Five new Metropolitans Ordained for the Malankara Syriac Orthodox Church in India

by Thomas Daniel

Malankara Archdiocese of Universal Syriac Orthodox Church is blessed with five more Metropolitans 

All Bishop designates were consecrated as Metropolitans at St. Thomas Jacobite Syrian Church, North Parur in the blessed St. Thomas Day of 2006. (July 3rd, very popularly known as Karkidakam Moonnu is the Establishment Perunnal of St Thomas Jacobite Syrian Church, N. Parur) 

On 2nd July 2006, at St. George Jacobite Syrian Cathedral, Karingachira all the five Bishop designates were elevated to Ramban by Catholicose Aboon Mor Baselious Thomas I. During the ceremony Fr. C.S. James was named Nahum, Fr. Ebi Chacko was named Haggai, Fr. George Mathew was named Samuel, Fr. Kuriakose George was named Malachi, and Fr. Mathew P George was named Micah. The ceremony was assisted by Mor Thimotheos Thomas, Mor Gregorios Joseph, Mor Ivanios Mathews, Mor Miltheos Yuhanon, Mor Polycarpus Geevarghese and Mor Theophilos Kuriakose. 

The Holy consecration ceremony was led by Catholicose Aboon Mor Basalious Thomas I assisted by Mor Julius Kuriakose , Mor Thimotheos Thomas, Mor Gregorios Joseph, Mor Ivanios Mathews, Mor Miltheos Yuhanon, Mor Polycarpus Geevarghese, Mor Dionysius Geevarghese, Mor Theophilos Kuriakose and Mor Sevarious Kuriakose in the presence of Kozhiparambath Elias Rambban, CorEspiscopas Adai Jacob, Kuriakose Moolayil, Paulose Parathuvayalil, Mathai Poonvanthara, Thomas Tharayil, Fr. Varghese Kallappara, Fr. Kuriakose Marachery, Fisheries Minister S. Sarama, M.L.A’s V.D.Satheesan, M.M. Monayi, Saju Paul and T.U.Kurivilla, Lonappan Nambadan MP, Church official Thambu George Thukalan, George Mathew Thekkethalackal and of hundreds of clergies, tens of thousands of faithful arrived from various parts of Malankara. 

The Catholicos and other Metropolitans of the church first led the five Rambans into the Holy Madbaho during the morning prayers. After being initiated into the new ecclesiastic status by the Catholicos, the five Rabbans knelt down in meditation facing the Holy Madhaho. In the middle of the Holy Qurbono, which was celebrated by His Beatitude, the consecration ceremony began. 

The Catholicos said that it was a great moment of joy and blessing of God that the church, which is celebrating the 325th “dukrono” (memorial feast) of St. Gregorios Abdul Jaleel Bava, became the consecration venue. The Patriarchal Bull permitting the Catholicos to consecrate five bishops says that it is a landmark occasion in the history of the Jacobite Church. Kuriakose Mor Yulius read out the Bull 

During the first phase of the ceremony, all the five Rabbans wearing the ‘sosappa’ were escorted to the altar from behind the ‘madbho’. They announced their unconditional faith in the Jacobite Church, The Patriarch H.H Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas and Catholicos Aboon Mor Baselious Thomas I and signed the canonical documents, ‘Salmoosa’, which were handed over to the Catholicos to be submitted to the Patriarch. 

In the second phase the Catholicos named them as Mathews Mor Theodosius (Very Rev Micah Koodal Ramban ), Mathews Mor Aphrem (Very Rev Nahum Chittathu Ramban ), Pathrose Mor Osthatheos (Very Rev Haggai Pulikottil Ramban), Kuriakose Mor Eusebius (Very Rev Malachi Chalakkatukudi Ramban) and Geevarghese Mor Coorilos (Very Rev Samuel Nalunnakal Rambban ) and presented them with the Episcopal vestments, Shepherd staff, cross and chain. Priests representing various dioceses lifted three times the Bishops who were sitting on thrones, announcing ‘Oxiyos’ as a mark of respect and recognition. 

Latter the Catholicos and the metropolitans were led to the church where they conducted ‘Dhoopa prayers’ at the tomb of St. Gregorius Abdul Jaleel Bava. All the participants later partook of the holy feast after the consecration ceremony 

Biographies & Photos of the newly consecrated Metropolitans 

1. Geevarghese Mor Koorilos
2. Mathews Mor Aphrem 
3. Pathros Mor Osthatheos
4. Mathews Mor Thevodosius
5. Kuriakose Mor Eusebios

More Photos of the Consecration ceremony available at: 
http://www.syrianchurch.org/Photos/EpisCons3July06/index.html

LATEST LIST OF PRIMATES OF THE UNIVERSAL SYRIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH: 
http://www.syrianchurch.org/bio/SyriacOrthodox/Metropolitans.htm