Kerala - Pathanamthitta   

Contribution of Orthodox Church draws praise

Joyous occasion: Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan Baselios Mar Thoma Didymos I cutting a cake, weighing 87 kg, on his 87th birthday at Parumala on Monday.

PATHANAMTHITTA: Electricity Minister A.K. Balan has said that Saint Thomas the Apostle, the leading light of scores of downtrodden people in Kerala during the first century, was the first social reformer in the State.

He was inaugurating the 87th birthday celebrations of Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan Baselios Mar Thoma Didymos I at St. Paul’s and St. Peter’s Church at Parumala on Monday. Mr. Balan recalled the contributions of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church to the nation, especially during freedom movement.

The Catholicos cut a cake, weighing 87 kg, as part of his 87th birthday celebrations on the occasion. The second anniversary of the installation of Mar Didymos as Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan was also celebrated on the occasion.

Joseph Mar Thoma, Metropolitan of the Mar Thoma Church, delivered the keynote address. Catholicos-designate Paulose Mar Milithios, Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy, K. Suresh Kurup and P.J. Kurien, MPs, Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, M. Murali, P.C. George, and P.C.Vishnunath, MLAs, K.C. Joseph, former MLA, and Parumala Seminary manager Fr. M.D. John spoke.

The Catholicos presented a purse of Rs.20,000 each as matrimonial assistance to 50 poor girls on the occasion.

The Parumala Church witnessed a heavy rush on Monday as hundreds of believers visited the tomb of Saint Gregorios on Monday. Geevarghese Mar Ivanios of Kottayam diocese Church will lead the tri-mass at 7.30 a.m. on Tuesday. Director-General of Police (Administration), K.P. Somarajan will inaugurate a free cardiac and eye care camp under the auspices of Parumala St. Gregorios Mission Hospital at 9 a.m. Mar Chrysostomos will lead the tri-mass at 7.30 a.m. on Wednesday.

The platinum jubilee of the canonization of Gevarghese Mar Gregorios will be celebrated at 2 p.m. on Thursday. Archbishop Herman of the American Orthodox Church will inaugurate the celebrations. The Catholicos-designate, Leader of the Opposition, Transport Minister Mathew T. Thomas, Public Works Minister Mons Joseph, and Joseph M. Puthussery, MLA, will address the meeting. A pilgrims’ meet will be held at 4 p.m.

The feast of the saint will be held on Friday. Yakoob Mar Ireneus of the Chennai diocese will lead the holy Eucharist at 4 a.m. The Catholicos will lead the holy tri-mass at 8.30 a.m.

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