On Thursday, 18 September 2025, at eight o’clock in the evening, the Syro-Malankara Catholic Eparchy of Tiruvalla hosted a solemn reception in honour of His Beatitude Ignatius Joseph III Younan, Patriarch of the Syriac Catholic Church of Antioch, on the occasion of his Apostolic Visit to the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church in India. The celebration was held at the Bishop’s House in Tiruvalla, Kerala.
The Patriarch was warmly received by His Grace Most Rev. Dr. Thomas Mor Koorilos, Metropolitan Archbishop of Tiruvalla, together with the clergy of the Eparchy, who expressed profound joy at welcoming the Patriarch into their midst.
The evening was further graced by the presence of His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cardinal Cleemis Catholicos, Major Archbishop-Catholicos of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, as well as His Excellency Most Rev. Dr. Abraham Mor Julios, Bishop Emeritus of Muvattupuzha and a long-time friend of the Patriarch from their seminary days in Rome. Bishops from sister Churches in Kerala also joined the gathering, including His Grace Geevarghese Mar Coorilos Metropolitan of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (Niranam), His Eminence Mor Gregorios Kuriakose of the Knanaya Archdiocese, Rt. Rev. Dr. Joseph Mar Barnabas Suffragan Metropolitan of the Mar Thoma Syrian Church, and Most Rev. Mar Thomas Tharayil of the Syro-Malabar Church (Changanassery). Clergy and lay faithful of Tiruvalla filled the hall with their presence and joyful welcome.
Accompanying His Beatitude were Most Rev. Barnaba Joseph Habash, Most Rev. Ephrem Joseph Abba, Abbot Edmond Rizk, Monsignor Habib Mourad, Monsignor Abdo Abou Kassem, Rev. Fr. Jean Younes, Rev. Fr. Paul Kass Dawood, Rev. Fr. Saïd Massouh, Rev. Fr. Joseph Dargam, Rev. Fr. Karim Kalash, Rev. Fr. Ephrem al-Jazrawi, Rev. Fr. Tarek Khayyat, Mother Huda al-Halou, Sister Ikhlas Sheeto, and Dr. Joelle Turk Dargam.
In his heartfelt words of gratitude, the Patriarch thanked the Catholicos and Archbishop Koorilos for their warm welcome, recalling the words of Christ who called His disciples “friends.” He observed:
“The early Christians of Antioch were known for their love for one another. Today, we experience this same love in Kerala, as we gather with our brothers and sisters of the Malankara Church and our brethren from other sister Churches. The Lord Himself unites us, calling us to live mutual charity, to strive for unity, and to offer a living witness that we are His disciples. Above all, we are called to serve those most in need, whom Christ has entrusted to our care.”
At the close of the evening, Archbishop Koorilos presented commemorative gifts to the Patriarch and to each member of his delegation, as a token of fraternal love and remembrance of the occasion.
The reception included moments of prayer and Syriac hymns chanted by the deacons of Tiruvalla, along with cultural performances of traditional Kerala music.
Finally, His Beatitude imparted his Apostolic Blessing upon the Eparchy of Tiruvalla — its shepherd, clergy, and faithful — praying for God’s continued grace upon their witness.
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