Shroro

The Syriac Orthodox Christian Digest - May, 2005

Consecration of St. Mary's Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church at Kundara

By Thomas Abraham Thiruvanchoor

The newly constructed St. Mary’s Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church at Kundara, Kollam, Kerala, will be consecrated during 13th -15th May 2005. The Catholicos H.B. Baselious Thomas I will be the chief celebrant of the service.

A grand reception for the Catholicos and the Bishops of Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church will be accorded on 13th Friday at 2.30 pm. The reception procession will start from Kundara “Kanal Ground”, near L.M.S. Hospital, and will end at the Church

The public meeting held thereafter will be inaugurated by the Central Minister of Electricity Mr. P. M. Sayed. The Catholicos H.B. Baselious Thomas I will preside the meeting and Bishops of Jacobite S.O. Church, Dr. Thomas Mor Themotheos, Markose Mor Coorilos, Joseph Mor Gregorios, Yuhanon Mor Milithios, Kuriakose Mor Severios, Geevarghese Mor Policarpos, Geevarghese Mor Dionasios, Yeldho Mor Theethos, and bishops from sister churches Bishop Dr. Stanley Roman and Joseph Mor Irenios Safragan metropolitan will deliver felicitation speeches.

Felicitations will also be delivered by Ex-Union Minister O. Rajagopal, Chengara Surendran M.P., P. Rajendran M.P., Ex-M.P. P. C. Chacko, U.D.F. Convenor P. P. Thankachen, M.L.A.’s Kadavoor Shivadasan, T. M. Jacob, Ezhukon Narayanan, V. J. Paulose, A. A. Aziz, Bar Eetho Kasiro George Mathew Thekkethalakkal, Bar Eetho Masiro Thambu George Thukalan, Dist. Panchayat President Adv. Iysha Potti, V. Satyseelan, M.M. Abdulrahman Haji, Susan Varghese and Santhosh John.

Kerala Minister of Labour Mr. Babu Divakaran will distribute job equipments for the poor and needy. The evening prayer will start at 6.30 p.m. and thereafter will start the first part of the consecration service.

On 14th Saturday at 7am Morning Prayer will be started, followed by the second part of the consecration service and Holy Qurbono on five Altars. At 11am the consecration service of the ‘Stone Cross’ erected at Church compound will be started, followed by ‘love feast’ to all. The evening prayer at Church will start at 6 pm.

On 15th Sunday at 7am Morning Prayer will be started, followed by the Holy Qurbono, Procession (Rassa) and Nercha vilambu. Cultural programmes like "Parishamuttu kali" (Syrian Christian Folk Dance) and Christian Musical concert will be held in the evening.

The church has been constructed by the Kundara St. Mary's Trust. At a press conference at Kollam, the conveners of the consecration function said that the St. Mary’s church, built in Gothic style, has been built at a cost of over Rs.9 million. A “panchaloha" (mixer of five metals) flag mast has been also erected in front of the church.

The Vicar Fr. T.V. Punnoose Tharakan, Trust Chairman T.V. Cherian, J. G. Varghese, Adv. Renji Mathai, Y. Kochummen and Chevalier I. John Payattuvila attended the press conference.