Media Release

Panaji, Aug 28: A research book titled ‘Western Rites of Syriac-Malankara Orthodox Churches’ was recently launched by Zachariah Nicholovos (metropolitan of the North East American diocese and president of the Ecumenical Relations Department of the Malankara Church) by presenting a copy to Chorbishop Kuriakose Moolayil (Syriac scholar and faculty at Malankara Syriac seminary) of the Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Church of India.

The event was held at Sofia Centre, Old Seminary Campus (Kottayam, Kerala, India).

Penned by Dr Ajesh T Philip and George Alexander, the book is a result of intense ‘field’ and 'document-research' (over the past nine years) on the missionary efforts of Metropolitan Alvares Julius, Archbishop Rene Vilatte and leaders of the Independent Catholic Movement (Western Rite Orthodox) which flourished in Goa, south India, Ceylon, USA, UK and European countries.

The book portrays religious and social life as well as struggles of Independent Catholic Christians in Portuguese Goa, British Raj, and British Ceylon.

First day sales money donated to Kerala flood victims

The amount of the first day's sales of the MARP book was donated to the chief minister’s distress relief fund to support and help victims of the devastating floods in Kerala. The amount of Rs 7,000 (inclusive of charity support of OCP benefactors) was donated to the ‘Chief Ministers Distress Relief Fund’ in memory of Saintly Metropolitan Alvares Julius, who was as a well-known philanthropist and ‘Apostle of Charity’.

The book is a worldwide release and paperback copies can be purchased through LuLu Books, Amazon, Ingram, Barnes and Noble. E-book is available on LuLu books as well. Indian buyers can also get hard bound copies from select outlets (lists to be updated soon) in Kerala.