The day after Mary Cheriyan’s funeral, her family, relatives, and friends congregated in the sombre atmosphere of her home’s drawing room. A framed photograph of Mary adorned the table, veiled in white, alongside a Bible symbolizing the word of God and a crucifix representing Christ’s redemptive sacrifice.
The arrival of the parish priest infused a glimmer of reassurance into the sombre air. Warm greetings preceded his focused gaze upon the table. “Cumin seeds,” he declared with authority. “Why have they not been placed? They are integral to the prayer service for the departed.” Promptly, a small container of cumin seeds joined the tableau at his behest.
With reverence, the priest initiated the prayer service, invoking blessings from the trinitarian God and guiding the assembly through solemn prayers. Turning to Chapter 11 of the Gospel of John, he illuminated its significance, offering solace and hope to those mourning. He blessed the entire household with Holy water and concluded the service by distributing the blessed cumin seeds to all present.
During the ensuing elaborate breakfast, Fatima Rahman, a childhood friend of Mary, asked the priest with curiosity, “Father, what is the significance of the cumin seeds in this prayer service?” The priest, with a modest smile, confessed, “I cannot say for certain, but within the Syrian Christian tradition, they hold a profound significance.”
