By Rons Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network—Mumbai (RD/CN)
Mumbai, Feb 6: Governor of Maharashtra K Sankaranarayanan on Saturday February 5 said that the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, established by St Thomas, the disciple of Jesus Christ in Kerala way back in 52 AD, is a shining example of the best of Indian culture and traditions.
Commending the role of the Malankara Orthodox Church institutions in providing quality education and healthcare to society, the Governor said, “The Orthodox Christian community may be numerically small, but it is a leader when it comes to serving the society, the poor, and the needy.”
The Governor was speaking at a reception organized by the Malankara Orthodox Church Council of Bombay at St Mary’s Multipurpose High School, Vashi, Navi Mumbai, on Saturday to welcome the Supreme Head of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Paulose II on his visit to the city.
The occasion coincided with the silver jubilee celebrations of St Mary’s Multipurpose School and the birth centenary of founder president of the school, the late Archbishop Dr Philipos Mar Theophilus.
The Governor presented the first ‘Dr Philipos Mar Theophilus Memorial Award’ to former Governor of Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu Dr P C Alexander for his outstanding services to the nation. The award was received by Ashok Alexander, son of Dr P C Alexander, who could not attend due to ill health.
Congratulating Dr Alexander on the award, Governor Sankaranarayanan said that Dr Alexander’s work in the area of higher education and for the development of backward regions of the state can never be forgotten.
Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Paulose II, the Supreme Head (Catholicos) of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, Ganesh Naik, state minister for non-conventional energy and state excise, Dr Yuhanon Mar Chrisostamos, Metropolitan, Niraram Diocese, Sagar Naik, Mayor of Navi Mumbai, Fr Dr K. M. George, principal, Orthodox Theological Seminary, Kottayam, Justice Benjamin Koshy, retired Chief Justice of Patna High Court, Gee Varghese Mar Coorilos, Metropolitan, Diocese of Mumbai, and a large number of people were present on the occasion.