His Beatitude the Catholicos
Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas I Bava visits Australia - April 2008
Starting the first-ever visit of a Syriac Orthodox Catholicos to
Australia, H.B. Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas I, the Catholicos and
Metropolitan Trustee of the Indian
Church, reached the city of Perth in Australia on Monday 21st April 2008.
The Catholicos who reached here from Singapore was received at the airport
by the Syriac Orthodox Church delegation headed by V. Rev. Fr. Boutros
Touma Issa. Later His Beatitude celebrated the Holy mass at the St.
Ephraim Syriac Orthodox Church in Perth.
On 24th April 2008 the Catholicos reached Melbourne. Rev. Fr. Ullas Varkey,
the vicar of the Melbourne Malankara Syriac Orthodox congregation, its
Vice President Mr Jacob Cherian, Trustee Mr. Joy Alexander, Secretary Mr.
Thomas Abraham (Saji), Committee Members and the others received the
Catholicos at the Airport.
His Beatitude celebrated the Holy Qurbono on Friday, 25th at St. Mary’s
Church, Adelaide and on the 26th Saturday at St. Mary’s Church, in Sydney.
Catholica Bava will return to India on May 1st.
Special issue on the Visit of
Catholicos H.B. Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas I to Perth
--Source: Noohro, the Light, Volume 13,
Issue 26 - 27 April 2008--
H.H.
Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, the Patriarch of Antioch & all the East and the
supreme head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, celebrates 75th
Birthday on April 21, 2008
By the Grace of Almighty God,
our Holy father, Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas the Patriarch of the Holy
Apostolic See of Antioch and all the East and the Primate of the Universal
Syriac Orthodox Church is celebrating 75th birthday on 21st April 2008.
On this gracious occasion we wish, our beloved Moran, a blessed and
esteemed, healthy and long life. In our daily prayers, let us pray for His
Holiness to continue to lead the Holy Church with the divine guidance.
Website dedicated in 2005 on
the occasion of His Holiness' 25th year of Patriarchal enthronement in the
Apostolic See of Antioch:
- Catholicos Mor Baselios Thomas I took
charge of the new diocese -
Wednesday, April 16, 2008:
The Idukki diocese in Kerala,
India, was formally inaugurated at a grand function held at the Kattappana
St. George Church today. The official declaration regarding the
diocesan formation was done by Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas I, the Catholicos
and the primate of the Syriac Church in India, at the public function held
soon after the Holy Qurbono in the
Kattapana Church. The concerned bull from His Holiness Ignatius Zakka I Iwas,
the Patriarch of Antioch & all the East and the Supreme head of the
Church, was read by H.E. Mor Aphrem Mathews, the
Assistant Metropolitan of the High range region of the Angamali diocese.
Metropolitans, prominent dignitaries of the area and a large number of
faithful from the new diocese were present during the function.
Earlier in the morning a Holy Tri-Mass held at the Kattappana St. George
Church was led by H.B. the Catholicos and assisted by Their Excellencies
the Metropolitans, Mor Aphrem Mathews and Mor Athanasius Elias. At about
11am the public function started which was presided by His Beatitude the
Catholicos.
The vast majority of churches
and area which, from now onwards comes under the new diocese was earlier
part of the Kottayam diocese. A small part of the Kandanad diocese
is also included in the new diocese. H.B. Catholicos will hold charge of
the new diocese until a new Metropolitan is installed soon. A diocesan
body, elected from the representatives of the churches in the diocese,
also came into effect from today onwards.
Photos of the Holy Qurbono and
the public function that followed are available in the below link:
April
6, 2008 :
An Aramaic Syriac Orthodox priest was shot to death yesterday
Saturday morning in a neighbourhood of the capital of Baghdad.
Father Youssef Adel was gunned down and killed in a drive-by shooting in
one of Baghdad’s considered safest neighbourhoods Karrada. This barbaric
attack took place outside of his house near the St. Peter and Paul Syriac
Orthodox church where he presides.
Father Youssef Adel, had once before escaped the Sunni dominant
neighbourhood of Dora and the slaughtering of the Christians, at a time
when rebellious Islamic were burning down churches and Christian homes.
Father Youssef Adel and his wife Lamia moved to a
considerably safe area called Karradah and became the priest of St. Peter
and Paul Syriac Orthodox Church.
But the Christian blood colours the streets of Iraq,
and father Youssef Adel became yet another martyr of the Syriac Orthodox
Church. On 9th October 2006 another west
Aramaic Syriac Orthodox Priest was kidnapped and beheaded by a terrorist
group in Mosul. His name was Paulus Iskander Behnam of St. Afrem Church.
Father Youssef Adel was shot down with a silencer,
and collapsed in front of his home. Neighbours and arameans (syriacs) from
all over the district flocked and cried outside father Youssef Adel house.
His body was brought to the church of Saint Peter and
Paul Syriac Orthodox Church and the funeral was led by the Archbishop of
Baghdad Mor Severius Hawa and Syriac Orthodox clergy on Sunday morning.
The Patriarch of Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch,
H.H. Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, condemned this barbaric action and said “We should
not surrender to grief but we must look on his departure through the eye
of faith and see his pious spirit flying in paradise with the spirits of
the martyrs, saints and devout priests.”
Pope Benedict XVI expressed his sorrow over the
killing of this Aramaic Syriac orthodox priest and urged for an end to the
violence in Iraq.
Message from Patriarch H.H. Ignatius Zakka I Iwas,
The jubilee
celebration of H.B. Baselius Thomas I was held at Damascus in
presence of the Patriarch H.H. Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, on 1st April
2008. The event was attended by His Excellency the Ambassador of
India Sri. Guatam Mukhopadhay, Italian Ambassador to Syria H.E.
Mr. Achille Hmerio, H.E Dr. Mor Coorilos Geevargis etc. and paid
their felicitation speeches and the Catholicos paid the reply
speech.
It was attended by the 245 faithful from India, the Mor Aphrem
Seminary students, Sisters, and other guests from Syria. After
that there was a love feast for all at a hotel with Jubilee Cake
cutting. The photos of the event can be viewed at the following
links:
The Knanaya Association, the supreme decision making body of the Knanaya
Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Archdiocese in India, which met at the Archdiocesan
headquarters at Mor Aphrem Seminary, Chingavanam in Kottayam on
Wednesday, has elected two auxiliary bishops, Rev. Kuriakose
Kolath and Rev. Job Thottathil, for the community. They were elected by the 317 member
body through split votes. Rev. Thottathil received 214 votes. Rev.
Kolath received 187 votes. The meeting was chaired by Archbishop Mor
Severios Kuriakose, head of the Knanaya Jacobite Syrian Archdiocese.
His Holiness Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, the Patriarch of Antioch & all
the East and the Supreme head of the Universal Syrian Orthodox
Church, is expected ordain them as new Metropolitans within the next
two months at a solemn function to be held at the Patriarchal
Cathedral in Damascus, Syria. With the induction of the newly
elected Metropolitans, the Knanaya Archdiocese will have four
Metropolitans.
One of the newly
elected metropolitan designates, Rev. Fr. Job Thottathil, is now
serving the Knanaya churches at London, Manchester and Bristol in
Great Britain. He was born on April 18, 1972 as the son of
Thurithikad Thottathil K.O.Uthup and Kunjujamma. He took his
Commerce degree from Calicut University and had the theological
studies at the St. Ephraim Seminary, Damascus, Syria and Serampor
University, India. It was on August 9, 1999 he entered full priesthood. He is
now having his doctoral studies at the Manchester university.
Rev. Fr. Kuriakose
Kolath, the other bishop-elect is at present the Vicar of the Ranny
St. Mary's Church (Valiya Pally). He is also the secretary of the
priestly council of the Archdiocese. Rev. Fr. Kuriakose Kolath was
born on June 9, 1964 to Kolath K G Abraham and Thankamma. He
attained his degree and post graduation from the Kerala and M.G.
Universities respectively. Later he joined the Vidiya Jyothi Catholic
seminary, New Delhi from where he received degree in theological
studies. On August 15, 1993 the former Metropolitan of the
Archdiocese, H.E. Mor Clemis Abraham ordained him Kassisso (full
priest) at the St. George Church, Neelamperoor. He is also one of the
directors of the Othara Asramam.
Passion week in Malankara,
March 16-23
Maundy Thursday observed;
Washing of feet ceremony held by high
priests
Maundy
Thursday was observed in all the churches of
Malankara Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church
with special services on 20 March
2008.
Later
in the evening, 'Washing of the Feet' ceremony was held by the high
priests in churches commemorating Jesus having washed the feet of
his disciples before the Last Supper.
The Primate of the Syrian
Church in India, His Beatitude the Catholicos Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas I,
is leading the passion week ceremonies at the St. Peter's Simhasana
Cathedral in the State Capital, Trivandrum. His Beatitude the
Catholios performed the 'Washing the Feet' ceremony as part of the Maundy
Thursday ceremonies at St. Peter's Cathedral. Thousands of faithful
attended the holy ceremony. On Friday 21, 2008, the Malankara Syrian
Christians observes the Good Friday services.
The Church in Malankara
since 1953, is observing the Great lent as per the Gregorian calendar in
par with the other major Christian communities in India. The Syrian
Orthodox Church elsewhere, in Middle East & Diaspora, follows the
Julian calendar as per its age old tradition. This years passion week as
per the Julian calendar comes on the fourth week of April this year.
The Holy Service
being conducted by H.E Dr. Kuriakose Mor Theophilose, the
resident metropolitan of M.S.O.T. Seminary in Kerala and the
diocesan Bishop of UAE, U.K. & EUROPE at the St. Peter's Jacobite
Syrian Orthodox Church, Bahrain
(Source: Bahrain
Church website)
2008 Lent Encyclical from
H.H.
MORAN MOR IGNATIUS ZAKKA I IWAS,
the Patriarch of Antioch &
all the East
IN
THE NAME OF THE SELF – EXISTENT
SEMPITERNAL OF NECESSARY EXISTENCE
THE ALMIGHTY
IGNATIUS
PATRIARCH OF THE HOLY SEE OF ANTIOCH AND ALL THE EAST
SUPREME
HEAD OF THE UNIVERSAL SYRIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH
ZAKKA I, IWAS
THE ONE THOUSAND
THREE HUNDRED YEARS ANNIVERSARY
OF THE DEPARTURE OF
ST. JACOB OF EDESSA (+708)
TO THE HEAVENLY
ABODES
St. Paul the apostle
said, “Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God
to you, whose faith follows, considering the outcome of their conduct.”
(Hebrews 13:7)
We offer apostolic
benediction and benevolent prayers, to our brethren, His Beatitude Mor
Baselius Thomas 1st, Catholicos of India, and their Eminences the
Metropolitans, our spiritual children the Patriarchal Vicars, archpriests,
priests, monks, deacons, and our blessed Syriac Orthodox people worldwide.
May the divine providence embrace them through the intercession of the
Virgin Mary, Mother of God, and the rest of the saints and martyrs. Amen.
Dearly beloved,
We pray for your well
being and ask God to keep you in good health body and soul.
On the occasion of the
One Thousand Three Hundred years anniversary of the assumption of St.
Jacob of Edessa to the heavenly abodes, we are pleased to declare this
year “2008” the year of St. Jacob of Edessa in our Universal Syriac
Orthodox church. And as we issue our decree in this regard, we ponder the
lifetime achievements of this great Saint and summarize his glorious
biography as follows: ...........
For the full text of
the Patriarchal Encyclical, click ...
(119th
Patriarch of the Holy See of Antioch & all the East)
... Pilgrim week at
Manjinikkara dayro
beings on February 10th ...
... Pilgrims to reach the dayro
on 15th evening ...
... Holy Tri-mass on 16th ...
PATHANAMTHITTA:
Preparations have been completed for the 76th Dukrono of St. Ignathios Elias III at Manjinikkara Dayro in Omallur from February 10 to 16.
Adequate facilities are arranged for the thousands of participants who are
expected to reach dayro as part of the annual Manjinikkara pilgrimage.
All the Syrian Jacobite churches in India would observe February 10 as the
Patriarchal-flag hoisting day. On that day a special Holy Tri-Mass would be held at the dayro
cathedral under the leadership of H.E. Yuhananon
Mor Milithios (Metropolitan of Thumpamon diocese), H.E. Mathews Mor Thevodosios
(Metropolitan of Kollam diocese) and
H.E. Geevarghese Mor Athanasios (dayro auxiliary Metropolitan).
After the Holy Mass, Patriarchal flag would be hoisted on the dayro premises.
Discourse meetings would be held on all days from February 11 to 14.
On the pilgrim sangamam day on February 15, the participants would
be given a traditional reception at Omallur Cross Junction under the
leadership of dayro head H.E. Geevarghese Mor Devanasios and auxiliary
Metropolitan H.E. Geevarghese Mor Athanasios.
The pilgrim sangamam to be held on the dayara premises would be presided over by
His Beatitude the Catholicos Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas I, the Metropolitan
Trustee & head of the Malankara Syrian Church. The honourable Minister for
State, Shri. Mons Joseph, would inaugurate the
sangamam. Representative of His Holiness the Patriarch of Antioch would deliver the
benediction address. H.E. Yuhananon Mor Philexinos, Metropolitan of
Malabar diocese, would deliver the key-note
address.
On February 16, at 3 am, Holy Mass
led by H.E.
Yuhananon
Mor Milithios
will be held at St. Stephen's church situated adjacent to the dayro
cathedral.
At 5.30 am, the Holy Tri-Mass at the Dayro
Cathedral will be led by His Beatitude the Catholicos Aboon Mor Baselios
Thomas I, assisted by H.E. Mor Severios Abraham and H.E. Mor Chrysostmos
Markose.
The pilgrim week and the 76th dukrono
celebrations of St. Elias III will come to an end with the Holy Mass to be
con-celebrated at 8.30 am at the dayro cathedral by His Eminence the
Patriarchal delegate, followed by a Rasa.
Fifth meeting of the International Joint
Commission for Theological Dialogue between the
OrientalOrthodoxChurches &
Roman Catholic Church held at St. Aphrem
Syriac Orthodox Monastery,
Maarrat Saydnaya,
Syria,
from Jan. 27 to Feb. 2, 2008
The fifth meeting of the International
Joint Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and
the Oriental Orthodox Churches took place in St. Aphrem Syrian Orthodox
Monastery in Maarrat Saydnaya, Damascus-Syria, January 27 to February 2,
2008. The meeting was chaired jointly by His Eminence Cardinal
Walter Kasper, President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian
Unity and His Eminence Metropolitan Bishoy of Damiette, General Secretary
of the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church.
In the opening speech,
His Holiness Patriarch Ignatius Zakka I
Iwas of the Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch and All the East,
emphasised the importance of joint meetings of Oriental Orthodox and
Catholic Churches, which are very close in faith matters, to improve and
expand its bilateral relations, due to the increased religious terrorism,
secularism etc. seen today.
Joining
delegates from the Catholic Church, were representatives of the following
Oriental Orthodox Churches: the Coptic Orthodox Church, the Syrian
Orthodox Church, the Armenian Apostolic Church-Catholicosate of All
Armenians, the Armenian Apostolic Church-Holy See of Cilicia, and the
Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
The two
delegations met separately before the first plenary session, which took
place on January 29. The bulk of the meeting was devoted to the
examination of a draft document produced by the drafting committee,
entitled “Nature, Constitution and
Mission of the Church.” The
drafting committee will elaborate the document in the light of the
discussion at this plenary session and present a revised text at the next
meeting. In addition, two papers were presented on the goal of our
dialogue
On the
morning of January 31, on behalf of the Commission, His Holiness the
Syrian Orthodox Patriarch and His Eminence Walter Cardinal Kasper were
received by His Excellency Dr. Bashar Al-Assad, President of the
SyrianArabRepublic. His
Eminence Metropolitan Bishoy was unable to attend for health reasons. On
the evening of January 31, the members of the commission attended a
concert in the patriarchal cathedral. The event was followed by a banquet
in the St. Aphrem Seminary that was attended by government officials as
well as Muslim and other Christian leaders.
Meanwhile the absence of one of the two
Oriental Orthodox Churches from India, the Indian Orthodox Church (also
called Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church), is said to be because of the
recent developments in Kerala where two of their metropolitans were said
to have ordained a German person, who is under the jurisdiction of Syrian
Orthodox Patriarch, as a Bishop, and it was strongly condemned by all
Oriental Orthodox and Catholic Church heads. The Joint Commission's
Co-Chairman and Pontifical Council President Cardinal Walter Casper
informed that the Catholic Church issued instruction to its European
Church centres, not to receive the said Bishop in any of its dioceses or
institutions. The Armenian Church head H.H. Aram I is planning to visit
Malankara to meet and discuss with the warring factions, in order to
arrive at a peaceful solution.
H.E.
Mor Theophilus George Saliba, Archbishop of Mount Lebanon and Secretary of
the Holy Synod of the Syriac Orthodox Church led the
Antiochian Syriac Orthodox Church
delegation.
The Antiochian Syriac Orthodox Church from
India (Jacobite Syrian Christian Church) was represented in the meeting by
H.E. Dr. Kuriakose Mor Theophilos, Metropolitan of the Malankara Syrian
Orthodox Theological Seminary, Kerala and the Catholic Church in India was
represented by Rev. Fr. Dr. Mathew Vellanikkal.
The sixth
meeting of the International Commission will be hosted by the Catholic
Church in
Rome in January 25-31, 2009.
Church, reached the city of Perth in Australia on Monday 21st April 2008.
The Catholicos who reached here from Singapore was received at the airport
by the Syriac Orthodox Church delegation headed by V. Rev. Fr. Boutros
Touma Issa. Later His Beatitude celebrated the Holy mass at the St.
Ephraim Syriac Orthodox Church in Perth.
But the Christian blood colours the streets of Iraq,
and father Youssef Adel became yet another martyr of the Syriac Orthodox
Church. On 9th October 2006 another west
Aramaic Syriac Orthodox Priest was kidnapped and beheaded by a terrorist
group in Mosul. His name was Paulus Iskander Behnam of St. Afrem Church.
The Patriarch of Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch,
H.H. Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, condemned this barbaric action and said “We should
not surrender to grief but we must look on his departure through the eye
of faith and see his pious spirit flying in paradise with the spirits of
the martyrs, saints and devout priests.” 
The Knanaya Association, the supreme decision making body of the Knanaya
Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Archdiocese in India, which met at the Archdiocesan
headquarters at Mor Aphrem Seminary, Chingavanam in Kottayam on
Wednesday, has elected two auxiliary bishops, Rev. Kuriakose
Kolath and Rev. Job Thottathil, for the community. They were elected by the 317 member
body through split votes. Rev. Thottathil received 214 votes. Rev.
Kolath received 187 votes. The meeting was chaired by Archbishop Mor
Severios Kuriakose, head of the Knanaya Jacobite Syrian Archdiocese.
His Holiness Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, the Patriarch of Antioch & all
the East and the Supreme head of the Universal Syrian Orthodox
Church, is expected ordain them as new Metropolitans within the next
two months at a solemn function to be held at the Patriarchal
Cathedral in Damascus, Syria. With the induction of the newly
elected Metropolitans, the Knanaya Archdiocese will have four
Metropolitans.
Later
in the evening, 'Washing of the Feet' ceremony was held by the high
priests in churches commemorating Jesus having washed the feet of
his disciples before the Last Supper.
PATHANAMTHITTA:
Preparations have been completed for the 76th Dukrono of St. Ignathios Elias III at Manjinikkara Dayro in Omallur from February 10 to 16.
Adequate facilities are arranged for the thousands of participants who are
expected to reach dayro as part of the annual Manjinikkara pilgrimage.
