The Hindu : Kerala / Pathanamthitta News : Navathy celebrations of Catholicos end

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Monday, Jan 31, 2005

Kerala

Kerala - Pathanamthitta

Navathy celebrations of Catholicos end

By Our Staff Reporter

PATHANAMTHITTA, JAN. 30. The year-long Navathy celebrations of the Malankara Metropolitan and Catholicos of the East, Baselius Mar Thoma Mathews II, came to a close at a colourful and well-attended valedictory meet held at St. Thomas Nagar adjacent to the Kannamkode Church in Adoor this afternoon.

Rousing reception

The day also marked the 91st birth anniversary of the high priest of the Malankara Orthodox Church and he was accorded a rousing reception at the Kannamkode Church. The Catholicos was also the chief celebrant at the holy Eucharist held at the church earlier in the morning.

The senior-most pontiff, accompanied by various bishops, was escorted to St. Thomas Nagar, where a public meeting was held around 3.45 p.m.

The Chief Minister, Oommen Chandy, inaugurated the meeting attended by hundreds of people from various parts of the State.

Mr. Chandy said that the Catholicos was the symbol of love, peace and godliness. He said that the Malankara Metropolitan was the apostle of peace, love and universal brotherhood.

In his benedictory speech, the head of the Malankara Mar Thoma Church, Philipose Mar Chrisostum Mar Thoma Metropolitan, recalled the key role played by the Catholicos in amicably resolving the Nilackal issue, which could have snowballed into a major communal problem in the State.

Leadership quality

"Being the chairman of the Nilackal Ecumenical Centre, which is the symbol of unity among various Churches in the State, the Catholicos has displayed his great leadership quality on several occasions," Mar Chrisostum said.

Dr. Alexander Karackal, the church secretary, welcomed the gathering and the Catholicos-designate, Thomas Mar Themotheos, presided over the meet.

Mathews Mar Epiphanieus of the Kollam-Thiruvananthapuram Diocese of the Church, made the introductory speech.

Geevarghese Mar Osthathieos of the Niranom Diocese, Paulos Mar Pachomieos, Kuriakose Mar Cleemis, Joshua Mar Ignatius of the Malankara Catholic Church, Bishop Sam Mathew of the Church of South India, the bishop-designates Augen Ramban and Gabriel Ramban, the Clergy Trustee, O. Thomas, and Lay Trustee, P.C. Abraham Padinjarekara were among those who spoke representing the Orthodox Church as well as other Churches at the meeting.

The Water Resources Minister, Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan; the Food and Civil Supplies Minister, Adoor Prakash; Vayalar Ravi, MP; Joseph M. Puthussery, MLA, and the Adoor Municipal Chairman, Babu Divakaran, also addressed the meeting.

Documentary

Mar Chrisostum also released the documentary on the Catholicos by handing over a copy of the cassette to Abraham Mar Savarios Metropolitan.

The Catholicos made his reply speech amidst thunderous applause, later, marking the culmination of the year-long Navathi fete.

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