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| Sunday, 26 September 2004 |
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Bishop Cyril Linden Abeynaike : Scholar, educationist, theologian by Swanthri Dassenaike Born on February 22, 1911, Cyril Linden Abeynaike was called by God to be a leader and a humble shepherd to his flock.
He then joined the divinity school where some of his early teachers were eminent priests like Dr. G.B. Ekanayake, Rev. George Jirasinha and Bertram Wikramanayake. Shortly afterwards he proceeded to King's College London to continue his theological studies; here too he excelled and completion of his Bachelor's Degree in divinity returned home and was made a Deacon in 1936. He opted to be in this position for 10 years before being ordained a priest in 1946. During this period he held many notable positions including Asst. Master and Asst. Chaplain at St. Thomas' College, Mt. Lavinia, Kandy Central Itinerancy and Uva College, Badulla before being appointed Principal, Christ Church College, Wattegama. Later he was Asst. Curate of St. Michael's Church, Polwatte. After that as priest in charge, Galle Face and then at Mission to Seamen, after which he was ordained Arch Deacon of Colombo and Principal Divinity School, both in 1964. He was also Editor, Ceylon Churchman, General Manager, Diocesion School, General Secretary of the National Christian Council and Rural Dean, Colombo South. In his pastoral life he chose to work among the poor and the under-privileged children in far-off places. As Principal, Christ Church College, Wattegama, he greatly improved the cultural life of the people of the area. As curate in churches, he took an active part in Parish activities-Missionary Service, Sunday School work, choir practices, servers' Guild and cottage meetings to name a few. At St. Michaels' Polwatte he earned the name of 'Priest of the slums' because he 'not only carried on his pastoral duties, but also identified himself as one of the poor who lived in near-slum condition. He was always conscious that his directions came from God and this was the reason why he willingly accepted very junior positions adding rich quality to his own life and to those with whom he came into contact'. He was also associated with ecumenical work in the Ceylon Student Christian Movement, the CCYM, YMCA, WCA. As a Sunday school teacher he published a graded syllabus for Sunday Schools. He always felt that his was a teaching ministry and so he spent the first 11-12 years of his clerical life mostly as a teacher in Secondary Schools. "He was a perfect teacher. His academic life was the sharing of knowledge and experience of God as a teacher. He did not seek degrees but was a good teacher who never ceased to be a student. It was a pleasure to listen to his sermons. His choice of language and perfect diction showed that he had God's gift to write to say the most appropriate things at the right time. His sermons related to everyday life and "he captured the attention of his listeners - young and old, literate and illiterate, christ-like and non christ-like". His sermons were short and to the point. He rarely preached for more than 10 minutes. In fact his three hour Good Friday sermons, were so absorbing that nobody felt the time pass. He was consecrated 10th Bishop of Colombo on September 30 1971. He held this revered office for six years - a consent he gave after much persuasion and deliberation. At his Enthronement Service he said that this was a position he "neither desires nor deserved". He said that we are "a Pilgrim people with no static position, but there are tasks to be accomplished, deeds to be done, souls to be saved, a country to be served and a gospel to be preached. "When God guides He also provides. He bids us go because He has gone before us, and He bids us come because He is waiting for us". Finally for a short period he was Metropolitan's Commissary and legate. Our Cathedral in Colombo, started by Bishop Harold was completed by Bishop Cyril. Some of the impressive features there were Bishops Cyril's ideas and he had the privilege to consecrate it. Bishop Cyril's life was simple and humble, almost to a fault. He is described as an "unassuming man, never trying to assert himself, not overtly conscious of his academic achievements". A man, "Clothed in the garb of humble obedience A shepherd of souls, beloved by all; ....No pageant of power, no pomp of great glory Are his by desire, but richly his due. From the desk of a teacher to the stand of a shepherd Bearing his people in prayer he comes; Not as a master but as a servant of servants The purple of penitence, not of power he dons." Bishop Cyril was in a true sense "a servant of the servant Lord". He was a "friend of the poorest and lowliest and lost, whom he comported and steered out of their misery by his own closeness to God". And so came to an end a worthy life; Christ-like; well spent in obedience to his Master's call. God called him home on May 8, 1991. "Strangely he was called to rest from his labours on the eve of Ascension Day. Was it to join the Heavenly host in celebrating the return of the saviour whom he had known and loved for so long?" Truly he was a man of God. A memorial lecture titled, 'The church as a subversive community' will be delivered by Dr. Vinoth Ramachandra, well-known Anglican Lay preacher, author and theologian, at the Cathedral of Christ the Living Saviour, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7, on September 30 at 6 p.m. preceded by light refreshments at 5.45 p.m. |
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His early education for a brief period was at the Ratnapura Convent and
thereafter he continued and completed his studies at Royal College,
Colombo. He was an outstanding student and earned a scholarship to the
University of Colombo, where too he excelled in his studies, obtaining an
Honours Degree in History from the University of London. After this
brilliant performance, his friends who naturally expected him to join the
Civil Service, were surprised when he opted to join the ordained Ministry.
He told them in private that "God's call was so clear and insistent
that one could not possibly resist it".
