(Patron Saint of Malankara)

November 2, 1902

H.H. Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of

All Armenians visits Holy Father at the St. Ephraim,

the Syrian Monastery, in Damascus

MA`ARAT SAYYIDNAYA, DAMASCUS: Supreme Patriarch and Catholicose of All Armenians His Holiness Karekin II visited His Holiness Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, Patriarch of Antioch & All the East at The Monastery of St. Ephraim, the Syrian here on November 13, Friday.

The delegation was received at the entrance of St. Peter's & St. Paul's Cathedral here by Their Eminences Arch Bishop of Aleppo Mor Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim, Arch Bishop of Lebanon & Holy Episcopal Synod Secretary Mor Theophilose George Saliba, Arch Bishop of Jazirah & Euphrate Mor Osthatheos Matta Rohum, Patriarchal Vicar for Zahle Mor Yusphinos Paulose Yusuf Safar, Assistant to Patriarch & Director of St. Ephraim Seminary Mor Philexinos Mathias Nayis and Arch Bishop of Beirut & Patriarchal Institutions in Atchaneh Mor Clemis Daniel Malak Kourieh. The delegation includes six bishops led by Arch Bishop of Damascus, priests, deacons and lay men.

Holy Father's welcome speech during the visit of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch-Catholicos of All Armenians.

Your Holiness, Your Eminences, Respected Clergy, the distinguished guests accompanied with His Holiness and gentlemen:

It is indeed my great pleasure to welcome you all in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, while thanking Him for this wonderful occasion, when His Holiness KAREKIN II, the Supreme Patriarch-Catholicos of All Armenians, has pleased to give us a visit and has thus blessed us all. We heartily thank Your Holiness and all the members of the delegation, accompanied your Holiness, in this gesture of brotherly love.
 

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http://www.socmnet.org/News_KarekinII_visits_ZakkaI_13Nov09.htm

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1600 year-old Angamaly St. Mary's Syrian Orthodox  Church declared as Soonoro Cathedral

ANGAMALY: As thousands of devotees knelt in prayer, the St. Mary’s Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church in Angamaly was formally declared as ‘Soonoro’ Cathedral in a ceremony held at the church on Sunday. Holy Episcopal Synod Secretary His Grace Mor Gregorios Joseph read out the bull from Patriarch Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka-I Iwas elevating the church. Catholicose His Beatitude Dr. Baselios Thomas I was also present.

The ceremony began with the holy Eucharist, celebrated by the Catholicose along with Their Graces Dr. Mor Gregorios Joseph, Dr. Mor Severios Abraham, Mor Eusebius Kuriakose, Mor Chrisostomos Markose and Mor Athanasius Elias.

The announcement ceremony was preceded by a spiritual procession led by Catholicose Dr. Baselios Thomas I to the cemetery for offering homage to the forefathers. Metropolitans, priests and the faithful accompanied His Beatitude.

Later, a public meeting presided over by Dr. Mor Severios Abraham was held on the church premises. Inaugurating the meeting, Dr. Baselios Thomas I said that the announcement of raising the church as Soonoro Cathedral was a historic moment for the churches in India. 

Syro Malabar Church Ernakulam Auxiliary Bishop Mar Sebastian Idayanthrath delivered the keynote address and K. Narayana Kurup, jurist, was the chief guest. Ministers Jose Thettayil and S. Sharma, K. P. Dhanapalan, MP, and Mor Athanasius Elias were among those who spoke on the occasion.

It was in the year AD 409 that the church in Angamaly was established. Being the headquarters of the Malankara Church for many many centuries, Angamaly was the nave centre of Syriac Christianity in India. The mortal remains of First MarThoma, Mor Geevarghese Arkidiyokan (Archdeacon) of Pakalomattom Family and that of the first bishop of Angamaly diocese, Ambat Mor Coorilos are all laid to eternal rest in this church. This church also has the rare opportunity to have the 'KHABARS' (tomb) of about 55 priests who served the church in the days of old.

The age old painting inside the church is with natural materials. The painting depict Heaven and Hell on either side of the wall. The two altars show the paintings of Gee Varghese Sahada and Behanan Sahada, the fight between David & Goliath, and the Arc of Noah. The main alter has paintings from Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
 

Catholicos Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas-I inaugurating the public function held soon after the official declaration regarding the elevation of the church to a Soonoro Cathedral

Pro-Oriente 2nd Colloquium Syriacum held

at Vienna on 4-6th, November

Pro-Oriente Second Colloquium Syriacum was held on 4-6 November at Vienna. The Theme of the Symposium was Syriac Christianity in the Middle East and India Today: Contributions and challenges. 

At the Inaugural session the Archbishop of Vienna H.E. Cardinal Christoph schoenborn presided over the opening prayer and cordially welcomed the participants. He recalled spirit and vision of the founder of Pro-Oriente, the late Cardinal Franz Koenig, whose life was dedicated to dialogue and a profound love for Oriental Christianity. A greeting of Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, was read. He expressed his deep hope that the studies of the Pro-Oriente Colloquim Syriacum highlighting the urgency of religious freedom and pluralism will contribute to a strengthening of the ecumenical dialogue. Further he encouraged the participants to reflect together on the motives and impacts of emigration for the future of Christianity in the Middle East. Pro oriente President Johann Marthe welcomed the participants, who came from India, Syria, USA, Lebanon, Great Britain, Austria, Germany, the Netherlands and Italy. 

The following ten papers were presented in the meeting: 

• Christianity in the Middle East: some historical facts and demographic figures (Prof. Dr. Dietmar Winkler, Salzburg, Austria). 

• Cultural, social and educational Contributions of Syriac Christianity in the South India (Rev. Dr. Baby Varghese, Kottayam, India). 

• Christians In Iran and Iraque: Which contribution to Society? (Pro. Dr.Herman Teule, Nijmegen, The Netherlands). 

• Cultural,social and educational contributions of Syriac Christianity in Syria and Lebano. (Prof. Dr. Karam Rizk, Lebanon). 

• Religious Freedom, Education, pluralism, personal status of Syriac christianity in India. (Rev. Dr. Philp Nelpuraparambil, India). 

• The Church-State Relations in Modern Iraq. (Prof. Dr. Anthony O'Mahony, London, Great Britain). 

• Religious Freedom, Education, Personal Status of Syriac Christianity in Syria and Turkey. (H.E. Dr. Mor Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim, Aleppo, Syria). 

• The Contribution of the Syriac Family to the experience of Islamo-Christian Co-existance in Lebanon. (Mor Paul Matar, Beirut, Lebanon). 

• Emigration of Syriac Christians moving from India- Motives and Impact. (H.E. Dr. Kuriakose Theophilose Metropolitan, Kerala, India). 

• Emigration of Syriac Christians moving from Middle East- Motives and Impact. Prof. Dr. Martin Thamcke, Goettingen, Germany). 

• Prof. Dr. Sidney  Griffith, Prof. Dr. Sebastian Brock were some of the other important participants of the Symposium. 

The participants of the 2nd Pro Oriente Colloquim Syriacum make an urgent appeal to those Churches in regions where emigrated Syriac or other Middle Eastern Christians are to be found, to assist them in every possible way to preserve their cultural and spiritual traditions (including their languages), in their new situation. 

The Syrian Orthodox Church was represented by H. E Mor Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim Metropolitan of Aleppo and H.E. Dr. Kuriakose Theophilose, Resident Metropolitan of Malankara Theological Seminary.

Miracle at the St. Mary's  Syrian Church in Kattachira, INDIA

Tears found in an icon of Mother Mary & Infant Jesus

(A 3 minute video clipping)

KATTACHIRA, INDIA - Oct 23, 2009:  The miracle that started in a simple looking icon of Mother Mary carrying Infant Jesus, printed in flex and kept at the chapel of our Kattachira St. Mary's Jacobite Syrian Church near Kayamkulam, is continuing for the 3rd consecutive day.

It was on October 21st that the women who gathered for Wednesday prayers first noticed the miracle.  Thinking that the picture was wet because of rainwater the women  took it and wiped it clean. But they noted that it is becoming wet again. They immediately called upon the Vicar, Rev Fr. Roy Kattachira, who also tried to wipe it clean many a times but noticed that a water like substance was still coming from the eye part. This happened on Wednesday the late-forenoon. One of our friends took a small video clipping in his mobile camera which is shown in the links as the 'first video footage'.

On the next day Mor Thevodosius Mathews, the Metropolitan of our Kollam diocese under whom the parish comes, also visited the chapel and witnessed the same thing happening again.  H.G. wiped the picture clean using a soft cotton cloth, but in half an hour the oily fluid again started dripping from the same portion, ie; from the eye part of Mother Mary in the icon. 

This simple looking icon of Mother Mary and infant jesus, printed in flex material, is not a very old one and is not even properly framed, hence either sides  are exposed. Since the news first spread the faithful fromall denominations are visiting the church to see the miracle happening.

Hail Mary , Full of grace.....

Holy Virgin , Theotokos Pray for us

First video footage of Miracle at St Mary's Kattachira, Kayamkulam

     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAudg_HyE1c

     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gKfuXQPGKA&feature=related

Photos:    1....      2....

Photos taken on October 30, 2009

http://www.syrianchurch.org/Photos/KattachiraStMarysChapel_Oct09/index.html

 

 

Click the above images for viewing larger size photos

 

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Catholicos H.B Baselios Thomas I and Mor Coorilos Geevarghese

at the Kattachira Chapel

 

 

 

H.B Catholicose Baselios Thomas 1st at Kattachira Chapel

Watch video

Dedicated link from SOCMNet.org

View Special Page of Malankara Syriac Voice

Diocesan metropolitan His Eminence Mathews Mor Theodosius

declaring St. Mary's Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Chapel

of Kattachira as "MARIAN DIVINE CENTRE"

107th Dukrono of

ST. GREGORIOS GEEVARGHESE CHATHURUTHY

Parumala Thirumeni

 d. November 3, 1902

On November 3rd, 2009, falls the 107th dukrono of Saint Gregorios Geevarghese Chathuruthy (Parumala Thirumeni), one of the most revered fathers of the Syrian Church and the first declared Indian saint whose name is remembered in the 5th Tubden.

It was 161 years before on 15th June 1948 that the holy father St. Gregorios was born in the distinguished priestly family of 'Pallathattu Thanagattu' in the village of Mulunthuruthy near Cochin, India on 15th June 1848. He was baptized by name Geevarghese (George) at the Mulanthuruthy Mar Thoman Church. From childhood days he followed a very disciplined life which was enriched by prayer and fasting.  'Kochaipora' as he was known in those days, had a deep fascination towards Syriac, the liturgical language of the Syriac Orthodox Church. His extraordinary ability to sing Syriac hymns beautifully & perfectly came to the notice of his uncle (father's brother) Kassisso Geevarghese Malpan who was an authority in Syriac and a celibate priest. Impressed by his nephews' extraordinary divine qualities Kassisso Geevarghese gave proper guidance to him.  The other two personalities who had greatly influenced young Geevarghese were Kassisso Geevarghese Malpan Konattu (later Geevarghese Mor Julius) and St. Yuyakkim Mor Koorilos Bava, the Syrian Metropolitan who was the Reesh Episcopa to Malankara. 

The later years the Malankara church was witnessing the emergence of a great monk who through continuous prayers, made it clear to the world that Prayer and devotion is mightier than any worldly possession.

The Holy Father's short life was remarkable in many respects. A deacon at the age of 10, a priest at the age of 18, a bishop at the young age of 28 (the reason for calling him 'Kochu Thirumeni'); he passed away at the age of 54 on 3rd November 1902, after a saintly life of prayer to become the brightest jewel of the Universal Syrian Church. 

 For more on the life and times of our holy father,

ST. GREGORIOS OF MALANKARA

visit our exclusive website launched in November 2001

http://www.SaintGregorios.org

http://www.ParumalaThirumeni.org

Former Syrian Prime Minister His Excellency Dr. Muhammad Mustafa Mero visits His Holiness

MA'ARRAT SAIDNAYA, DAMASCUS: Former Prime Minister of Syria, H.E Dr. Muhammad Mustafa Mero visited His Holiness Patriarch Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas at Monastery of St. Ephraim, the Syrian, here on Nov 06, 2009, Friday. Mr. Suhail Marroq, Mayor of the City of Qamishli accompanied Dr. Mero. Arch Bishop of Jazirah & Euphrates, H.E Mor Osthatheos Matta Rohum & Patriarchal Assistant & Director of St. Ephraim's Seminary, H.E Mor Mor Philoxinus Mattias Nayis were present. A lunch was arranged to honour the delegation.

 

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His Eminence Archbishop Mor Cyril Aphrem Karim pays a Visit to His Holiness Pope Shenouda III

NEW JERSEY: Archbishop Mor Cyril Aphrem Karim visited His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the Holy See of St. Mark’s at the Coptic Orthodox Papal Residence in Cedar Grove, here to inquire about His Holiness’ health, on Saturday, September 26. His Eminence was accompanied by the Rev. Fr. Joseph Chamoun of St. Mark’s Cathedral. Several Coptic bishops were also present.

His Holiness the Pope was on a one day visit to New Jersey on his way to Cairo after routine visit with his physicians in Cleveland, Ohio.

In his warm welcome remarks, His Holiness highlighted the strong and historical relationship between the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria and the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch. He emphasized the full communion which exists between the two churches and the shared witness to the faith which both churches continue to bear through many persecutions and challenges.

His Eminence the Archbishop briefed His Holiness about the activities of the Oriental Orthodox Churches in North America underlining the important role of the “Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches in the United States” which constitutes the official organ of the joint activities of these churches. His Holiness expressed his support for the work of the council and prayed for the faithful witness and work of the Oriental Orthodox Churches in America.

Mor Coorilose Geevarghese elected as the Chairperson of Student Christian Movement of India (SCMI)

October 27, 2009, Goa, India: Metropolitan of Niranam Diocese & Patriarchal Vicar for United Kingdom His Eminence Dr. Geevarghese Mor Coorilos  was unanimously elected as the Chairperson of Student Christian Movement of India (SCMI), at the General Committee of SCMI concluded on October 27, here, for the next biennium.

Mor Coorilos delivered key note address at the General Committee. SCMI is affiliated to the World Student Christian Federation, the oldest ecumenical student movement, founded in Vadstena, Sweden in 1895. The Federation grew with the emergence of national movements including the Indian SCM founded in 1912 at Serampore, Calcutta.

New office bearers with the delegates of the General Committee of the Student Christian Movement of India which met in Goa.

 

Mor Koorilos Geevarghese

 

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Catholicos H.H. Aram I of the Armenian Church visits

the Holy Father at the St. Ephraim, the Syrian

Monastery in Damascus

St. Ephraim Monastery, SYRIA:  His Holiness Catholicos Aram I of the Armenian Orthodox Church of Cilicia visited the holy father Patriarch H.H. Ignatius Zakka-I Iwas at the St. Ephraim Monastery in Ma`arat Sayy'dnaya near Damascus on Tuesday the 2oth October.  The Armenian delegation was received at the Monastery entrance by H.E. Mor Philexinos Mathias Nayis, the Patriarchal assistant and Director of the St. Ephraim Theological college, priests, monks and students of the seminary.

After a warm welcome, the Holy Father introduced Catholicos Aram I as a strong ecumenical leader who Moderated the Executive and Central Committees of the World Council of Churches for two terms and described him as a dynamic force in the meetings of the Heads of the Oriental Orthodox Churches in the Middle East and its standing committee. His Holiness the Patriarch also added that their cooperation has strengthened the contribution of Oriental Orthodox Churches in bilateral dialogues on theological, dogmatic and other issues with Christian world communions. 

Thanking Patriarch H.H. Ignatius Zakka-I, the Catholicos Aram emphasized the centuries old strong ties between their two Churches, which was rooted in common Christological, dogmatic and theological principles. The Catholicos also wished the Holy father a long life and success in leading the Syriac Orthodox Church. Later the Catholicos answered certain questions from the audience concerning the relationship between the two churches, the Coptic Orthodox Church and sister. 

The visit ended with a banquet organized in honor of His Holiness Aram I and his delegation.

Photos and News from the official Syrian Orthodox

& Armenian Orthodox websites