There was a gentle sense of fellowship on Saturday evening as the Malankara Catholic community in the Gulf visited Baselios Joseph, the Catholicos of the Malankara Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Church, at the Sharjah Jacobite Church. The gathering took place on 6 December 2025, bringing together two ancient Malankara traditions in an atmosphere of respect and goodwill.
The visit was led by Very Rev. John Thundiyath Corepiscopo, the Coordinator of the Malankara Catholic Church for the GCC and the UAE. This occasion marked the Catholicos’s first pastoral presence in the UAE after assuming his present responsibility, which gave the evening a sense of warmth and expectation among the faithful who had gathered.
During the meeting, the Corepiscopo offered a shawl as a sign of esteem. The council leaders then presented a greeting plaque and a gift. Rev. Binu Varghese Ambattu, the Vicar of the Sharjah Jacobite Parish, was present and welcomed the guests with thoughtful hospitality.
The Catholicos expressed gratitude to the Corepiscopo and the delegation for their visit. His words reflected an awareness of the shared roots of the St Thomas Christian heritage in Kerala and the value of personal encounters that strengthen understanding and mutual regard.
The delegation included Mr Jomon Joseph, Secretary of the Malankara Catholic Council, council members, presidents of devotional organisations, senior members of the community, and parishioners from Sharjah under the leadership of Mr Joji Mathew, Vice President of the Sharjah Community. Their presence added depth to the occasion, reminding everyone that unity grows through small acts of respect carried forward by ordinary faithful people.
The evening left many with a quiet sense of hope that such visits can encourage a spirit of peace within the wider Malankara Christian family.
Subscribe to WhatsApp News Updates:
