Press reports

The 3rd Apostolic visit of His Holiness the Patriarch of Antioch & All the East to INDIA

News & photos on the proclamation procession and

other related news before the arrival of the

Patriarch to India

Proclamation Procession on reaching Manarcaud St. Mary's Church

KOCHI, AUG. 27. The Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and head of the Universal Syrian Orthodox Church, Mar Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, will arrive here on September 20 on a six-day visit to the State.

This was announced by Kuriakose Mar Theophilus and Mathews Mar Ivanios of the Jacobite Church at a press conference here today.

The arrangements for his visit had been finalised at a meeting presided over by the Catholicos, Baselius Thomas I.

The Patriarch would arrive at the Cochin International Airport at Nedumbassery at 9-45 a.m. on September 20.

The Patriarch is coming as an official guest of the Central and State Governments.

H.H Patriarch’s visit to the country

(The New Indian Express, September 3, 2004)

KOCHI, SEP. 3: Addressing a news conference here, Mulanthuruthy seminary resident Metropolitan Kuriakose Mar Theophilus said the Patriarch's visit to the country will coincide with the beginning of the year-long celebrations of the silver jubilee of the Patriarch's consecration.

Apart from various programmes scheduled to be blessed by the Patriarch, the visit assumes significance as he would preside over the crucial Jacobite Syrian Christian Association meet at Mulamthuruthy on September 27.

The Metropolitan pointed out that a Patriarch is attending an association meet for the first time after 1876.

The Patriarch will land at the Nedumbaserry airport on September 20.

He will be received by Catholicos Baselios Thomas I and other church dignitaries. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy will inaugurate the silver jubilee fete of the Patriarchal consecration at Marine Drive, Ernakulam, on September 21.

Central ministers and socio-political leaders will attend the function.

On the following day, the Patriarch will visit the tomb of Abraham Mar Clemis at Chingavanam and that of Patriarch Elias III and Benyamin Mar Osthathios at Manjanikkara and offer special prayers.

On September 23, he will participate in the Episcopal synod and the golden jubilee celebrations of MA College, Kothamangalam.

On September 24, the Patriarch will consecrate the Patriarch Centre at Puthencruz and later address the Jacobite Church Managing Committee.

On September 25, the auspicious `Mooron Consecration' will be led by him. The Patriach will say Holy Mass in a church at Kottayam the next day.

The last function to be attended by the Patriarch in the State before he leaves for New Delhi will be the association meet on September 27. On September 30, the Patriarch will leave for Damascus.

PATHANAMTHITTA, SEPT. 15. The Patriarch of Antioch, Ignathios Zakka Ivaz I, would be accorded a reception at the Manjanikkara Mar Ignathios Diara, near here, on September 22.

The Patriarch would reach Thiruvalla from the Chingavanam Mar Aprem Diara in Kottayam district at 3.30 p.m. on September 22.

The Metropolitans, Markose Mar Coorilos, Youhanon Mar Milithios, Dr. Kaniyamparampil Kurien Corepiscopa, priests and lay members will receive the Patriarch at Thiruvalla. He will then be escorted to Manjanikkara via, Kozhencherry, Elanthoor and Pathanamthitta.

The Patriarch would be accorded a reception at the Omalloor Cross at 5.30 p.m. and would be escorted to the Manjanikara Diara in a colourful procession.

THIRUVANATHAPURAM, SEPT. 15. The traditional 'Proclamation Procession' announcing about the forthcoming visit of His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iywas, the Prince Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, to Kerala, was flagged off on 14th September 2004 from the State Capital, by His Royal Highness Sree Padmanabha dasa Uthradam Thirunal Marthanda Varma Maharaja of Travancore. The inaugural ceremony, held at the St. Peter's Jacobite Syrian Simhasana church, was attended by a rich gathering.

The programme started with prayers at 5.00 pm; the retd. I.A.S officer, Bareeto Briro Dr. D Babu Paul welcomed the dignitaries and the gathering. The meeting was presided by The Holy Episcopal Synod Secretary and Metropolitan of Kochi Diocese H.G. Mor Gregorios Joseph.

During the inaugural address the Maharaja conferred his well wishes to the procession and remembered the connection between the Malankara Church and the Royal family which are part of history. After the inaugural address, Maharaja handed over the Patriarchal flag to the Captain of the procession, Rev. Fr. Rijo Nirappukandam. The rally is organized by the Jacobite Syrian Christian Youth Association. The meeting was attended by the Metropolitans H.G. Mor Melithios Yuhanon of Kollam, Thumpamon dioceses and H.G. Mor Theophilus Kuriakose of the Theological Seminary.

The honorable Minister of State Mr. Thiruvanchoor RadhaKrishan and the Member of the Legislative Assembly from Kothamangalam Mr. V J Paulose felicitated the gathering. The procession later went to the St. Ignatius Knanaya Syrian Church, Pattoor, Trivandrum where it was welcomed by the Vicar and the faithful. From St. Ignatius, the procession left for the St. Mary’s Chapel at Pongumood, Trivandrum where also the faithful received them with immense joy. The procession will tour the churches of Kollam and Thumpamon tomorrow (15.09.2004) and will be lead by Mr. Jerrin Joseph Adoor, Secretary, Youth Association Kollam Diocese.

After passing through the dioceses of Kollam, Niranam, Thumpamon, Kottayam, Kochi and Kandanad, the procession will reach the Puthencruz Patriarchal Centre, on 19th of this month.

On the same day the rally from North, flagged off by H.G. Mor Philoxenos Yuhanon of Malabar Diocese from the St. Peters Cathedral at Meenagadi, under the banner of Malankara Jacobite Sunday School Association (M.J.S.S.A.), will also conclude at Puthencruz, passing through the churches in the dioceses of Malabar, Thrissur and Ankamali.

Report by Dr. Paul Samuel
Photos by Mr.Joby Yeldo
St: Peters Jacobite Syrian Simhasana Church, Thiruvananthapuram.

* Photo in the top: The Maharaja of Travancore handing over the Patriarchal flag to the Captain of the procession

KOTTAYAM, SEPT. 17. The Proclamation Procession that started of from the St. Peter's Church at Thiruvanathapuram on 14th, informing about the forthcoming visit of H.H. the Patriarch of Antioch & all the East to Malankara, has reached Kottayam diocese yesterday. A warm welcome was given to the procession at the Manarcad St. Mary's Church on 17 September in which several Priests and a large number of faithful were present. The procession led by Rev. Fr. Rijo Nirappukandam, the working president of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Youth Association, has passed through many churches in South Kerala and is now going to enter the Kandand diocese tomorrow and will conclude at Puthecuriz on 19th Sunday. A similar procession led by the Sunday School Association will also reach Puthencuriz around the same time after passing through as many churches in North Kerala. H.H. Patriarch will arrive at the Cochin International Airport on 20th.

KARINGACHIRA: All arrangements are completed for the Holy Episcopal synod on 23rd at the Karingachira St. George Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church, which will be presided by the visiting Patriarch H.H. Ignatius Zakka I Iwas. 18 Bishops, including the 3 visiting Bishops from Syria, Mor Athanasius Elia Bahi (Patriarchal Assistant), Pathros Mor Silvanos (Homs), Malki Mor Militius (Australia) will take part in the historical synod meeting. The synod will decide on various spiritual and administrative issues.

30,000 people, through closed circuit TVs arranged, can view the Patriarch's Holy Qurbono and other services in the Church.

"The Patriarchal visit and the Episcopal Synod at Karingachira are historical ones", said Catholicos H.B. Baselios Thomas I, in a press conference. "The Malankara Association meeting at Mulanthuruthy Church on 27th September will be the repetition of such an Association meeting held 126 years ago", the Catholicos added.

"The Patriarchal visit is coinciding with the historical changes happened in the Malankara Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church and hence the Episcopal synod convening at Karingachira, after the formation of the new Malankara Jacobite Syrian Christian Association, will have several implications", said the Episcopal Synod Secretary H. G. Joseph Mor Gregorios.

The Patriarch will arrive at Nedumbasseri Airport on 20th morning, and will attend the silver jubilee celebration of the Patriarchal consecration on 21st at Ernakulam Marine Drive. The Chief Minister Oommen Chandy will inaugurate the meeting and the keynote address will be given by Major Archbishop Mor Varkey Vithayathil.

On 23rd at Karingachira Church, the Catholicos H.B. Baselios Thomas I, Kochi Diocesan Bishop Joseph Mor Gregorios, other Bishops, Priests and lay leaders will receive the Patriarch. After the morning prayers and Holy Qurbana, the Patriarch will give the key message to the people attending the service.

SOCM-Press Bureau
Source: Deepika Daily (Internet edition) 18-09-2004

* Photos: (Top)-Decorated Entrance to the Karingachira Jacobite Syrian Church on the eve of the 3rd Apostolic Visit (20th Sep, 2004) & (Bottom)-Karingachira Jacobite Syrian Church

KOCHI: One hundred metal halide lights, together with 50,000 watts of sound, 40 closed circuit TVs, and two large screens, all powered by a 260-kw diesel power generator will spotlight the seven-day State visit of the Patriarch of Antioch, Moran Mar Ignatius Zakka I, beginning on Monday.

Kochi is preparing to accord a warm welcome to the supreme head of the Universal Syrian Orthodox Church. A massive 1.5-lakh sq. ft pandal with a seating capacity of 50,000 is getting final touches at the Marine Drive ground.

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