Shroro

The Syriac Orthodox Christian Digest - October, 2005

Felicitation from Rev. Fr. Mathews Poozhikolel

By Fr. Mathews

Glory to the most sublime name of our Lord Jesus Christ and let HIS mercy be with all of us for ever, Amen.

It is His great love and consideration gave me the very rare chance to be with you and to take part in the wonderful functions to felicitate our Holy Moran; Mor Ignatius Zakka Iwas 1st, may I kiss your Holy Hands once again.

Your Holiness Moran Mon Ignatius Zakka 1st Iwas, with your permission, may I note these following re-collections: 

It was my great pleasure to be in Damascus during the most auspicious occasion of the Silver Jubilee Celebrations of the Enthronement of our most beloved His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka 1st Iwas as the Prince Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, the Supreme Head of the Universal Syrian Orthodox Church.

Coming to my humble thoughts of my most reverend spiritual father and mentor of my clergy life, His Beatitude, the Late Lamented Baselious Paulose 2nd who was the chief celebrant of the Coronation ceremonies in 1980. His Beatitude made history by consecrating Mor Severius Zakka, Archbishop of Baghdad, as the Patriarch of Antioch. This was the first time in the long history of the Patriarchate of Antioch that a Catholicos fromMalankara officiated at the consecration of a Patriarch.

I do now remember the words of our beloved His Beatitude Baselious Thomas 1st said during one of the reception to our Holiness during the Apostolic Visit of to India last year to commence the celebrations of this blessed Silver Jubilee. "The brightness we now see on the face of our Holiness is not from Iraq, not from Syria, Not from India, but it is from the Heaven, its by the presence of Holy Spirit and this beauty is given  from the heaven only" Any one look at the face of our Moran will understand that the statement by His Beatitude is very true in its full sense.

When Jesus appeared to His Disciples for the 3rd time after his resurrection, He entrusted St: Peter as the Shepard of his Church. St: John Chapter 21 reads … 15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. Our Holy Moran is the true Shepherd. A good Shepherd gives his life to his Sheep. He has dedicated his full life to his Lord Jesus, His Church and ultimately to his Sheep. 

Jesus entrusted St; Peter saying Matthew 16:19 - And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven St; Peter is the only Apostle to whom Jesus Christ entrusted the Administration of the Church. This song for the Holy Sacrament of Marriage is like this "Pathivruthayaam Paripaavana Sbhayeh Vaanon Kaanthan, Vettoru neram – Seemon Yohanna ennivareh Aahwaanam cheythelpphichevam – VEEDIN BHARAM SEEMONU, SUVISESHAM YOHANAANU, Kalppichan Naadhan……….The administration of the Church is for St: Peter and St: Peter ONLY. Any other teachings by any other Christian factions are against the Word of God.

We have seen his last Apostolic Visit to India, when his sheep heard the sound of his coming; they identified it and recognized him, turned out to him in Hundreds of Thousands, to acknowledge him, to receive him and to celebrate him. The state of Kerala in India has never seen anything like that till then.

We all, for some times at least, have enjoyed his affection, love, care or considerations. His hospitality is well known and famed. He always caters to our needs, especially the children from Malankara working in the Middle East, like a Master and Shepherd.

The whole world and the multitudes under his reign knows who is the true successor of Jesus and His Principal Apostle St; Peter. God the Almighty have blessed him abundantly, since he is one of the very few (15) Patriarchs of Antioch who were blessed to celebrate their Silver Jubilee in this Throne. 

We feel so proud and lucky that we are part of the Holy See of Antioch, which is the First Church to be established by St; Peter and members of the same. The Acts of Apostle, verse 26 reads …..And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

He is the most respected scholar of his time, in Theology. There is no other Christian leader like him who has held or is holding responsibilities in the world Christian leadership forums. He is the most valued jewel in the Syrian Christian Crown. He is the Lucky one to find out the Holy relics of St.Thomas in 1964.
We are very lucky to be his beloved sheep.

We know the struggle and pain taken by our Moran to maintain calm and peace among the factions in India, and also to keep his folks in warmth all over the world. We can pray that  may God the Almighty to provide the needed strength for that. We can also line up our support and our humble strength behind him for that. May the heavens opens it's windows and shower abundantly the blessings, happiness, peace and long life on our Moran.

On behalf of St: George Universal Syrian Orthodox Church at Kuwait and on my behalf, I congratulate His Holiness and wish His Holiness all of God's blessings and pray the Almighty for the long life and good health to lead the Church for many more years to come. I also take this opportunity to express our continued support, solidarity, respect and allegiance to the Holy Patriarchal Throne of St: Peter and His Holiness as the Patriarch of Antioch.

Our Dear Holy Moran, May I now with your permission, extent the hearty felicitations from your children at the St: George Universal Syrian Orthodox Church at Kuwait. They are kissing your holy hands now and ever for the Apostolic Benedictions; along with, their promises that they are standing rock firm behind the
Throne of St: Peter and the Holy See of Antioch.

The Managing Committee of the Kuwait St: George Universal Syrian Orthodox Church at Kuwait Church and all the spiritual organizations of St: George Universal Syrian Orthodox Church at Kuwait viz., St: George Sunday School and the Sunday School Teachers, Mortha Mariyam Vanitha Samajam, Mor Baseliose Youth Association, their members, and all other executives, send their love,regards, prayers and felicitations to place at your feet.

May the strong relations of Antioch and Malankara reign for ever, as our fore fathers promised at the Koonan Kurisu, we also re-assure you; our Holy Moran;
WE AND OUR GENERATIONS WILL NOT FORGET ANTIOCH AS LONG AS SUN EXISTS.

Kissing your holy hands again, let me conclude, 

May God bless us all of us.

Your spiritual son and always with you in HIS Services

Rev. Fr. Mathews Poozhikolel
Vicar, St: George Universal Syrian Orthodox Church, Kuwait