Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (EC)
Udupi, Nov 11: "The Brahmavar Konkani Orthodox Community and the Indian Malankara Orthodox Church, share many things in common, especially their history. Both have fought western domination over the Indian Church, and as such they have fostered native or Indian leadership, thus promulgating 'Swadeshi Ideology' within the Christian Church. It was for this reason the founder of Brahmavar Konkani Orthodox Community, the late Lamented Alvares Mar Julius Archbishop, brought the community under the communion of Indian Malankara Orthodox Church, in 1889,” said Fr Isaac C A, vicar general of St Mary’s Cathedral, Brahmavar, speaking to media persons at the Press Club, Udupi.
The Catholicos (the Supreme Head, equal to Pope) of Indian Malankara Orthodox Syrian church, Baselios Marthoma Paulose II, the 91st successor to the apostolic throne of St Thomas in India, is set to make his maiden 3-day visit to St Mary's Orthodox Syrian Cathedral, Brahmavar and its chapels from December 4 to 6.
The St Mary's Orthodox Syrian Cathedral and its 7 Chapels are the only Konkani speaking orthodox community, within the jurisdiction of Indian Orthodox Church, and in the entire world. As such, this visit is of great pride and importance for the community and its churches.
Catholicos Paulose II was enthroned on November 1, 2010. His tenure has been greatly marked with building of ecumenical relations, between various Apostolic Churches. He has met various Popes, patriarchs, Catholicos of different Orthodox Churches round the globe. In September 2013, he had paid a fraternal visit to Pope Francis (Supreme Head of the Roman Catholic Church), soon after his coronation, as the new pontiff of Rome.
Catholicos Paulose II will be warmly welcomed with a procession from Udupi Karavali Junction to St Mary's Orthodox Syrian Cathedral, Brahmavar at 9 am.
In the evening, a public meet will be held in Commemoration of the maiden visit of Catholicos Paulose II in the Church compound at 4 pm. Baselios Paulose II will be the chief guest. H G Yakob Mar Elias, Metropolitan, Brahmavar diocese, while K J George, incharge of Bengaluru urban development, will be inaugurating the public meet, while Kimmane Ratnakar, primary and secondary education minister will be unveiling the Centennial Plaque. Other guests will be Dr Gerald Lobo, Bishop, diocese of Udupi, Rev Mohan Manoraj, Bishop, CSI, Karnataka Southern Diocese, H G Dr Yuhanobn Mar Dioscorus, Metropolitan Madras Diocese, H G Yuhanon Mar Demetrios, Metropolitan, Delhi Diocese, H G Yuhanon Mar Dionysius, Metropolitan, Calcutta diocese, Fr Dr Johns Abraham Konattu, priest trustee, MOSC, M G George Muthoot, lay trustee, MOSC, Dr George Joseph, Malankara Association secretary, Vinay Kumar Sorake, urban development minister, Udupi district incharge minister, Oscar Fernandes, former Rajya Sabha member, Shobha Karandlaje, MP, Udupi-Chikkamagaluru constituency, Pramod Madhwaraj, MLA, Udupi constituency, Jayaprakash Hegde, former MP, Veronica Cornelio, president, KSDL, and Nithyananda, president, Varamballi panchayat.
The inaugural ceremony of the centennial celebrations of the Cosmopolitan Higher Primary School, Brahmavar, the first educational institution of St Mary's Orthodox Syrian Cathedral, Brahmavar, will also be held.
On December 5, Catholicos Paulose II will set out to Hulikel, Shivamogga district to consecrate the newly built St Gregorios Orthodox Syrian Church, a chapel of St Mary's Orthodox Syrian Cathedral, Brahmavar. Thereafter, he will be visiting all the Chapels, namely, Hosangady-St George Church, Kandlur-St Mary's Church, Sastan-St Thomas Church, Kurady-St Peter's and Paul's Church and Kolalgiri-St Antony Church.
On December 6, he will be celebrating Holy Mass at 8.30 am. During the Holy Mass, the late Lamented Archbishop Alvares Mar Juilus, founder, Brahmavar Konkani Orthodox Community and the late Rev F R Z Noronha, first vicar general, St Mary's Orthodox Syrian Cathedral, Brahmavar, will be declared as Blessed Saints. Thereafter he will engage in talks with various spiritual organizations and management committees concerned with St Mary's Orthodox Syrian Cathedral, Brahmavar.
On the morning of December 7, Catholicos Paulose II will bid adieu to Brahmavar.
Fr Abraham Kuriakose, Fr Noel Lewis, assistant priest of St Mary's Cathedral Fr David Crasta, treasurer of the Cathedral Anil Rodrigues and Joslin Almeida were present at the press meet.