of the Syrian Orthodox Church. Church attendance, prayer and Bible reading always played a prominent part in the family.

No wonder Christian Art became her main stay. Drawing richly from her Orthodox spirituality, she was able to infuse her art with a dazzling interplay of color, mystery and imagery, akin to the effect that icons have in Orthodox devotion.

This is what Hanna had to stay about her love and inspiration for Christian Art: “Thoughts and imagery from the Bible Text are intertwined, and sometimes the vision comes in a flash. But most of the time the images develop through a constant process of meditation. I have a responsibility to present the right image. Visual images reveal more of one’s mind than words. That is why art has been used in education, contemplation, meditation and veneration in Christian tradition.”

Hanna has blessed her family, her church, Christians in Asia and the rest of the world with the art pieces that she has left behind. It will serve as her beautiful legacy.

Her art accompanied many significant international church conferences and institutions. Here is just a few:

In 1995 – Her art piece entitled “Hope in God” adorned the plenary Hall of the Assembly of the Christian Conference of Asia held in Colombo.

In 1999 – her art was featured in the Worship Book of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, of the Vatican and the World Council of Churches under the theme “Behold I Make All Things New”, and used around the world.

In 2004 – Her art with the theme “Receive One Another in Love” took center stage at the conference of the plenary commission of Faith and Order that was held in Kuala Lumpur. Our National newspapers had caption of the then Prime Minister of Malaysia, Abdullah Badawi, delivering his speech with her art in the background. Her art is also on the cover of the official report of the Conference.

Next year CCM will be hosting the 13th Assembly of the CCA in Kuala Lumpur. Over 500 delegates from different parts of Asia including representatives of the Asian Christian Art Association will be present. Two months ago, I spoke to Hanna over the phone concerning this Assembly. She was excited at the prospect of meeting old friends and doing an appropriate backdrop for the Assembly hall. But unfortunately, she will not be around for that event! But in order that her contribution to Asian Christian Art will be recognized and remembered, I will propose to the CCA that a small exhibition of her paintings be on display for the duration of the Assembly. 

I want to assure all of you gathered here that for all the contribution that Hanna has made CCM will honor her appropriately when the envisaged new ecumenical center is completed.

We will find an auspicious place to hang the paintings of Hanna, so that local and international guests visiting our center will feel inspired by her paintings.

Hanna has left us so suddenly! But now she is in the presence of God in eternal rest.

She taught us life can be made beautiful if we can use the gifts God has given to us to touch other lives.

Just as her paintings communicate the love of God and blessed so many, she would wish that we so live to bless others.

To the immediate family and loved ones, we wish them God’s sustaining grace and love. May they always be a blessing to each other just as Hanna would have wished for them.

Rev. Dr. Hermen Shastri
General Secretary
Council of Churches of Malaysia

14th June 2009