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Malankara Syrian Church blessed with two more Metropolitans
METROPOLITANS MOR CLEMIS
KURIAKOSE &
MOR IRENIOUS PAULOSE
ORDAINED
Patriarchal Cathedral,
Damascus: His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, the Patriarch
of Antioch & all the East and the Supreme head of the Universal Syriac
Orthodox Church today on Aug 24th 2008, consecrated Very Rev. Raban
Sthepahnos Thukalan by name MOR CLEMIS KURIAKOSE and Very Rev. Raban
Shemavun Vettikkunnel by name MOR IRENIOUS PAULOSE as the metropolitans
for the dioceses of Idukki and Calicut of Malankara Church at the
Monastery of St. Aphrem the Syrian, in Ma`rrat Sayyidnaya, Damascus,
Syria.
His Beatitude the Catholicos of the Indian Church Aboon Mor Baselious
Thomas I , Mor Timotheos Aphrem Aboodi (Former Patriarchal Vicar for
Canada), Mor Theophilos George Saliba (Secretary to the Holy Synod), Mor
Gregorios Joseph (Metropolitan of Kochi Diocese & Malankara Episcopal
Synod Secretary), Mor Selwanos Petros AL-nemeh (Metropolitan of Homs &
Hama),
Mor Justinos
Paulos Yousef Safar (Patriarchal-Vicariate of Zahle & Beqa', Zahle,
Lebanon),
Mor Philexinos Mathias Nayis (Patriarchal Assistant & Metropolitan
of St. Aphrem Theological Seminary, Ma’arrat Saidnaya,Damascus), Mor
Severios Malke Mourad (Patriarchal-Vicar for Jerusalem & Jordan) and Mor
Aphrem Mathews (Angamali High-Range region) assisted His Holiness in the
holy ceremony.
The solemn function was also attended by a large gathering of Rabans
(Monks), Priests, Deacons, Nuns, the Syrian Orthodox Faithful and other
Distinguished Guests from Syria, India and and 40 Syriac Orthodox Faithful
from Malankara.
SOCM News Bureau - Damascus, Syria
Photo......
http://www.syrianchurch.org/Aug242008.htm
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NEW RAMBANS (MONKS) ORDAINED
FOR THE
MALANKARA SYRIAN CHURCH
Metropolitan consecration at the Patriarchal
Cathedral in Damascus on 24th
August 11, 2008, Puthencuriz:
Rev. Fr. Kuriakose Abraham Thukalan and Rev. Fr. Paul (Ullas) Varkey
Vettikkunnel who were chosen as Metropolitan designates for the dioceses
of Idukki and Calicut recently, were elevated to the order of Ramban (Rabban-
Monk) by His Beatitude the Catholicos Mor Baselios Thomas I at a solemn
function held at the St. Athanasius Cathedral, Puthencuriz today
afternoon. Rev. Fr. Kuriakose Thukalan will henceforth be known as 'Sthepahnos'
and Rev. Fr. Paul Varkey will be known by name 'Shemavun'. Metropolitans
Their Eminences, Mor Polycorpus Geevarghese (Evangelical Association) ,
Mor Severios Kuriakos (Knanaya Archbishop), Mor Athanasius Geevarghese
(Bahrain & Qatar), Mor Theophilos Kuriakose (Seminary), Mor Mathews Aphrem (Angamali
High Range), Mor Chrysistmos Markose (Evangelical Association), Mor
Theovodosius Kuriakose (Kollam), Mor Koorilose Geevarghese (Niranam), Mor
Athanasius Elias (Patriarchal Cathedral) and Mor Ivanios Kuriakose (Kanaya)
participated in the holy ceremony. On Sunday 24th August, both the newly
elevated Rambans will be consecrated as Metropolitans for the dioceses of
Idukki and Calicut by the supreme head of the Church His Holiness the
Patriarch of Antioch & all the East at the St. Peter & St. Paul Cathedral,
Mor Aphrem Seminary, Damascus.
Photos of
Ramban ordination:
http://www.syrianchurch.org/Photos/RambanOrd11August08/index.html
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TWO MORE METROPOLITANS
FOR THE MALANKARA
SYRIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH
** Malankara Episcopal Synod endorses the
selection of bishops
for the newly formed dioceses of Idukki
and Calicut **
July 29, 2008, Puthencuriz:
The Malankara Episcopal Synod that met here today formally approved the
names of Fr. Dr. Kuriakose T Abraham, Pulliattu Thukalan and Fr. Ullas
Varkey, Vettikkunnel, as bishops for the newly formed dioceses of Idukki
and Calicut, both elected by the respective diocesan bodies at their
meetings held in the month of June and July. His Beatitude Mor
Baselios Thomas I, the Catholicos and Metropolitan Trustee of the Church
in India, presided over the holy Synod held at the Church headquarters in
the Puthencuriz Patriarch Centre. The Malankara Synod is now awaiting the
final approval from the supreme head of the Church, His Holiness the
Patriarch Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, after which the new Metropolitans will be
consecrated.
The Holy Synod also officially
declared the details of the forthcoming apostolic visit of His Holiness
the Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, to Malankara in October. The
holy father will preside over the concluding function of the year-long
sacerdotal Golden jubilee celebrations of His Beatitude the Catholicos Mor
Baselios Thomas I , the head of the Syriac Church of India.
 Fr.
Kuriakose T Abraham, the bishop-designate for the Idukki diocese was
born on August 10, 1967 as the son of T P Abraham and Saramma of the
Pulliattu Thukalan family of Mulanthuruthy. They belongs to the old
Morth Mariam Church at Kandanad.
Fr. Kuriakose received
his Bachelors degree in Physics from the Ernakulam Albert College in
1988 after which he joined for the diploma course in the Malankara Syrian
Orthodox Theological Seminary, Vettikkal and completed it successfully. In
1996 he was awarded the degree of Bachelor in Divinity from the Sermapore
University, Calcutta. Later he successfully completed different courses,
in ECUMENICAL THEOLOGY (from ISET, Bangalore), in COMMUNICATION (from the
‘Gurukul Lutheran Theological College’, Chennai) and in TRANSACTIONAL
ANALYSIS (from P.O.C, Kochi). In 2006, he received the doctoral degree in
Social Psychology from the open International University for Complementary
Medicines.
It was H.G. Mor Gregorios
Joseph, the Metropolitan of Kochi diocese who ordained Fr.
Kuriakose, both as 'Kooroyo' and 'Kassisso'. Fr. Kuriakose who had earlier
served as Vicars in the Mulanthuruthy Marthoman Church, the Cherai St.
George Church and the Cherai St. Mary’s Valiyapally, is currently the
vicar of Kulayettikkara St. George Church in Kochi diocese. At present he
is the Vice President of the Antioch Faith protection Movement of Kochi
diocese, Director of St. Mary’s New Jerusalem Prayer Fellowship,
Mulanthuruthy and Vice-Patron of St. Thomas Charitable Trust,
Mulanthuruthy.
 Fr.
Paul (Ullas) Varkey, the bishop-elect for the newly formed diocese of Calicut
was born on August 24, 1972 to Vettikkunnel Varkey Abraham and Saramma of
Mangalore. The family originally belonged to Manarcad in Kottayam
district; they migrated to Mangalore about 60 years before. At present
they are members of the St. Antony’s Church in Jeppu, Mangalore. Late Fr.
Kuriakose Vettikkunnel who was the vicar of the Manarcad St. Mary’s
Church, is an uncle of Fr. Ullas Varkey.
It was from the Karnataka
University that he received his Bachelors degree and his Post-Graduation
in Sociology was from the Mysore university. From Sermapore University he
received the Bachelors in Divinity and Masters of Theology (NIIPGIS)
degrees. His seminary education was at the Manjinikkara Dayro (1989-90)
and Vettikkal M.S.O.T Seminary (1994-’98).
He was ordained ‘Koroyoo’ on
May 27, 1990 by Mor Osthatheos Benyamin Joseph, the late lamented
Metropolitan of Simhasana churches, and ‘Kassisso’ on May 15, 1998 by Mor
Polycarpus Geevarghese, the senior Metropolitan of Evangelical Association
of the East. Before assuming the general charge of the various newly
formed congregations of Australia in 2006, he had served as Vicar of the
churches in Karnataka, Rajasthan, West Bengal and New Delhi. For a while
he had been the managers of St. Antony’s Educational Society (Honnavar
Mission), Karnataka and the bishops house of the Evangelical Association
of the East, Perumbavoor and was also the superior of St. Thomas Orphanage
in Perumbavoor.
The ordination of both the
bishop elects are expected to be held together at the Patriarchal
cathedral in Damascus soon. |
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The Malankara Syrian
Church observed the 80th birthday of the
Catholicos &
Metropolitan trustee of the Church in India,
Aboon Mor Baselios
Thomas I
July 23, 2008, Puthencuriz:
The 80th birthday celebration of the Catholicos and Metropolitan Trustee
of the Malankara Syrian Church, Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas Ist Bava, was
held yesterday in the Church headquarters at Puthencruz Patriarchal
centre. Early in the morning, His Beatitude the Catholicos celebrated the
Holy Qurbono at the St. Athanasius chapel in the patriarchal centre.
Later in the morning, a
combined meeting of the working committee and managing committee was held
in the Church headquarters which congratulated Bava and extended their
birthday wishes. The Episcopal Synod Secretary H.E. Joseph Mor Gregorios
presided the public meeting, and felicitation messages were delivered by
metropolitans Their
Eminences,
Abraham Mor Severios, Kuriakose Mor Dioscoros, Geevargese Mor Athanasius,
Geevarghese Mor Divannasios, Geevarghese Mor Coorilos, Markose Mor
Chrisostomos, Mathews Mor Aphrem, Mathews Mor Thevodosios, Kuriakose Mor
Eusebios and Elias Mor Athanasios.
Scores of people from all walks
of life attended the meeting. During the meeting Bava inaugurated a new
website for the newly organised foreign affairs department, in presence of
the metropolitans and church officials. The site contains the details
regarding the Malankara churches outside India. H G Mathews Mor Aphrem
metropolitan is acting as the metropolitan in-charge of J.S.C. Foreign
affairs dept. The website address:
http://www.jscforeignaffairs.com |
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'Saint Ephrem Universal Syrian Orthodox Medical Mission', the social
ministry of the Universal Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch inaugurated
The grand opening of the Saint Ephrem Universal Syrian Orthodox Medical
Mission, the social ministry of the Universal Syrian Orthodox Church of
Antioch was held at the Saint Ephrem Seminary in Ma’raat Saidnaya,
Damascus, Syria.
Holy Eucharist was celebrated July 7th at the St. Ephrem monastery in
Ma’arrat Saidnaya on the occasion of the inauguration of the St. Ephrem
Syriac Orthodox Universal Medical Mission. This historic and important
event was headed by the president of the missionary, His Eminence
Archbishop Mor Clemis Eugene Kaplan, Patriarchal Vicar of the US Western
Archdiocese. His Eminence was assisted by Bishop Mor Gregorius Joseph,
Bishop of Cochin in India, and representative clergy members from
different churches.
During the opening ceremony His Eminence Archbishop Mor C. Eugene Kaplan
presented a sermon in which he stressed upon the agenda of this mission,
which includes; establishing a human medical institution to secure a
healthy, scientific, educational, and servicing organization, in addition
to physicians who would offer their human services free of charge, adding
that this mission will have branches worldwide and wherever anybody needs
this free service. He also added that it will facilitate the ways by which
it could medically educate people and also eases moral and financial
burdens especially during natural disasters or many other human tragedies.
His Eminence emphasized the vital role His Holiness Mor Ignatius Zakka 1
Iwas, Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, the spiritual head of the
Universal Syriac Orthodox Church who has called for greater lay
participation in the life and mission of the Church. His Holiness
expressed his adoption to this new mission in being spread worldwide in
order to bring together the Syriac fabric through a human institution that
offers medical services free of charge, by securing the needed finance and
in supporting the scientific and educational activities among which
offering medical scholarships for specializing in this human servicing
field.
The Holy Eucharist service was attended by bishops, priests, and
representatives of the Christian denominations, as well as the Pope’s
ambassador in Damascus, a group of monks, nuns and laity and a number of
physicians who are involved in this field from Damascus, Homs, and other
countries around the world.
During the Holy Divine Liturgy His Holiness Patriarch Moran Mor Ignatius
Zakka I, lit the lamp symbolically to inaugurate the medical mission
organization. In the inaugural address His Holiness stated the
symbolization of the lamp which brightly shines for others and our burning
and grateful love for God. Furthermore, His Holiness addressed that this
new organization should reach out to every poor, destitute, deprived and
sick person with help. He said that serving such unprivileged and the
wounded is equal to providing services to Jesus Christ and following the
Scripture teachings. Soon after, His Holiness lighted the candles in
celebration of the grand opening of this mission worldwide, asking God to
bless this medical work and the Universal Medical Mission for the benefit
of humans and humanity.
It is worth mentioning that St. Ephrem the Syriac was the first to
establish such a wide spread missionary in the region in the fourth
century. And following in his footsteps and in his blessed name, this
mission carries his name to imitate his work and his sacrifices
universally. He was the first one to raise funds from the wealthy and
purchase homes and provide beds where all plagued people were gathered in
Urhoy (Edessa, Urfa in the modern Turkey). He himself was later plagued
and departed to his Lord as being a victim to this human service.
At the banquette that followed the Eucharist, the president of the Medical
Mission, Mor Clemis Eugene Kaplan in his welcoming speech expressed his
gratitude to all the attendees. Dignitaries at the banquet included
diplomatic representatives of several countries:
Deputy Health Minister of Syria, Apostolic Nuncio, Moramdimi John Baptist;
various church heads, and the Mayor of Damascus attended the function: Mor
Gregorios Joseph, Fr. Babu Peringol, and Dr. Abraham Edathara who spoke on
the goals of the mission. Dr. Suhail Savaro, Dr. Susan Jacob and Dr.
George Hanna spoke on the social and medical mission pertaining to
Christianity, and Lony Thomas gave the Vote of Thanks.
This inauguration comes after several meetings that were held on Saturday
in St. Ephrem monastery, blessed by His Holiness the Patriarch Mor
Ignatius Zakka Iwas the supreme patron, and His Beatitude Mor Baselius
Thomas I, the patron of the Mission. The meetings were headed by His
Eminence Mor Clemis Eugene Kaplan, the president of the Mission along with
the participation of the executive committee members of this mission who
came from North America, India, and Europe as a step in supporting the
decision of establishing this mission and apply our Lord Jesus Christ's
doctrines of faith and ethics to medical science and practice throughout
the world for serving humanity.
Source:
http://www.soc-wus.org/patriarchate/news%202008.htm
http://www.socmnet.org/News.htm
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MOR JACOB OF EDESSA
SYMPOSIUM HELD IN
ALEPPO, SYRIA, JUNE 9 –
12, 2008
 The Symposium commemorating
the 1300th anniversary of the passing away of Mor Jacob of Edessa, the
prominent Syrian polymath was held in Aleppo, Syria, June 9 – 12th,
2008.
The Participants who came from Austria, Canada, Germany, Netherlands,
Turkey, United Kingdom and the United States as well as Lebanon and
Syria enjoyed the papers presented at the Symposium, included
contributions from scholars and specialists in Syriac studies. The se
contributions, which included twelve papers that were delivered in five
sessions, discussed the writings of the celebrated scholar Mor Jacob of
Edessa as a chronicler, man of letters, grammarian, exegete, theologian,
and as a major contributor to church liturgy and canon law.
The proceedings of the Symposium also included an opening session in
which a welcoming address was delivered by Mor Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim,
Metropolitan of Aleppo and a keynote lecture by Prof. Dr. Malphono
Sebastian Brock, as well as a final session.
The Symposium programme included visits to a number of archaeological
locations of Syrian monasteries that for centuries were beacons of
knowledge. These included the Monastery of Tell’Ada, where Mor Jacob
lived the last ten years of his celebrated life, and where he died and
was buried on June 5th, 708; the Monastery of St. Simeon the Stylite, a
major fifth century cathedral that was named after St. Simeon the
Stylite, the founder of the Stylite Monastic practice; the recently
uncovered Monastery of Qenneshrin, which was founded by Yohanna Bar
Aphtonia in 538 and which remained active up to the thirteenth century;
and the town of Mabug, the birth place of Theodora, the Syrian Queen,
and the seat of Mor Philoxenus of Mabug ( + 523).
In its final session, the Symposium resolved the following:
1. The proceedings of the
Symposium will be published in English by Gorgias Press and in Arabic by
Mardin Publishing House. The full texts of the papers should be
submitted to Gorgias Press by October 1st, 2008 and the Arabic
translation of the texts to be completed by March 1st, 2009.
2. Encouraged by the immense success of the Symposium and in order to
promote continuity in the study of the Syriac literary heritage, and in
recognition of Aleppo’s special place in this heritage, it was decided
to hold a series of colloquia, each under the title Aleppo Syriac
Colloquium (A.S.C.), every two years. Each colloquium will be devoted to
one theme or studying the works of one renowned historic Syriac Scholar.
The subject of the colloquium will be defined one year in advance and
expert scholars will be invited to participate. In this respect it was
resolved to hold the next colloquium during the second half of June,
2010 in Aleppo and will address the work of the outstanding Syrian
polymath Mor Gregorios Yohanna Abu al-Faraj Barhebraeus (+1286).
3. The participants expressed their profound appreciation and thanks to
the host of the Symposium, Mor Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim, for his
initiative to hold the Symposium, for his tireless efforts, which
ensured its complete success, and for the generous hospitality. As a
token of this a ppreciation, the participants presented His Eminence
with a book authored by George Kiraz that included on its initial pages
hand written notes that expressed their appreciation. The participants
also expressed their deep thanks to the secretariat of the Symposium, to
the monks and deacons and members of the different working groups of the
Aleppo Syrian Orthodox Archdiocese, particularly the board of trustees
of St George Church in Hay Al-Syrian, which accommodated the venue of
the Symposium.
LIST OF THE SCHOLARS
1. Metropolitan Mar Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim (Syria)
2. Prof. Dr. Malphono Sebastian Brock (UK)
3. Fr. Dr. Abdo Badwi (Lebanon)
4. Prof. Dr. Khalid Dinno (Canada)
5. Prof. Dr. Theresia Hainthaler (Germany)
6. Prof. Dr. Amir Harrak (Canada)
7. Dr. Andrea Juckle (Germany)
8. Dr. George Kiraz (USA)
9. Rev. Dr. Richard Price (UK)
10. Prof. Dr. Alison Salvesen (UK)
11. Dr. Aho Shemunkasho (Austria)
12. Rev. Dr. Columba Stewart (USA)
13. Jack Tannous (USA)
Source:
http://theheroicage.blogspot.com/2008/06/final-statement-for-mor-jacob-of-edessa.html
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99TH DUKRONO OF
MOR
DIONYSIUS V JOSEPH (PULIKOTTIL II),
(Malankara Metropolitan,
1876-1909)
Date of demise: 11
July 1909
Death centenary year:
2008-2009
The
Malankara Jacobite Syrian Church commemorates the 99th dukrono of its former
Malankara Metropolitan and regional head, H.E. Mor Divanasious V Joseph
Pulikottil with special prayers during Holy Qurbono
on July 12 & 13th, 2008. His Beatitude the
Catholicos and Metropolitan trustee of the Malankara Syrian Church, Aboon
Mor Baselios Thomas I will lead the holy service at the
St. Athanasius Cathedral, Puthencuriz. During this death centenary
year of the holy father, the Church is to organize
various conferences and exhibitions at different places in the next one
year period which will culminate with Holy Qurbono on July 11, 2009.
H.E. Mor Divanasious V
Joseph, popularly known as Pulikottil Thirumeni II,
is one of those illustrious fathers of the Church who for nearly
four and half decades led the Malankara Syrian Community; first as the
assistant to the then Apostolic delegate Mor Kurillos Yuyakim
(Mulanthuruthy) and later as the head (Malankara Metropolitan) of the
Malankara Edavaka (Archdiocese).
Born in the 'Pulikottil' family of
Kunnamkulam, Mor Divanasious V was ordained Metropolitan by Patriarch
Ignatius Yakub II at the Church in Amida, Turkey in A.D. 1865. (One of his
predecessors and the founder of the Syrian seminary in Kottayam, Mor
Divanasious II, also hails from the same family). Mor Divanasious V's tenure as metropolitan was a very crucial period in the
history of Malankara Church. He had to lead the Malankara Syrian Christian
community against the activities of various European missionaries who
tried to forcibly convert the Orthodox faithful into their fold with the
help of the then British rulers of India. Initially there was the patriarchal
delegate Mor Koorilos Yuyakkim to support Mor Divanasious V, but after his
death in 1873, Mor Divanasious V had to lead the Church single handedly.
As the situation worsened the Malankara Edavaka seek the
help of the Church's supreme head and accordingly His Holiness the
Patriarch Mor Ignatius Pathros IV arrived in Malankara in March 1876. As
part of the administrative restructuring, His Holiness has convened a
synod at Mulanthuruthy in July the same year which gave birth to the popular and
democratic 'Malankara Syrian Christian Association'; a body comprising of
representatives from each parishes of Malankara. As per the decision of
this historical Synod, Malankara Edavaka (Syrian Archdiocese in
India) was divided into six new dioceses for administrative convenience,
and later Metropolitans were ordained for each. The other major decision
of the synod was to
elevate Mor Divanasious V Joseph Pulikottil, as the first Metropolitan
President of the newly formed Association and as the chief of the local
Synod, with the designation MALANKARA METROPOLITAN.
During his reign as the head of the
Church in India, Mor Divanasious V initiated a series of measures for the
social development of clergy and laymen of
the Church. He established the Parumala Seminary and the St. Thomas Press at Kottayam Seminary,
authorized printing of Texts for the liturgy (Thaksa) and
 festivals,
started monthly magazines under the titles ‘Malankara Edavaka Pathrika’
and the ‘The Syrian Evangelist’. Many schools including the M.D. Seminary
High School (1892) at Kottayam were also established by him. The famous Church historian and the author of the book ‘The Indian Church of St.Thomas’,
E M Philip Edavazhikkal, was
his most trusted aide. E M Philip was also the secretary of the Pulikottil
Mor Divanasious Metropolitan.
In 1901 the silver jubilee of his
priestly ordination was celebrated in Kottayam during which the famous
biographical work of His Eminence was released.
In 1902, St. Gregorios Chathuruthil and in 1907, Mor Athanasius Kadavil,
both of whom considered as successors to Mor Divanasious in the seat of
Malankara Metropolitan, died which led to the selection and installations of two new
Metropolitans. On July 11, 1909 Mor Divanasious V Pulikottil was called to
his heavenly abode at the age of 76. His body was entombed on the northern
side of the Chapel in Syrian Seminary, Kottayam.
For a
detailed biography of Pulikottil Mor Divanasious V, visit:
http://www.syrianchurch.org/PulikottilII/Pulikottil.htm
http://www.syrianchurch.org/PulikottilII/Pulikkottil.htm
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NEW METROPOLITANS FOR THE
KNANAYA
ARCHDIOCESE OF MALANKARA
Metropolitans Mor Silvanos Ayoub (left)
& Mor Ivanios Kuriakose (right)
On
Thursday, June 12,
2008, His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, the Patriarch of Antioch
and all the East and
the Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, ordained
two Metropolitans for the Knanaya
Archdiocese of Malankara at a solemn function held
in the St. Peter & St. Paul's Patriarchal Cathedral at Mor Aphrem Seminary, Ma'arrat Seydnaya,
Damascus, Syria. The new metropolitans will henceforth be known as MOR
IVANIOS KURIAKOSE (Rev.
Fr. Kuriakose Kolath)
and MOR SILVANOS AYOUB (Rev.
Fr. Job Thottathil). Their Eminences Metropolitans Mor Sevarios Kuriakose (Archbishop of Knanaya diocese),
Mor Gregorios Kuriakose (Metropolitan of Kallisseri region), Mor Timotheos
Aphrem Aboodi (former Patriarchal Vicar for Canada), Mor Theophilos George
Saliba ( Secretary to the Holy Synod) and Mor Clemis Daniel (Lebanon
diocese) assisted His Holiness at this blessed consecration ceremony.
The holy ceremony was attended by a large gathering of Rabans (Monks), Priests,
Deacons, Nuns and around 75 Syrian Orthodox Faithful from India.
With the ordination of Mor Ivanios and Mor
Silvanos, the
total number of prelates in the Knanaya Archdiocese
has been raised to four. Earlier it was the
Knanaya Association, the supreme decision making body, that met at the
Archdiocesan headquarters near Kottayam in
March, that elected Rev. Fr. Kuriakose
Kolath and Rev. Fr. Job Thottathil as auxiliary bishops for the community.
Later in the month of May, both Rev. Fr. Job Thottathil and Rev. Fr. Kuriakose
Kolath, were raised to the order of Raban by Archbishop Mor Severios
Kuriakose at the Patriarchal
cathedral in
Ma'arrat Seydnaya,
Damascus and Ranny St. Thomas Church, Kerala, India respectively.
Knanaya
community of Malankara:
The history of the
Knanaya community of Malankara (India) begins with the arrival of a group
of about 300 people from Edessa (in S. E Turkey)
in AD 345, which was once a famous
Christian city in the old Syrian province of Eastern Roman Empire. The
group of
Syriac Christians who reached here for missionary activity was led by Metropolitan Mor
Yousef and the person who guided the historic migration was Knanaya Thoma. Since their arrival, the Knaniates who
derived their name from their leader Knanaya Thoma, preferred to live as a
closed community all through the history inspite of their close
cooperation with the local
Christians who accepted Christ as their Saviour through the early
Apostolic mission of St. Thomas in AD 52.
Unlike
the St. Thomas Syriac Christian sect of Malankara which faced many
splits to this day,
the Knanaya community
had not come across such divisions barring the separation of group in the 16th
century following the Portuguese era of forceful conversion to Roman
Catholicism. Hence the entire Knaniates are either Syrian Orthodox (Jacobite)
or Roman Catholics. It was in 1910 that the Knaniates had
giot their first Metropolitan from their own community, Mor Severios
Geevarghese
Edavazhikkal, following the formation of Knanaya diocese in the Malankara
Syrian Church. He was succeeded by Mor Dioscorous, and later by Mor Clemis
Abraham who in
1980's received the honorary decoration of
'Chief Metropolitan of the East'.
It was after the passing away of Mor Clemis Abraham in 2003 that the
present senior Metropolitan,
Mor Severios Kuriakose Edavazhikkal was ordained Metropolitan for the
diocese. In 2007, the
community got their fifth metropolitan and subsequently His Holiness the
Patriarch raised the diocese as an Archdiocese and installed Mor Severios
as its first Archbishop under whom Mor Gregorios Kuriakose and the
presently ordained two Metropolitans comes. The Knanaya Syrian community
since the last century enjoys certain amount of autonomy in their
administrational matters which helped them to achieve an unique identity
among the Apostolic Christian communities of Malankara. The 'Knanaya Association' formed in 1918 under the leadership of of its first bishop Mor
Severios Geevarghese laid the foundation for the separate status for the
community within the Malankara Church. The Knanaya Association and thus
the Archdiocese too, comes directly under H.H. the Patriarch and its all
major decisions has to be reported to the supreme authority and get H.H's
consent. However the Archbishop and
metropolitans of the Knanaya Archdiocese are part of the Malankara
Episcopal Synod
of the Indian Church headed by His Beatitude the Catholicos (Maphriyono).
Links:
Prelates of the Universal
Syriac Orthodox Church
http://www.syrianchurch.org/bio/SyriacOrthodox/Metropolitans.htm
Mor Silvanos Ayoub
http://www.syrianchurch.org/bio/MalankaraPrelates/bio_IvaniosKuriakose.htm
Mor Ivanios Kuriakose
http://www.syrianchurch.org/bio/MalankaraPrelates/bio_SilvanosAyoub.htm
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100th anniversary of the
Metropolitan Consecration of
MOR KOORILOSE PAULOSE,
the former Malankara Metropolitan
and head of the
Malankara Jacobite Syrian
Church
 The
Syriac Orthodox Church of India is celebrating the 100th
anniversary of the Metropolitan Consecration of Mor Koorilos Paulose
Kochuparambil, the former Malankara Metropolitan and head of the Malankara
Jacobite Syrian Church with special functions on the coming Saturday and
Sunday (31st of May and 1st of June 2008).
Seminars, photo exhibition etc. on the life and times of the late
metropolitan, will be conducted during the occasion to be held at the
Panampady St. Mary’s Church where the mortal remains of the Holy Father is
interred. The two day programs will begin on 31st May 29, 2008
with the Holy Qurbono being celebrated by His Eminence Mor Thimotheos
Thomas, metropolitan of Kottayam and Archdiocese of Greater India. On
Sunday June 1, 2008, Mor Gregorios Joseph, metropolitan of Kochi and the
Secretary of the Malankara Episcopal Synod will offer Holy Qurbono. The
seminars and other functions will be led by Very Rev. Kuriakose
Corepiscopa Moolayil, Fr. Dr. Mani Rajan and other eminent scholars of the
Church.
It was on 31st May
1908, H.E. Mor Koorilos Paulose Kochuparambil was elevated to the high
priest-hood by the then reigning Patriarch of the Holy See of Antioch and
all the East and the supreme head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church,
H.H. Moran Mor Ignatius Abded Aloho II (Abdulla II). The historical
consecration ceremony was held at the St. Mark’s Syriac Orthodox Monastery
in Jerusalem. H.G. Mor Dionsuysis Geevarghese Vattasseril who became the
Malankara Metropolitan after Pulikottil Mor Dionsyius Thirumeni too was
ordained Bishop along with Mor Koorilos on that gracious occasion.
For the detailed biography of
His Eminence, visit:
http://www.syrianchurch.org/bio/MorKoorilosKochuparambil.htm
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August
2008 |
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SUN |
MON |
TUE |
WED |
THU |
FRI |
SAT |
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31 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
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3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
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10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
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17 |
18 |
19 |
20 |
21 |
22 |
23 |
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24 |
25 |
26 |
27 |
28 |
29 |
30 |
MORAN MOR IGNATIUS ZAKKA I
the Patriarch of Antioch & all the East
and the Supreme head of the Universal Syrian Orthodox Church
MOR BASELIOS THOMAS I
the Catholicos & Metropolitan Trustee of
the Syriac Church of India
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Download
100 years
Calendar
[Feast
days from
2000 to 2100]
 GREGORIAN
JULIAN
|
Biography
www.ParumalaThirumeni.org
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