Shroro

The Syriac Orthodox Christian Digest - August, 2005

Great Mission of Very Rev Sleeba Kattumangattu Cor Episcopa

By Jose Kurian Puliyeril

Dear and Respected Brethren,

I am sure that everyone would be thrilled to hear more about the mission undertaken by Very Rev Sleeba Kattumangattu Cor Episcopos for about last 15 years. He is the Coordinator and Organizer of the Holy Land pilgrimages conducted from Kerala and the various locations in the Gulf. Usually it is the package of seven days and six nights, covering the important Holy Shrines in Jordan, Holy Land and Egypt.

In one of the previous SOCM digests there was a posting about the mission, but it was very vague and short. So far he has taken 71 teams from Kerala and Gulf. Very Rev Cor Episcopos, a member of Mulanthuruthy Marthoman Church, is the vicar of one or two Jacobite Parishes in/near Mulanthuruthy. He has gained benedictions and blessings from not only H. B. The Catholicose of the Syriac Orthodox Church and the members of the Holy Synod, but also Bishops and clergy of other Episcopal Churches. His services are appreciated by the Govt of Kerala, as well as the Governments in the Gulf, Jordan, Holy Land and Egypt. He had gone on a visit to Holy Land alone, when he was the Vicar of the Syrian Orthodox parish in Oman.

When he desired to take more people from his neighborhood, he opened a Travel Agency at Mulanthuruthy, for the convenience of the pilgrims. Later branches were opened in different parts of the world and altogether a marvelous service is rendered to many in a quite wonderful style with Christian dedication. When it was time to name the travel agency with a trade name, his friends and well wishers suggested the present name “Royal Omania tours and Travels Pvt Ltd.”as the idea sprouted from Oman. When the Royal family of Oman heard about this name, they were actually very happy and they have thanked the owner of the firm.

By God’s mercy, I had the privilege to go on a pilgrimage with him on 23rd June. It was very blessed and divine, when and where I could pray for SOCM Digest, Shroro magazine and their members/readers also at the important shrines.

All the Syrian Orthodox members across the globe must have an average understanding of the Holy Shrines owned and held by the Syrian Orthodox Church, headed by H.H. Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka Iwas I, Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, including the St. Mark’s Deyro (Monastery), the permanent seat of St. James, the first Bishop of Jerusalem, the so called brother of our Lord. It is believed that our Lord had established the sacrament of Holy Eucharist, after washing the feet of his disciples and having the last supper, in this mansion. St. Mary, Mother of God, stayed in this monastery immediately after the crucifixion of our Lord. There is an original painting of St. Mary on one of the walls, originally drawn by St. Luke, who was an artist at the same time while being a Physician by profession. St. Peter came to this house only when he was miraculously released from the jail by the angels. Presently H.G. Malki Mor Severios Metropolitan is staying and controlling the day to day affairs of the monastery, as the Patriarchal Vicar.

Pilgrimages could be arranged by V. Rev. Cor Episcopos, from anywhere in the Gulf. Those who wish to proceed/to have more details kindly contact him on : omaniatours@sify.com or could contact me on: josepuliyeril@hotmail.com.

All malayalees will be surprised to know that our Lord’s Prayer in Malayalam is displayed on the walls of the mount where our Lord taught the prayer, in a prominent location among prayers in other world languages, by the initiative, interest and hard task of V.Rev. Sleeba Cor Episcopa. (There is one in Malayalam language written in English Alphabets and the name of the language is given as Sanscrit. It is still there) God Almighty chose, guided and strengthened our beloved Sleeba Cor Episcopa to fix it there.