Decision on the next Archbishop and Catholicos

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Decision on the next Archbishop and Catholicos

To decide on the next Archbishop and Catholicos of the Malankara Catholic Church, the Synod will be held after 21 days.

Bishop of Bathery diocese Geevarghese Mar Divanyasios has taken over as administrator of the Malankara Catholic Church following the passing away of Major Archbishop and Catholicos Cyril Mar Baselios on Thursday.

At a press conference held on Friday, synod secretary and Bishop Thomas Mar Coorilose said as per Section 127 of the canon law, Mar Divanyasios, senior Metropolitan of the synod, had taken over as administrator.

Mar Coorilose said the synod would meet after the 21-day mourning period to decide on the next Major Archbishop and successor to Cyril Mar Baselios.

“The synod will take a decision at the meeting that will last up to five days and later, the decision will be communicated to the Pope,” he said. Generally, the Pope agrees to the decision taken by the Synod.

Mar Divanyasios, said that the person to be selected by the synod would have all the powers and title enjoyed by Cyril Mar Baselios.

Cyril Mar Baselios Heavenly Abode

Born on August 16 1935 at Ullannoor, Pathanamthitta District of Kerala in a family blessed with two priests, four nuns and an Archbishop, he was ordinated as a priest on October 4, 1960.

He received doctorate in Canon Law from Gregorian University, Rome, in 1975 after taking Masters degree in Psychology from the St John’s University, USA. He had taught at St Thomas Apostolic Seminary, Kottayam, and the pontifical seminary, Aluva.

After his Episcopal Ordnination on Dec. 28, 1978, he became the Bishop of Bathery diocese.

Cyril Mar Baselious was appointed Metropolitan Archbishop of Trivandrum and head of the church in 1995 by Pope John Paul II. As the Metropolitan Archbishop he received sacred Pallium from Pope John Paul II on January 9, 1996 in Vatican.

He was elevated to Major Archbishop when the church was raised to the dignity of a major archepiscopal church.

A keen sense of observation, skill for planning and organisation, administrative skills, sense of value and spiritual leadership constitute the personality of Dr Cyril Mar Baselios. He had a deep rooted knowledge in theology, philosophy, psychology and economics.

Major Archbishop Cyril Mar Baselios Passes Away

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Major Archbishop Cyril Mar Baselios Passes Away

 

The first Major Archbishop and Catholicos of the Malankara Catholic Church Cyril Mar Baselious passed away on Thursday 18th January, 2007. He was 71.

The Major Archbishop was diabetic and had been undergoing dialysis for the last six months. He was admitted to a private hospital here on Thursday morning following complaints of uneasiness.

He breathed his last there at 6.45 p.m. His death was unexpected as the Major Archbishop was the chief celebrant at an installation ceremony at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Pattom, on Wednesday.

Funeral was held on Saturday, 20th January, 2007.

All educational institutions under the Malankara Catholic diocese remained closed on Friday and Saturday.

It was during his tenure as Archbishop in February 2005 that the Malankara Catholic Church was elevated to Major Archiepiscopal status. Cyril Mar Baselius was a member in the congregation for oriental churches in Rome.

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People from all walks of life turned up in large numbers at the St. Mary’s Cathedral here on Friday to pay their last respects to Major Archbishop of the Malankara Catholic Church Cyril Mar Baselius who passed away on Thursday.

Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan, Mayor C. J ayan Babu, District Collector N. Ayyappan, freedom fighter K.E. Mammen, Chennai Archbishop Chinnappa and Mavelikkara Archbishop Joshua Mar Ignatios were among those who arrived at the church in the morning to pay homage.

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Representative of the Pope in India Archbishop Pedro Lopez Quintana, C.C.B.A president Archbishop Oswald Gracious were among those who came to pay their respect to Archbishop Baselios. This was followed by the “Dhupa-Prarthana” by all seven Bishops of the Malankara Catholic Church. Following which, Trivandrum Arch-Diocese Arch Bishop and close friend of Catholica Bava, Arch Bishop Susapa gave a speech.

The funeral service which started at 12.15 p.m. was lead by Geevarghese Mar Divanyasios, the Bishop of Bathery and the administrator of the Malankara Catholic Church. The funeral rites were preceded by a public procession from St.Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, Palayam.

It was a sad moment when H.E. Archbishop Cyril Mar Baselios’ was taken from St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, Pattom for a procession around the city of Thruvananthapuram.

The cathedral bells chimed and hymns in Syriac exhorting to `go in peace’ sung by the mourners rented the air as priests acting as pallbearers escorted the throne down the aisle. The throne was then raised at the four doors of the Cathedral, representing East, West, North and South, by the priests as sign of bidding adieu to the city and its people. The `funeral squad,’ comprising the State police armed battalion, reversed arms as a mark of respect.

“Ente nagarame, janame, ningalodu njyaan yatra parayunnu. Ningal samadhanathode vasikyuka” (My city, my people, I bid adieu to you. Peace be with you.) – was the farewell prayer being said as the procession moved around the city. As the procession moved through the city, people bid farewell with tears to the Archbishop.

The procession moved along the flyover, PMG Junction and Lourdes Church and reached the cathedral in two hours. Around 30,000 people including Cardinal Moussa Ignace Daoud, Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches; Pedro Lopez Quintana, representative of the Pope in India, 25 Bishops, 1,500 priests and 3,000 nuns attended the service.

Draped in solemn vestment and seated on a throne with the symbolic staff in hand, the body was interred alongside his predecessors Mar Ivanios and Mar Gregorios, in a specially prepared vault filled with frankincense at the basement of the Cathedral.

As the body entered St. Mary´s Cathedral after the two-hour long procession, the church bell chimed and the choir began a traditional funeral song in Syriac, the liturgical language of the Syro-Malankara Church.

Bishop Geevarghese Mar Divannasios of Bathery, elected as the Church´s administrator by the bishops´ senate, led the funeral services.

Priests representing the Church´s six dioceses and its sole Bethany Religious congregation received the body. They carried it on the throne to the four doors of the cathedral representing east, west, north and south, and then raised it with prayers to signify the late prelate bidding farewell to the city and its people.

Meanwhile, outside the cathedral, the funeral squad of armed state police battalion reversed their arms as a mark of respect.

Before the body was interned in a crypt, the golden cross, chain, ring and scepter were replaced with wooden replicas. Only bishops, dignitaries and representatives of priests, nuns and laypeople were allowed inside the cathedral. Others watched the proceedings on closed-circuit television sets.

When the body was brought near the crypt, Bishop Divannasios, the main celebrant, made the sign of the cross with holy oil on Archbishop Baselios´ forehead, chest and knees. He then made the sign of the cross with mud on the chest. “You are dust and will return to dust, but will be renewed,” the celebrant pronounced. The late prelate´s face was covered with a cloth before the body was placed in the crypt, which was later filled with incense.

The service ended with an archdiocesan priest saying farewell on behalf of the late prelate, following another Eastern tradition.

The priest said goodbye to the cathedral, priests and city four times, turning to the four directions. The mourners chanted in Syriac: “Go in peace, you, the heir of paradise.”

Archbishop Lopez Quintana read out a condolence message from Pope Benedict XVI that called the death “a loss for the Catholic Church in general and the Malankara Church in particular.” The pope remembered the prelate´s social and spiritual contributions.

The bishops of the Church are scheduled to elect a new major archbishop on Feb. 7, when the Church ends its 21-day mourning period.

Father Thomas Panicker, a Church historian, told the Oriental bishops are buried in sitting position to symbolize the promise of Christ that they, as successors of the 12 Apostles, will sit on the throne to judge the 12 tribes of Israel at the Last Judgment. Oriental Catholics traditionally believe their spiritual heads will continue to inspire them even after death.

Father Panicker also explained that in India, most Hindu spiritual leaders are buried in a similar manner. Filling the crypt with incense recalls Jesus´ body being wrapped in perfumed linen clothes and buried with spices. Earlier, tombs of revered Indians also were filled with spices, he noted.

The historian-priest said the body is always put into the crypt facing east, anticipating Christ´s second coming. Following another Eastern custom, special evening and morning prayers are said at the tomb for three days.

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Kuwait’s Adharanjali to Major Arch Bishop Baselios

New Cor-Episcopos for Bathery Diocese

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New Cor-Episcopos for Bathery Diocese

Very Rev Msgr Thomas Charivupurayidam and Very Rev. Fr. Thomas Thannickakuzhy are raised to the ecclesiastical dignity of Corepiscopo.  The liturgical ceremony of the ordination will be held on 17th January 2007 at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Pattom, Trivandrum.

Very Rev. Msgr Thomas Charivupurayidam is the present Vicar General of the Diocese of Bathery and he is the parish priest of St. Mary’s Malankara Catholic Church, Kallor, near Bathery.

Very Rev. Fr. Thomas Thannickakuzhy is running a Boys Home at Nambikolly, near Bathery for the poor children. He was the former Vicar General of the Diocese of Bathery.

Source: – Malankara Catholic Association

Diocese of Mavelikkara – Bishop of the Diocese is Bishop Joshua Mar Ignathios

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Diocese of Mavelikkara – Bishop of the Diocese is Bishop Joshua Mar Ignathios

The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church will have a new Diocese with Mavelikara as its headquarters under the Metropolitan Province of Trivandrum.

The Church authorities have also appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Trivandrum Joshua Mar Ignathios as Bishop of the newly constituted Mavelikara Diocese.

The decrees of the Major Archbishop Cyril Mar Baselius Catholicos constituting the new diocese and appointing Mar Ignathios as its Bishop were read out by Synod secretary and Muvattupuzha Bishop Thomas Mar Coorilos at a function held at St Mary’s Cathedral here on Monday. The Malayalam translations of the decrees were read out by Chancellor of the Archdiocese Fr Antony Valiyavilayil.

Archbishop Isaac Mar Cleemis and Bishops Yuhanon Mar Crisostum, Geeverghese Mar Divannasios and Joseph Mar Thomas and Geeverghese Mar Thimothios were also present on the occasion.

As per the ecclesiastical decrees, the new diocese will consist of the presbyteral districts of Mavelikara, Kollam and parts of Chengannur and Adoor spread over the civil districts of Alappuzha, Kollam and Pathanamthitta. The new diocese will consist of 92 parishes and 35,000 faithful and its Cathedral will be at St. Mary’s Church,Punnamoodu, Mavelikara.

Mavelikara is the sixth diocese of Syro-Malankara Church and the second Suffragan of the Archdiocese of Trivandrum, after Marthandam.

The formal inauguration of the new diocese and elevation of Mar Ignathios as its Bishop will take place on February 16,2006 at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Punnamoodu, Mavelikara.

contributed by –

Mr. Bitu George, Punnamoodu, Mavelikara.

New Cor-Episcopos for Tiruvalla Diocese

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New Cor-Episcopos for Tiruvalla Diocese

Rev.Fr. Cheriyan Ramanalil, Fr. Mathew Karimbil, Fr. Thomas Pathiparambil are appointed as the Cor-Episcopos of the Arch Diocese of Tiruvalla by Arch Bishop Issac Mar Cleemis.

Archbishop Issac Mar Cleemis

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Archbishop Issac Mar Cleemis

The Tiruvalla Diocese has been elevated to the status of an Archdiocese. This was done at the instance of the Episcopal Synod of the Church. Pope Benedict, the 16th issued the Papal bull in this regard.

Bishop Issac Mar Cleemis has been officially ordained as Archbishop of Tiruvalla Diocese on June 10th 2006.

MCCIETR Website

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MCCIETR Website

The Malankara Catholic Church India Extra Territorial Regions (MCCIETR) website has been relaunched.

Please visit mccietr.org . With great efforts taken by Wilson, Shine and Lijo from Pune, the new mccietr site is up and running in its new avatar. The site has a new look and hosts quite a few new features. We will now have regular news updates of our Church, details on our missions in ETR India, details of our church publications and directories.

Father George Joshua Kanneeleth Arrested In Saudi Arabia, Deported Back To India

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Father George Joshua Kanneeleth Arrested In Saudi Arabia, Deported Back To India

Malankara Catholic priest Father George Joshua Kanneeleth, who was arrested in Saudi Arabia for saying Mass in a private apartment returned safely to his base in Kerala April 9 after being deported by Saudi authorities.

Police arrested Father George Joshua Kanneeleth of Trivandrum Syro-Malankara archdiocese April 5 in Riyadh, the Saudi capital, and kept him in custody until he was deported four days later, Trivandrum chancellor Father John Kochuthundiyil said.

The Church official told that Father George was on a visit to Saudi Arabia when the country´s religious police raided the apartment where he was saying Mass and arrested him. The Persian Gulf nation bans the practice of any religion other than Islam in its territory.

“We have no complaints against the Saudi government. They treated our priest well. He was not fined,” the Church official said.

Father Kanneeleth, who was on a tourist visa, met and prayed with some families of the Syro-Malankara Church who work in Saudi Arabia. The Oriental-rite Catholic Church is based in the southern Indian state of Kerala.

 

Jiji Thomson, principal secretary of the Kerala government´s Non-Resident Keralites Association, said the Saudi government has not informed the state of the incident. The association looks after the welfare of people from Kerala working outside the state.

“Practicing a religion other than Islam in the Saudi kingdom is a crime. Severe punishment, including flogging, is given to those who break the law. I´m happy (Father Kanneeleth) is back home safely,” Thomson told.

Catholics of St. Mary´s Parish, where Fr. George serves, told they were pleased at his safe return. “We came to know about the incident only when he returned. Thank God, he was just arrested and deported,” James Mathew, a parishioner told.

Malankara Church Got Catholicos After Long Discussions, Vatican Official Says

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Malankara Church Got Catholicos After Long Discussions, Vatican Official Says

The installation of the head of a southern India-based Catholic rite as major archbishop and “catholicos” May 14 came after long deliberation, a Vatican official says.

Cardinal Ignace Mousa Daoud, prefect of the Vatican´s Congregation for Oriental Churches, spoke of the long decision process at the installation ceremonies for the catholicos of the Syro-Malankara Church.

The late Pope John Paul II elevated the Church to major archiepiscopal status on Feb. 10 and simultaneously appointed 70-year-old Archbishop Cyril Baselios of Trivandrum its major archbishop. However, the Church, one of two Oriental Catholic Churches based in Kerala state, now calls its head a catholicos following its centuries-old Antiochean tradition.

Archbishop Pedro Lopez Quintana, apostolic nuncio to India, and bishops of the other two Catholic rites in India — Latin and Syro-Malabar — attended the installation ceremonies.

The Syro-Malankara and Syro-Malabar Catholic Churches are among seven major Christian groups in Kerala that trace their faith to Saint Thomas the Apostle. According to tradition, Saint Thomas arrived in Kerala in 52 A.D.

The Syro-Malankara catholicos will enjoy all the powers and rights of a patriarch, Cardinal Mousa explained. He added that the Vatican decided to allow the status after detailed discussions and deliberations that took two years and considered all aspects.

The decision to name a catholicos “was not an easy one and came through a hard way,” Cardinal Mousa told the gathering. “Today is a moment of joy, victory and hope,” he declared.

While thanking the gathering, Major Archbishop Baselios said allowing his Church´s head the status of a catholicos was one of the demands made when the group joined the Catholic fold in 1930.

“Today a great dream has come true. We have got what we requested from the Vatican. We demanded only two things when we reunited. We got (the last one) after 75 years,” he said.

Archbishop Mar Ivanios, who led the reunion movement, had requested that they be allowed to continue the Church´s ancient liturgical tradition and customs. The Vatican accepted that condition, but decided only now to accord the Church´s head the title of “catholicos.”

Major Archbishop Baselios said the new status is not a move to confront others or to try to establish supremacy over other ecumenical communities. “It´s part of the growth and development of the Malankara Catholic church. It´s a recognition for all of us,” he said.

The Church´s lay leaders were jubilant. “We are very happy and proud. It´s a rare gift from Rome,” said Pushpa John, Pastoral Council secretary. “The new status gives us a special identity and autonomy,” she said.

With the installation, the Syro-Malankara Church follows the Syro-Malabar as the second ritual Church in India to gain major archiepiscopal status following the promulgation of the new Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches in 1990.

The elevation gives the Church the right to govern its affairs. The Syro-Malabar Church received the same status in 1992. Among the 22 Oriental Catholic Churches, only the two based in India and the Ukrainian Church have this status.

Archbishop Quintana told a public function organized to congratulate Major Archbishop Baselios that “elevation is a great recognition for the Malankara Church. I hope it would lead the Church to the glorious heights in future.”

Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil of Ernakulam-Angamaly, major archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church, described the Syro-Malankara elevation as “the result of its commitment rooted in its liturgical traditions.” Cardinal Vithayathil chaired the function.

“The Syro-Malankara Church achieved this rare honor within 75 years, whereas the Syro-Malabar Church got it only after 2,000 years,” the Redemptorist cardinal said, drawing laughter. His Church supported the Syro-Malankara Church “in its struggle and we will continue our support and cooperation,” he added.

Earlier, Kerala Chief minister Oomman Chandy, a Christian, kicked off the procession from bishop´s house in Thiruvananthapuram, the state capital, 2,815 kilometers south of New Delhi, to St. Mary´s Cathedral about 300 meters away.

The installation ceremonies in the cathedral reflected the Antiochean traditions and local cultural roots of the Church.

Syro-Malankara Church Joyous To Install Its First Major Archbishop

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Syro-Malankara Church Joyous To Install Its First Major Archbishop

A festive mood pervades the Syro-Malankara Church as the installation of its first major archbishop approaches.

Cardinal Ignace Mousa Daoud, prefect of the Congregation of the Oriental Churches, is scheduled on May 14 to install Archbishop Cyril Mar Baselios of Trivandrum as the Oriental Church´s major archbishop.

The Vatican elevated the Church to major archiepiscopal status this past Feb. 10. The installation ceremonies had been scheduled to take place on April 7 but were postponed following the death of Pope John Paul II on April 2.

According to Trivandrum archdiocesan chancellor Father John Kochuthundiyil, more than 50,000 people are expected for the installation ceremonies. They are to be held at St. Mary´s Cathedral in Thiruvananthapuram. The ceremonies will follow Oriental Church traditions and “have an Indian flavor,” Father Kochuthundiyil explained.

Catholicos-designate Baselios, along with Cardinal Mousa and Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Pedro Lopez Quintana, will be taken in a chariot from the archbishop´s house to the cathedral, about 300 meters away. Hundreds of people will line the route holding lighted candles as well as the flags of India, the Catholicos and the papacy.

In accord with the traditional welcome for dignitaries, 2,000 women dressed in saris will throw flower petals as the chariot proceeds to the cathedral. Eight sets of “panchavadyam,” a traditional musical ensemble comprising five instruments, will greet the dignitaries.

Inside the church, the ceremonies will begin with the reading of the Vatican appointment. Cardinal Mousa will then invite Archbishop Baselios to accept the post and the major archbishop-designate will declare his allegiance to the Antiochean rite. The Malankara Church follows the liturgical tradition of the Antiochean Church, with which it was linked for centuries. Other Syro-Malankara bishops will seat Archbishop Baselios on a throne and lift it high three times. Each time, the gathering will chant “Oxios” in Greek, “He is worthy.”

After the installation, the Catholicos will bless the congregation and lead the rest of the ceremony. The Mass and other Oriental liturgies will be conducted in the Syriac language.

With this installation, the Syro-Malankara Church becomes the second ritual Church in India to enjoy major archiepiscopal status following the Vatican´s promulgation of the new Code for the Eastern Churches in 1990. This status gives the Church the right to govern its affairs. The other Indian rite, the Syro-Malabar Church, received such status in 1992. Among the 22 Eastern Catholic Churches, only the Ukrainian Church based in Ukraine has that status.

However, major archiepiscopal status is the second highest among the Eastern Churches. The highest is patriarchal that six of them now enjoy. There also are three metropolitan “sui juris” (self-governing) and 10 other sui juris Churches.

The Syro-Malankara Church, formerly part of the Orthodox Church, joined the Catholic Church in 1930. According to Orthodox Church traditions, Major Archbishop Baselios is to become catholicos, an Orthodox title equivalent to an archbishop in the Latin-rite Catholic Church.

 

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